(Written on 4/14/2011 from Crete, Greece)
After returning to my hotel because I didn’t want to have a “Party for One” at the restaurant, I caught a cooking show on T.V. Even though it was in Greek and I couldn’t understand the words, the food still looked delicious. I don’t think this qualifies as a “recipe” since I didn’t actually make it or taste it but I think it’s still worth mentioning for experimentation sake. The chef was making a “burger.” He mixed together in a bowl – chopped shrimp, ginger, green onions, garlic, and soy sauce. Then he fried them as individual patties and topped it with a dressing made from blending together mayonnaise with baked tomatoes.
If you try it at home – let me know. It looked scrumptious and my mouth is watering just thinking about it.
“Trust me. I want to cut it shorter” is not the most comforting sentence coming out of a Greek man’s mouth while you’re held captive in his salon chair. I went in to Domenico’s salon looking like a Raggedy Ann (haha…) and left with bangs. Thankfully, these were not the same kind of bangs my mom used to cut for me when I was 8 years old. I’m pretty sure back then more than half my hair was bangs and I clearly remember holding the trash can in front of my face as she snipped it in a solid row across my forehead. Eek. (No offense, Mom…but you and I both know that was a tragic look for me. Don’t even get me started on the perm.)
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| My new do! |
After my new (I admit I like the bangs) haircut, I caught the night ferry to Crete. Let’s just start by saying that I’m glad I arrived alive. I was certain (multiple times during the night) that we had hit a glacier (yes, I know we were in the Mediterranean) and that I was going to die on the Greek version of the Titanic. But unlike Kate Winslet, I had no “Jack” to give me a board to float on.
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| My cabin for the boat ride - all to myself because it was empty! |
At least when I got to Crete things seemed to turn around. I got back on the “food” train with a nice dinner in the city and just as Chef Tony had warned me…I was offered a shot of Tsikoudia (a clear liquor) after dinner. He said that Cretans take great offense if you turn down their liquor. However, if you drink it then they keep bringing you more and more and more. And when you inevitably end up on the floor from drinking too much and turn them down, they will still be offended. So I heeded Tony’s advice and told them I didn’t drink (bold faced lie) and so I would only have one with them and that I needed to head back to the hotel.
The most amusing part of the experience is that they charge you for the bread they bring out at the beginning of the meal. But the exquisite doughnut like dessert (Loukoumades) with ice cream afterwards and as much of the Tsikoudia as I would have wanted (and more) was completely free.
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| Greek Loukoumades (photo courtesy of Wikipedia) |
After returning to my hotel because I didn’t want to have a “Party for One” at the restaurant, I caught a cooking show on T.V. Even though it was in Greek and I couldn’t understand the words, the food still looked delicious. I don’t think this qualifies as a “recipe” since I didn’t actually make it or taste it but I think it’s still worth mentioning for experimentation sake. The chef was making a “burger.” He mixed together in a bowl – chopped shrimp, ginger, green onions, garlic, and soy sauce. Then he fried them as individual patties and topped it with a dressing made from blending together mayonnaise with baked tomatoes.
If you try it at home – let me know. It looked scrumptious and my mouth is watering just thinking about it.
Thought for the day…just because it's free doesn't mean it's worth it. :)
Because of Jack, they now have enough life vests on board for everyone to float in. Boats too.
ReplyDeleteWhat's up w/ bad childhood bangs? My sister was traumatized when my dad cut a half moon shaped bang across her forehead.