Mama Roux: Giving it another chance

Great morning: decided to go for a late coffee-brunch in the centre. Normally this would be a nightmare given Saturday is the day everyone who normally works during the week will go to look around the shops. Add to that the great day: blue sky, sun, light cool breeze; we were not the only people heading down there. However, thanks to my trusty two wheeler, we were parked and ready to sit in less than fifteen minutes!

Initially we were going to sit at Tailor Made, but it was packed and the outdoor seating was in direct sunlight. Instead of getting back on the bike to go somewhere totally different we figured we'd walk up Aiolou street and pick a place. No sooner were we walking than I had decided to sit down at Mama Roux.

I had been there before, not more than a week after it had first opened. The reason then, was that the Chef that was behind the amazing food at the gone-but-not-forgotten Hells Kitchen was also behind this place (though I'm not sure if he's still there). It is supposed to have southern American Cajun style food. Back then, I remember I wasn't convinced, and I thought the food was alright, but not 'wow' and not what I had expected. To be honest I'd probably set the bar too high.

This time round I was there for coffee, but decided to get a small nibble to share. We went for a BLT with the addition of avocado. It was good! Real good! I could taste everything in it. Nothing that shouldn't have been there was there, and nothing that should have been there wasn't. Everything was fresh, vibrant and in the right proportion. And the bread: toasted hearty country style slices of bread. Yum yum yum yum yum yum yum!!!

BLT with Avocado

The coffee was good too, and the barista had even made the effort to make a fancy shape on our Fredo Cappuccinos  Effort points!

A generally very pleasant visit I'd say, and I'm left with two ToDo's from this visit:
a) Try their Sunday brunch
b) Sample their other food again

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And a few related links:

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@Athensnews.gr

@Athensvoice.gr

@ Trip Advisor
@Athensmagazine.gr
@spottedbylocals.com
@SecretAthens
@FoodSpotting
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Too little too late?

Saying that it's been a while since I've blogged On Athens is an understatement. Over two years would be more accurate. What can I say? I was busy. But alas, I have seen the error of my ways, and it has taken the closure of one of my favourite places for me to do so.


Hells Kitchen was, as its name suggests, situated in a rough part of Athens. A bright light surrounded by prostitutes and heroin users: ironically the area behind the Athens City Town Hall. Maybe the mayor didn't use the back entrance - and the were no back facing windows.


All of the ambiance of the décor, the soothingness of its jazz notes and the phenomenally good quality & commendable non-pretentiousness of its food were spot on, making Hells Kitchen a beacon of what is possible with just that little bit of love.


But eventually the area got the better of it, and at arriving on the premises on one of the first days of September I was confronted with a red and white "To Let" sign. Oh the disappointment. I can but only hope that sooner rather that later I will find that the owners have opened shop in a new location.


And what eats me up inside is that I never did my part in propagating its excellence to the masses. I can but feel that I too am to blame. And so I promise to post a retrospective of the places I have discovered in the past two years: both beautiful and ugly, but always in honor of a lost friend.


Hells Kitchen, we miss you!

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