The New Love of My Life

  A few weeks ago I received a card in the mail advertising the Athena Taverna on Argyle Street. I went to their website, and looked for the menu immediately.  I was in love with most of the starters and dips.  The mains, only a few.  There is quite a lot of lamb on the menu, and I'm just not all that keen on it.  It and my stomach do not get get on well.  They tend to argue.  Then there was the dessert menu.  Now this menu is what sealed the deal for me.  There was one item that I was desperate to try.
  As I have stated, I received the card weeks ago.  Why have I just gone in now?  Well I generally shy away from Greek food.  Only because I am a gal who loves her rich foods.  When I go out for dinner I want heavy, rich, decadent foods.  Things I generally don't make at home.  Greek food I generally find too light, and I feel like I've missed out on something.  Not to say that I don't like Greek food.  I love it!  It's a cuisine that I've grown up with.  So I tend to stay away.  There have also been birthdays since hearing of this taverna, so more familiar places have been placed ahead of it.
  So finally, last night I got to go! Reservations made from the restaurant website with no problems.  I was very pleased when we walked in.  It's very small and dark.  I loved everything about it.  It was pretty, and despite it's small size, it didn't feel overly crowed. We were allowed to choose out seat, and chose the back corner.  This was the perfect spot.  Though I suppose, sitting by the window would have been nice as well.  We were greeted, seated and served by the owner (we're fairly certain he was the owner).  He was lovely and he knew what he was doing.  As the night went on the dining room filled up, and he took care of everything alone.  He did this with ease.
  Ordering was easy, as I had my meal planned a day in advance (I was really looking forward to it).  I had the Grilled Halloumi, a Crypriot goats cheese, as my starter.  My husband had the Kalamari.  We also decided to get a portion of the Houmous with pita to share.  The halloumi was three pieces of the grilled goats cheese and came with a small side salad.  It was perfect.  I have never had halloumi before, but I adore goats cheese.  It was so different from what I had expected.  It was so very salty, and firm.  I loved every mouthful, and I pine for it as I write this.  Another venture out may be in order very soon.  The kalamari was perfectly cooked.  It came with a sharp garlic dip.  It was divine.  The garlic dip went very well with my cheese in case you're wondering.  The kalamari came with a wedge of lemon, I did not touch it so as to avoid another flying lemon incident. The houmous was fantastic.  The pita incredibly fresh.  Every last bit of the starters was eaten.
   For my main I ordered the Vegetarian Dolmades with Greek Salad and Roast Potatoes.  My husband has the Pastitsio with Greek Salad and Roast Potatoes.  Since the starters were such a reasonable size (starters are generally just too large these days) we assumed our mains would be as well.  We couldn't have been more wrong.  When our mains were placed before us on the table our jaws dropped.  They were massive!  The biggest plate of food I have ever seen.  I didn't know where to start.  I went for one of the dolmades (rice and veggie stuffed vine leaf).  I moved one, only to realize that it was just on top of a pile of seven.  Seven dolmades.  To top off the seven stuffed leaves, there was a generous side of Greek salad and two big roast potatoes.  Once I maneuvered the stuffed leaf away from the pile I got to try it.  I was not disappointed.  It's taste I cannot place.  Cinnamon or mace.  Not entirely sure, but it was delightful.  The dolmades were cooked in a light tomato sauce and were steaming hot.  The roast potatoes, I wouldn't really call roasted.  They were cooked in a tomato sauce as well, and just fell apart at the lightest touch.  I wish to know how they were made, because I could live on those potatoes.  The salad was delightful, my only complaint....not enough green olives (I adore the little green things, so not much of a complaint only personal preference).  Now I tried to eat everything, but I'm only small.  I can only hold so much.  I felt as though I hadn't even touched the dish.  I ate four of the dolmades, and most of the potatoes and salad.  The rest I brought home, to eat as I write this!

Leftover Dolmades. A second meal.

   The pastitsio  is a kind of Greek lasagna.  I guess that's the best way to describe it.  It looked delicious, but was filled with lamb so I couldn't try it.  The pasta was long thin tubes that I have never seen before.  It's description was pasta and minced lamb topped with a bechamel and oven baked.  It was accompanied by the same roast potatoes and salad as my meal.  Every last mouthful of the pastitsio  was eaten so I know it was good!
  Now onto the delight that has changed my life!  Even though I was incredibly full I had to have the dessert I'd been eying up for weeks.  The Galaktoboureko.  I had to know what it was!  It was described as a Greek milk pie.  A milk pie!  I needed to know.  Yes I could have googled it ages ago, but I wanted the surprise.  Surprised I was!  I didn't know what to expect, and what I received, was nothing like I had thought.  It was a long rectangle with vanilla ice cream served along side.  The top was crispy, the filling like a set custard. It smelled of over ripe strawberries, and I found that it tasted exactly as it smelled.  A floral fruity something.  I still can't quite put my finger on what it tasted like. Even after googling and finding a recipe! If you know how an over ripe strawberry smells, then think of how that might taste.  It didn't taste like an over ripe strawberry, it tasted like the smell of one.  I fell in love.  This 'pie' is the new love of my life.  I will be making my own version very very soon.  I ate every last bit of that tasty life changing dessert.

Galaktoboureko with vanilla ice cream, and the new love of my life.

   My husband opted for the Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream for his dessert.  He thought he was being safe.Choosing something small and simple after that large meal.  Dun dun duuuuun! It was huge.  Three very large scoops.  He did manage to eat all of it.  It was very good vanilla, I must say.   He also ordered a cappuccino to go with his dessert.  He said it was one of the best coffees he has had in a long time.  Which made me wish I had gotten one. Even though I think my stomach would have jumped out of me,  slapped me across the face, then promptly marched away and out the door.  
  Another delightful meal, and we will most certainly be back.  We have to go.  I need that cheese and that pie in my life again.  Not to mention the Greek red wine that I am desperate to try.
Mx