Last week Popi the Matriarch called us over to a table where cylindrical orange things were packed on a plate. Ruth could only think they were
anthus - stuffed courgette flowers - which are delicious. No - Popi said they had been collected that day by Manolis (the grandfather - not the boy) waving vaguely to the wasteland. She handed us half a dozen in a kitchen towel, and we were none the wiser, but put them in the fridge!
Later in the supermarket we saw them on sale as
frangosyka (French figs), and realised they were the fruit of the
prickly pear cactus, which had been (thankfully!) de-prickled and peeled. There followed an internet research session to see what on earth to do with them. They were very pleasant on the breakfast muesli with yoghurt - tasting rather like kiwi fruit. So food for free - but pretty heavy on the labour!
Since Chloe arrived we have been eating out more as she has aa passion for Greek (veggie-again) food. She had three nights on ANEK ferries - coming down from Venice, and loved their cafeteria food! The weather has continued to be autumnal. On Sunday it was too windy for the beach so we went for a drive along the coast to Akti Krios, then came back and spent a long lunchtime in
Methexis. Ruth had a scrumptious dish of stewed octopus and
horta (mountain greens). Afterwards Chloe went across the road to their little beach and slept for ages in one of the hammocks. Let's hear it also for the
schoolhouse kafenion in Anidri, where we went this week by taxi with Olga and Stephen! A stunning menu, including Drunken Rabbit, which was delicious! Whilst there we managed a quick word with the kitchen folk:- Barry (ex-Calypso) and Mima (ex-cantina) - no wonder the food was so good!
