Paradise Taverna

Our local taverna.

Paradise

Paradisos as it is known around here is a taverna in the hills, run by the third generation of a local family, surrounded by pine forest, with views of Athens across the sea.

On the property is a chapel dedicated to Saint Nektarios, fiesta November 9.  Worth attending the morning or evening service.  There is always a good crowd and who are served coffee and goodies afterwards by the family who look after the church and run the taverna.  A(nother) time for celebration

In the summer we sit out under the canopy of greenery.  Situated up in hills there is usually a breeze and a welcome respite from the heat

In the winter there is an open fire inside and a large dining area.  On a Sunday afternoon in the middle of winter a meal here can go on for hours.  All the diners know each other and there is laughter and shouting across the tables.  Often there is a bouzouki player twanging his instrument and singing.  Soon the whole taverna will be singing along, everyone emotional with lots of wine and camaraderie.

The taverna was originally run by the grandparents, Theodora and Vangelis but slowly the children and now the grandchildren have taken over.  Grandaughter Dora helps in the kitchen and does a lot of the BBQing

Dora's wedding reception was held here and we were lucky enough to be invited.  It was a great summer evening with music and dancing till daylight next morning.  The whole neighbourhood was invited as was the norm before the crisis.  

We did the same at our daughters' weddings.  Before the crisis. 

On a clear night you can see the lights of Athens and Piraeus and all the coast going down to Cape Sounion and it's mighty temple on the cliffs

                                

Truly a family taverna.  The mother, Kiki does all the cooking.  Her specialities are rabbit with onions, rooster and fat macaroni, pork with wine and often she makes a big tray of galaktobouriko (a syrupy semolina pie) which is served free at the end of the meal.  They have their own wine and were the last here to stop using retsina as a preservative.  They have their own rabbits, roosters and until recently they ran a butcher's shop down in the market in town.

If you need a siesta this is the perfect place.  

First comes the cutlery, a bottle of cold water and a basket of home made bread

A cheese pie which we didn't order.  Kiki brought it out before the fruit in case we wanted a wee snack with the rest of our wine.

The father recently spent some months working in a Greek taverna in England.  After dinner we were offered a plate of watermelon 'as they do in England' with added ice cubes to keep it cool and sprigs of mint.  The ice melted quickly and was a waste of time and the mint added nothing to the dish of cool, refreshing fruit

The matriarch Theodora still going strong but no longer getting down on her knees to knead twenty huge loaves of sourdough bread which she then baked in her woodfired oven.

The  eldest son took over the taverna and like him, his children grew up in the kitchen, learning to cook, barbeque, serve and clean tables.  Now the grandson, Vangelis, named after the patriarch, is slowly taking over control although his mother Kiki still reigns supreme in the kitchen.  Many of their customers are well known local bigwigs but also stars of greek films and TV and other celebrities.  Kiki and the family will come out to greet them and share a joke just as they do with all their customers.  The atmosphere is always friendly and very  cheerful.