A Full Day

Yesterday I had a pleasantly full day. I always like taking full advantage of a DAY I'm not working (as opposed to the night before and sleeping through the day).

I woke up around 8:30 and pondered about how borrowing/ lending leads to inflation (I know - random - that's just what got into my mind). That took me all the way up to 9:30. By the time I was up, showered and ready to go, I'd also arranged coffee in the centre. Thanks to my new motorbike, getting around has become easier than a walk in the park, so not long after 10 I was sat down having my coffee.

We went to 'Rosebud' in Kolonaki. I hadn't been there before but had walked by it many times and it had seemed very interesting. The coffee was as coffee should be, and the atmosphere had a warm jazzy feel to it. The décor included various vintage items and pictures - on the walls, in the tables and even IN the ceiling! Perfect for a cold winters morning coffee - and not only! Apparently, they serve food there too. Note to self: try food at Rosebud!

Next we went for walk to look around the shops that lasted till around 1 when we parted ways - but I wasn't done with the centre yet. A call to another friend in search of lunch landed me on Coffee number two! This one included a hearty waffle - not for me (sweats aren't really my forte): I was holding out for lunch - but for my companions. They swear by the waffles at 'Skoufa Bistro' in Kononaki, a bit further down from Rosebud. Of course by the time we were there, people were having lunch - and the food did look good. Note to self: bistro lunch @ Skoufa Bistro.

Eventually it was time for lunch. We pondered between a the 'lazy option' of having lunch where we were, the 'pigout option' of going to 'La Pasteria' and having a pasta each, and one to share (plus starters and a pizza), or the 'try something new' option of going for an Asian meal at one of the places in the side streets of Syntagma. Eventually went for option number three (though letting go of the pasta wasn't easy). We ended up in 'Dosirak' on Voulis 33, a Korean restaurant which includes Japanese dishes. I had spicy squid with steamed rice - very pleasant. I was very happy. My friends had the Katsu (deep fried breaded pork), which I also tried and which was nice. We shared some yakitori skewers and mixed mushrooms. Both were good. The only thing that tasted a bit wrong was the sake (and that may be just me - I'm no sake connoisseur). Over all I'd say if you fancy something different, its worth a visit. Next was dessert.

We went to 'Chatzis' on Syntagma square. This is a chain that started off in Thessalonika - so that alone should vouch for its quality. None the less I will say that we had some ice cream. The depth of flavour and texture was on par with no other. By this time it was around five-ish, and I could have happy called it a day but jokingly made a comment suggesting we have a few early drinks - and before I knew it off we were to Baba-au-Rum!

Now for those of you who haven't tried it, YOU HAVE NOT HAD A COCKTAIL TILL YOU'VE HAD A COCKTAIL AT BABA-AU-RUM. Now for me, and that's just personal taste, because I go for the drinks, I find that the best time to come is early afternoon, before it has time to pack up - at which point getting a drink is a Marathon and a half. I had my ever loved 'Sonic Boom' which, as best as I can describe it, is a mouth watering drink with a chilli kick to it. All was well for us here until the sun came down and the phenomenally chilled music sent us to sleep. We left - but not before deciding to end the day with a walk and a break for hot chocolate.

We walked until Gazi and stopped at 'Secreto', a relatively new place that operates probably more a a bar-club at night but was just right with just the right number of people for a day-ending hot chocolate. The décor has a dark back & red decadent feel to it - actually quite pleasant. We sat inside where we were happy to find that the smoking ban was being respected (at least at this time of day).
By eight thirty-ish we decided to call it and continue our walk home. We went though Thisio and round the Acropolis via 'Apostolou Pavlou' and 'Dyonisiou Aropagitou' - a great walk at any time of the day. As we walked with the Parthenon on our left and a hotel on our right (which had some sexual innuendo in its name) we pondered on the personal affairs of the ancient Greeks - I know - random - that's just what got into our minds!

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Gazi College: Best of Both Worlds

Today I think it's my turn to write about "Gazi College"...

Once upon a time not so long ago, a youth by the name of George embarked on an exploratory adventure of Athens. With the help of a veteran of the scene and fellow ex army postman, he discovered a sort of club called 'Mad' in an area called Gazi.

Back then there was no metro stop in the area and getting to Gazi was a matter of enduring rush-hour levels of traffic at 1am and wishing upon the god of parking for a cozy parking space to leave thy vehicle. Little did George know that not so far into the future this area would not only be a mainstream place for going out but also a five minute walk from his place of work.

This club that the boys had visited wasn't really George's cup of tea, but for only that it was one of the first steps of what was to be a great adventure, he had always held the club in a special place along with other fond memories. Therefore it was not to his liking when one day on returning home from work, his crossed the spot where the club once stood only to discover that it had been replaced by a coffee-food-maybe-bar style place called "Gazi College".

George was aware that the general area of Gazi was undergoing major changes due to the Keramikos Metro stop that had opened on the main square, and in his mind - affected by the disappointment that the physical link to one of his fondest memories was no more - this new place was just another one of the many new businesses that were popping up like mushrooms.

The story was the same for all of them: shroud businessman in suit and tie has money to invest. Throws money at consultants, financial advisers, interior decorators, cooks, bar men, blady blady bla... everything in a huge melting pot, stirs with an evil laugh, and out comes yet another soulless cafe/ bar/ restaurant.

To that end, George stayed away from this place for a long time after it had opened, until one day, around noon on a Saturday he found himself in Gazi with a friend thirsting for coffee and a snack. For no particular reason they sat at Gazi College.

Needless to say that the George in the story is me, and boy was I wrong about Gazi College. I guess every now and then the hoard of accountants, interior designers etc. get it right!

That first time we had a coffee each and two mini-burgers to share. Looking through a menu I usually get a fairly accurate vibe about a place, and it was really bugging me that I was getting a good vibe about this place. Not a huge menu, and nothing there that seemed to be there just for the sake of being there. One, Two for Four mini burgers, a choice of maybe four pizzas including the Margarita, a few salads, a few sandwiches and probably a few things I cant remember. Point is, spot on Cafe-Lunch material.

The burgers were to die for, small and succulent with tasty sauces, and best of all, served with fresh fries - and you know, when a place makes the effort to serve freshly fried crunch chips they're going to make the effort for allot more other things. Looking around a got a glimpse of the Pizzas: thin based, not too much cheese, straight out the oven. I was dead set on coming back to try them.

After going on and on about the mini-burgers, next time I went was with my burger-connoisseur friend & co. The burgers got the thumbs up - as did the interior of the place that I hadn't really noticed before. Decorated with a college-books-globes-equations-study vibe (unsurprisingly). And the music was definitely there, but at just the right volume and of just the right genre to create a pleasant atmosphere without being overwhelming. We also tried some deserts: a cheese cake and a chestnut caramel cream filled sweat bread. Thumbs up there too.

And finally, the pizza, which I had to wait one more time to try. After a Saturday of working in the office (deadlines - who needs them?!?), I went with a colleague. Two mini burgers, a Caesar salad, and a Margarita pizza all to share. The burgers where, by now, something that one can count on. The pizza, like i said, thin based, tasty sauce, not too much cheese: yum yum yum! The salad, slightly over dressed, but i think i'll give it another try. All and all a very pleasant meal.

There there it is. George on Gazi College. And why you ask the best of both worlds? In a nutshell, Gazi college combine the new with the old. A cozy place in a great area with easy access by car or public transport and good modern menu items on offer. A great place to go for a morning or afternoon coffee, brunch or lunch!

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Update: 14/05/2011

The Mini Burgers

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Kozis: The Best Meat in Town

I lie. I admit. Its not the best meat in town. Unfortunately: because it is located outside of town: in the suburban region of Melisia.

Its called Kozis. The name of the place is Kozis. Kozis!

I've written the name of the place three times so it sticks with you... because the 'best meat' part is the gods honest truth!

The story goes, that after reading an article on-line about this tiny grill on http://athens.dailysecret.com/ I decided to visit in search of the best burger. I showed up with a bottle of my all time favourite Nandos extra hot Peri-Peri sauce for the sake of spicing up my meal. I ordered a Burger and my companion ordered a T-bone steak. We shared a caeser salad. Turns out that although Kozis could give a good fight on the 'Best Burger' front, its not worth the effort considering that its meat so much so on another level compared with most, that it just seems that meat is being wasted by everyone else.

As I gulped down the extra crunchy chips dipped in my peri-peri sauce, I caught, what seemed to be, the big cheeses eye. He recognised my Nandos peri-peri sauce (having been brought up in South Africa as is the origin or the Nandos brand) and we got into a conversation about how much we liked it and how it was a shame we couldn't get it in Greece, how I always got people travelling from the UK to bring me some and how he'd discovered an "Extra Hot Caribbean sauce" which was the closest alternative to be found. So much so was the excitement that he told his sister to bring a bottle for us on her way to work, and as we waited he proceeded to provide an large assortment of drinks for us! His name was Kozi!

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Kozis is a family run business named after 'Kozi' - what he was called in South Africa by his friends who couldn't pronounce 'Konstantinos'. The meat marinated in specially ordered south african spice mixtures and cooked to perfection as ordered. I recommend a caesar salad to share and a ribeye steak - end of.

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