Lefteris Mohiannakis from Anama wine – perseverance and dedication to timeless wine from Cyprus.
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?
Not long to go now @SaturdayKitchen yikes!!!
— maria elia (@thisismariaelia) October 19, 2013
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.
@thisismariaelia @SaturdayKitchen just checking, always ready to assist 🙂 have a great show! JM
— Infusions4chefs (@Infusions4chefs) October 19, 2013
@thisismariaelia @SaturdayKitchen And breath…… you’re brilliant!
— Laura Wallace (@LJRHW) October 19, 2013
Focusing on the cooking is also another!
Can’t say I was proud of my omelette but happy to get on the board 🙂 @SaturdayKitchen god, thank was so nerve racking!!
— maria elia (@thisismariaelia) October 19, 2013
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!
@CyprusWines @timatkin @ameliarope @kylebooks I'd of chosen the white- Vouni Panayia made from the rare grape Promara to go w my dish!
— maria elia (@thisismariaelia) October 19, 2013
About SmashingPlates
All Maria’s Cooking can be found on her recently publish SmashingPlates book just launched
Zambartas, Vins de Chypre C’est quoi ça? Réponse á tout!
Dans un Français fluide l’ oenologue et propriètaire Akis Zambartas fait une mise au point avec Benoit Gaboriaud sur les points forts de Chypre.
“Le vignoble chypriote est le seul en Europe qui n’a pas de phylloxéra. Il y en a trois dans le monde, ils commencent tous par ch : Chine, Chili et Chypre. On a une viticulture ininterrompu depuis 6 500 ans. On a aussi des cépages autochtones. Donc pas de phylloxéra, cépage autochtone planté sur leurs propres racines, c’est ce qui donne l’intérêt à Chypre.”
Suivre l’info: Chez Mensup
Les vins de Chypre
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Wines for Smashing Plates have set sail
Discovering a nature of wine
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.
Grape moves inspiring Cyprus winemaking
High altitude harvest in Cyprus, brings out it’s true nature of wine
Grapes, vines and people – generations of family led vine-keeping takes a special turn during harvest. A space in time where all uncertainties affecting nature can be put to rest and where the human mind can now focus on synchronicity of work.
It’s in the Commandaria region where it all happening integrally for Cyprus Wine, lot’s of humility for your winemakers and a readiness for reciprocate exchanges.
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
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
Smashing plates to inspire Cyprus wine tastes
Magical Cooking by Maria Elia inspired in Cyprus to reach the bookshelves in time for aspiring winemaking
“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’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
Harvest in Cyprus has begun, The grapes are here
By all my Evoinos! The grapes have arrived. Cyprus Wine 2013 Vintage is on
It is with these creates of grapes that Harvest begins in Cyprus. A hearty welcome to the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes at the Zambartas Winery in Ayios Amvrosios
It feels like we’ve been suddenly relieved. As if it were a miracle, the lifecycle is put into gear again and we begin again. Eight months of the year listening and falling out to false expectations, these grapes, as international as they may be, right now they’re the most welcomed of guests that tonight will occupy the cool chambers of the winery.
The work has begun, and he who has no hand to lend, should now hold forever his peace.
All that wasn’t said and was left undone is just today part of a history chapter that has great chances of not even being written. That’s all for now, let’s just rejoice for the farmers, eonologists, wine makers and winery owners – the continuity has been ensured.
Great work ahead and Καλα κρασια (Kala krasia, Good Wine, Bon Vins)
Xynisteri reveals it’s second nature for Cyprus dry white wine
A secret about Cyprus Wine not to be taken as an advertisement – Xynisteri actually does age
Most Xynisteri white wines produced in Cyprus are actually meant for year-in consumption. However, a few winemakers, exhibiting patience and care for longevity, have been as of late, pleasantly surprised about how Xynisteri expresses today it’s second nature.
The downside to this is that only few selected wineries and have any well maintained stock to express this nature for the upcoming interest by Winelovers, yet this upcoming appreciation does open possibilities for expanding future styles of Xynisteri.
Pictured: Xynisteri 100%, 2008 Ayios Chrysostomos, Ezousa Winery
The coming of Age of Xynisteri
A desirable appetite for New Generation Wines from Cyprus
That taste which washed away a 30 year myth – Is this a far fetched afterthought for Cyprus Wines and Xynisteri grape?
Don’t just take it from us, seemingly, that past and sleepy giant is slowly but surely awakening to be appreciated again; A few years back it was in the words of a surprised Jancis Robinson.
Some of the worst wine I have tasted since I started writing about wine was what was available the one time we went on holiday to the far-eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus in 1983. The whites showed the most old fashioned of faults, oxidation, clearly having been made without recourse to temperature control. Rather charmingly retro in a way. BUT THE OTHER DAY,…..I came across this marvel, Kyperounda, Petritis Xynisteri 2011 Cyprus, so fresh and bursting with fruit
You can take reviews for whatever they’re worth, but in the context of wiping out 30 years of sustained negative review – the latest positive appreciation, is quite an achievement by the Petritis Xynisteri from Kyperounda.
Well done to the winemakers at Kyperounda Winery and the efforts of HallgartenDruitt (Novum Wines) and other importers, for taking a risk to make more Cyprus Wines available on their local markets.
Update 2015: The upcoming 8th Cyprus Wine Competition is to be celebrated in Limassol during the month of April.
For your interest: The actual Cyprus Wine Competition results sets the quality benchmark for Cyprus Wines.
Here: Consult current Cyprus Wine Awards (2012) results.
Wines & Vines Zine: Flip Through Cyprus Wines on your Device 