Harmonious notes at Lophou
Harmonious notes at Lophou
Costas Violaris has a flair for agro tourism, a love of his village and a feeling for business. A market gardener by training and profession he re-built a family house in Lophou in 1992 and opened it as the “Lophou Taverna”. I have known him since those days, and remember his first step into Agro-Tourism with the conversion of some upstairs rooms into tourist accommodation. Since then he has steadily expanded his village empire: more tables in the taverna; a lovely courtyard; some very comfortable hotel-style accommodations, and a most impressive wine bar and wine cellar suitable for meetings and functions.
Gastronomically Costas realised early on that supporting a place of its size depended upon more than local Sunday lunches and evening expat diners and with the energy for which he is noted he promoted his place to tour operators. He soon became a magnet for tourist buses, at lunch time and evenings. And, whilst some individual diners shied away from such things, clubs and affinity groups liked what Lophou Taverna had to offer.
Last week, for us, it was a return to Lophou after several years’ absence, to listen to some very pleasant and melodic classical music, performed by violinist Peter Witham and pianist Jon Kille, Cyprus residents both, whose talents are much in demand for various classical music occasions. The concert took place in Costas’ “Wine Cellar”, which seats about 60 for such events. The Wine Cellar has been built with the same pleasing style that marks everything Costas does – comfortable, customer-friendly, modern but retaining a charming rusticity.
The just-over-the-hour duration of the concert sped by as Messrs Witham and Kille played music by Dvorak, Bach, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Saint-Saens, Lehar and others. They did it with style and considerable accomplishment and the linking commentary by Peter Witham was witty and informative. None of the pieces was hackneyed, but to very middle-brow music lovers like us, recognition of many, like “Air on a G String”, “Moonlight Sonata” and “On Wings of Song” heightened the enjoyment. Peter and Jon didn’t just play well; they gave the appreciative full house a rattling good musical feast.
From this feast then, the audience, who almost to a man and woman had taken trouble with dress for the occasion (some lovely frocks on ladies of three generations, for example and some smart male shirts and jackets) repaired to Costas’ Taverna and his “Set Meal”, which was generally enjoyed (to judge by the well cleaned plates). It was, I suspect, his “Tourist Mezze”, and there were some good flavours, notably a dish of vegetable-tinged “Kritharaki” (“Little Barley” pasta), Bamies (“Lady’s Fingers”), egg-and-spinach and pourgouri pilaff. However, the meaty part, chicken and pork Souvla, was disappointing. Our portions were somewhat dry and over-cooked, and the accompanying roast potatoes were undercooked and barely roasted. It prompted the thought in my mind that Costas might well consider flexibility when catering for residents as opposed to tourists – many of us have been confronted with enough Souvla to last a lifetime, and for me at least a good pot of beans and vegetables and a chicken casserole would have been more appetising.
This small caveat doesn’t alter the fact that this was a good evening and at €25.00 a head all in, including generous provision of Costas’ Jug Wine – the every day red or white from Tsiakkas, which everyone found most acceptable – good value. It was one of the “Music in the Mountains” programme, whose versatile organiser is musician-singer and big name impersonator Andrew Oliver, to whom all credit. Andrew has built a programme for nearly all tastes and if you aren’t familiar with it, look at HAPPENINGS here, every week or the super website www.cyprusvillagelink.com
Wednesday 17th June is the next classical music night, offering music for string quartet, at Ayios Amvrosios.
Lophou Taverna, Coffee Shop, Wine Bar and Accommodation. Tel. 2547 0202 / 9946 8151. Taverna open every day, except Monday for lunch and dinner. Coffee shop and Wine Cellar, 9 am to 10 pm every day.
