Taste of India

Kudos to local Cypriot tastes exported

Cyprustasting-india
Triple kudos crown to them for organising and to Subhash Arora – Indian Wine Academy for reporting.

For the evening were presented by Sommelier Magan and his colleague, Gagan Sharma WSET Dip. It was a very palatable and educational evening that needs to be repeated frequently, a continual process that needs to be structured. But kudos to H.E Demetrios Theophylactou for spearheading a tasting that was long overdue and would certainly not have been easy to organise.

Also a great read – The wine tasting evening was greatly enjoyed by the guests by Radhika Puar a.k.a The Grape Vine

Save

A nature of wine - cyprus wine blog

New Cyprus Wine Vintages to be showcased in Zurich

Spring is the season for renewing contact with New Generation Wines of Cyprus.

April 25, 2016 – Wolfbach11, Wolfbachstrasse 11.  Zurich is the host city to open a series of wine events related to the Cyprus Wine. The first of such occasion to bringing winemakers and winelovers together has been made possible by the guiding selection of Paphos Wein Imports, promoting Cyprus Wines in Switzerland for  a decade now

The wine scene in Cyprus has evolved dynamically in recent years and high altitude vines grown in the high-altitude foothills of the Troodos mountains enable winemakers to produce sought out and complex wines, that combine Mediterranean charm, structure and freshness in itself.

Vines of Cyprus - Winemaking regions of Cyprus

The Zurich event, Zypern: Viel Neues von der Insel, organised jointly with Mettler Vaterlaus, will be a tasting of new vintages made possible by Paphos Wein with the showcase for the long-established varieties like Xynisteri, Maratheftiko or Lefkada as well as from international varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah or Cabernet Sauvignon and even the much celebrated revival of Commandaria Sweet Wine.

Guests will be able to meet and talk with Winemakers which be on hand in representation of the wineries from Ezousa, Etko, Makkas, Tsiakkas and Zambartas – all in the fore front of winemaking in Cyprus – An excellent opportunity to renew contact.

The event

15:30 to 17:00
Free tasting for professionals. Admission free. Registration required.

17:00 to 20:00
Free tasting for wine lovers. Admission free. Registration required.

Particiapting Wineries
Ezousa Winery
Etko Wines
Makkas Winery
Tsiakkas
Zambartas Wineries

Date
Monday, April 25, 2016
3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Wolfbach11, Wolfbachstrasse 11, 8032 Zurich

Save

Saturday Morning kitchen’s Smashing Plates Recipes

How to overcome a late night and early morning stress, before cooking, for the live show Saturday Kitchen?

And especially, How does Maria Elia do it? 

slow braised pork maria elia

Smashingplates recipe and Cyprus Grapes to match Promara, Maratheftiko, Xynisteri

Our guess is as good as yours, until she tells us….but receiving lot’s of encouragement and support can truly make the difference.

Focusing on the cooking is also another!

but how about food matching with wines?

Which wine do you think she would preffer to match her special cooking on this edition of Saturday Kitchen – Slow Braised pork with wilted greens, olives and capers?

a) a rare grape Promara  white wine from Vouni Panayia,  b) a Maratheftiko Rosé from Ezousa or c) a fresh young white Xynisteri?

Can you guess it? Because she will tell us when she’s done.

What a day for Maria – great cooking!

About SmashingPlates
All Maria’s Cooking can be found on her recently publish SmashingPlates book just launched

Wines for Smashing Plates have set sail

Discovering a nature of wine

Cyprus Wines for Smashing Plates Ezousa,Anama,Vouni Panyia Wineries

A bold book launch by Maria Elia #SmashingPlates could not deserve anything less.

Under the Evoinos guidance, we’ve packed Cyprus Indigenous white and red grapes to support the Smashing Plates book launch receptions taking place during the month of October in London.

Three bold wineries of Vouni Panayia, Ezousa and Anama will represent a consequent representation of wines aspiring for renewal and reach, embodying the essence of what we like to call – The New Generation Wines of Cyprus.

Xynisteri, Spourtiko and Promara white grapes will be matched by Maratheftiko and Mavro red and rosé wines for the different plates proposed by enlightening Chef Maria Elia.

We cannot but be thankful and humbled by the effort and willingness to collaborate by the present winemakers, Andreas Kyriakides, Michalis Constantinides and Lefteris Mohianakis at a time where quality winemaking in Cyprus is being challenged by all surrounding elements.

Success to an onward journey to the participants in captivating an eager audience for enhanced Mediterranean Tastes sourced from Cyprus.

Smashing plates launch dinner with Maria Elia

Your chance to Participate and Win

Never did the Mediterranean bring out such an opportunity for renewal in taste

Scallops Watermelon Tomato Bean BaklavaBeets Feta Curd

A modern take on classic dishes inspired from within – Maria Elia’s Cyprus roots has served to bring out the virtues of fresh and wild ingredients into a collection of new world recipes.

Maria will be joined by 50 other guests for an eye opening premiere of Maria Elia’s four course meal dinning based on recipes from her new book SMASHING PLATES that is to be released on the 27th of September.

Winners will be announced shortly after closure of the draw on the 25th of September.

The Smashing Plates Book Launch dinner will take place at The Hospital Club in Covent Garden, London. The lucky winners will enjoy a stunning four course meal based on recipes from the book and receive their own signed copy of SMASHING PLATES on the night.

Also not to miss is Maria Elia’s stunning appearance on the SaturdayKitchen show demonstrating her cooking on stage one of her recipes from her book Smashing Plates.

Smashing Plates is published by Kyle Books released on the 26th of September, 2013.
At Amazon Smashing Plates: Greek Flavours Redefined (affiliate link)

Smashing plates to inspire Cyprus wine tastes

Magical Cooking by Maria Elia inspired in Cyprus to reach the bookshelves in time for aspiring winemaking

Smashing plates with maria elia

“Eat well feeds the soul” a fulfilled task endorses Ferrán Adrià, about Maria´s newest editorial proposal; Smashing Plates; Greek Flavours Redefined

That magical effect that cooking can bring to the palate, accompanied with wine, is an invitation to be inspired. Evolving tastes deeply rooted in one’s origins can also contribute to inspire other creators within the gastronomic spectrum to seek out how to match this renovation which calls also for adding news styles of wines, pushing the limits of local grapes and winemaking.

Smashing Plates is an invitation for those that love the fresh flavours of Greek and Mediterranean cuisines, and who are not afraid to be adventurous in the kitchen with flavours and combinations. The 120 recipes are inspired by Maria’s Cypriot roots and a summer spent cooking at her father’s taverna in the Troodos mountains.

From delicious vegetable dishes such as Carrot Keftedes to food of the seas such as Courgette and Feta Crumbed Squid, alongside a tempting range of sweet dishes including Watermelon Mahalepi, Rose Water and Almond chocolate tea cakes and Chocolate Tahini Cake.

Smashing Plates is a stunning compendium of Maria’s inventive recipes that will open the readers eyes to a whole new world of Greek cooking, with its focus on fresh food, vegetables and olive oil, is healthy, affordable and delicious. Maria’s inventive approach gives it a contemporary appeal.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqhEBzC-IbA&w=480&h=360]

Nothing like smashing recipes to inspire grape crushing and winemaking in Cyprus as work in the wineries goes into full swing.

About Maria Elia

Maria Elia Chef CookMaria Elia’s love of cooking developed as a child growing up in the kitchen of her Greek Cypriot father’s restaurant. After a rigorous apprenticeship, Maria began her progression through the culinary world. She worked in Italy, America and Australia, spent time cooking at El Bulli and Arzak restaurants in Spain and at The Oriental Cooking School in Bangkok. www.thisismariaelia.com

The regional flavours of these far-flung places feature in Maria’s own recipes with considerable originality, earning her many fans during her tenures as head chef at Delfina and the Whitechapel Gallery Dining Room, where she garnered 2 AA rosettes and a Michelin recommendation. During her time as the executive chef at Joe’s in South Kensington, Maria continued to astound with her imaginative and flavoursome dishes. Not surprisingly, she was voted one of the Top 10 Female Chefs to watch by the Independent. Maria has appeared regularly on television programmes, including BBC Saturday Kitchen, Market Kitchen and Perfect, and contributes to various publications such as, BBC Good Food Magazine, Olive, Waitrose, Delicious and The Guardian. Alongside The Modern Vegetarian, she is the author of the award-winning cookbook Full of Flavour, also published by Kyle Books.

Smashing Plates is published by Kyle Books and is to be released on the 26th of September, 2013.
At Amazon Smashing Plates: Greek Flavours Redefined (affiliate link)

The ultimate Sommelier Challenge: above all a celebration

Update:  Congratulations to Paolo Basso, crowned new World Best Sommelier 2013 in Tokyo.

Arrived from around the world in Tokyo Tuesday, Candidates from 54 countries will compete over three days to win the title of world’s best sommelier at a competition organised by the ASI  (Association de la Sommellerie Internationale) and whose  winner of the Sommelier Competition  will be determined on Friday at the Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa in Tokyo.
vasos manol tokyo asi

Vasos Manoli, Candidate for Cyprus, expressed to AFP (Agence France Press), that the event above all, could be interpreted as a celebration – whereby one of the virtues of wine ‘has by nature the has the capacity of reconciling people’.

“It’s been six months since I stopped my work to prepare myself fully in this competition” did he admit to the microphones of the AFP.  He will be competing with world’s best at a competition that is held every 3 years and where current world champion sommelier, Gerard Basset will also be at hand for the judging.

#BestSomm2013

Update:  27/3 Vasos Manolis had passed to the quarter finals. Photo Credit:  Cyprus Sommelier Association

Update: 29/3  Top 3 Sommeliers competing in the Final in Tokyo are Canadian Veronique Rivest, Swiss Paulo Basso & Belgian Aristide Spies

World Best Sommelier Final Wines Tasted

Final wines for best sommelier challenge

Spirits:  Kirsch Massenez (France); Vana Tallinn Liqueur (Estonia); Xaica Liqueur Ibiscus (Mexico); Picon Amer France; Commandaria 2004 (Kyperounda) Cyprus; Liqueur de Tomate (la Tomato) Japan;  

Wines: Albert Moreau Aigrots 2005 Premier Cru Beaune  (France  ; Yarden Pinot Noir Galilée (Israel);  Juan Gil 2010 Monastrell Jumilla (Spain);  Sula 2011 (India)

The new World’s Best Sommelier Paolo Basso – Crowned in Tokyo Japan today

PaoloBasso world best sommelier 2013

Grand Excitement for Prowein, Good luck Vasos

As all the wine converges in Dusseldorf,

proweinIt isn’t without some regret that two years ago we set our sight onto attending the Dusseldorf Wine Exhibition, and on the eve of the official opening, we can feel the energy, even if miles away, unpacking and sorting the wines before grand opening.

It’s our understanding that after the hellish week experienced to reach a Cyprus Bailout compromise, there is nothing like renewing bonds around wine.

To Another Great Year in Wine – See you next year 2014.

Coincidentally, also embarking for a World Wine Adventure, would be Vasos Manoli, Cyprus Sommelier Association candidate to the World Sommelier Championship by ASI in Tokyo, Japan – and to whom we extend are best of wishes in the competition. Years in waiting have finally proven worth it’s while.  Best of Luck Vasos

vasos manoli world sommelier

Vasos Manoli, Cyprus Sommelier Association Candidate

Harvesting wine experiences in Cyprus

Guest Blog Post by Kailash Gurnani –

Cyprus promised to be a new experience for the grape varieties, climate and nature of the wine industry – terraced hills slopes across the Limassol and Paphos regions that used to be vineyards signaled the history and significance of grape growing and winemaking in the country. Continue reading