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QUALITY and VALUE FOR MONEY are the things the Cyprus Gourmet searches for, every day of the year. Too often in this country the consumer/customer/visitor is not getting the best deal for the food and wine he buys, whether in a restaurant or taverna or from a food retailer. And today, much of what is good and produced in Cyprus is hidden by an avalanche of imported items, many of them unnecessary. Our cuisine is in danger of being stereotyped as packaged lountza and halloumi and Souvla. Many of our readers, like us, want to “eat local” – so…
(1) Who cooks the best Cyprus Food?
For many years we have been championing the cause of Cyprus wine and this reached a culmination in our first annual TOP 50 WINES AWARDS. This work – which is a pleasure! – will continue.
Now we want to find our country’s BEST COOKS.
The Cyprus Gourmet – and friends – are looking for the best place to eat genuine Cypriot food. It could be at a small family run village taverna, it could be a restaurant in town or by the sea, or, even in a hotel. It might be luxurious or homely – what we want to find is the best local cooking!
We ask all our readers to nominate the eating place they go to for Good Cyprus Food and to name the chef(s). The criteria are simple… the proprietor(s)/chef(s):-
1. Must be Cypriot born.
2. Must cook their own versions of Cyprus food. Points will be given for creativity, imagination and innovation. Note will also be taken on the quality of the traditional dishes presented.
3. Should use local ingredients as much as possible (extra marks will be given for local sourcing).
4. Must be properly licensed.
We would like to know:
1) Name of restaurant, taverna or hotel;
2) Address, phone number and any other relevant information;
3) Name(s) of chefs;
4) Style of meal (mezze, table d’hôte, à la Carte, buffet, etc.);
5) Approx cost of a meal for two with wine;
6) What is special about this place?
Please send your nominations by e-mai, marked “Best of Cyprus Food” l to [email protected], or visit our website and use the form provided there.
(2) Where can you buy wine by the glass?
The answer is in more places than you could a year or two ago. However, you don’t necessarily get a good wine or good value. A few weeks ago I dined in an expensive restaurant and wanted a glass of white wine to start. The “sommelier” didn’t know what he’d got on offer and rummaged about at the bar to see which white wines were open. I got a glass of local wine in poor condition. Other tales like this often reach me.
Now, that entertainin’ man Andrew Oliver, who among his many activities plays piano for customers’ delectation in various eateries and hostelries, sends me a note, which he calls…
“THE WINE-O-METER”
What he says is worth noting, and especially for those who want more than “just a glass of any old wine”, worth developing. Andrew says:
“A customer complained about the price of a glass of red wine in the bar I was playing piano in the other night and it got me thinking. I was surprised at the complaint, since the price charged was €4.40 and I had previously spent a month playing in a bar where it was €5.90 and I had just done an audition in a hotel where it was €8.00.
Of course there are plenty of variables involved: the quantity and quality of the wine, the glass, the service, the type of venue, live music, food available, etc. You’ve probably heard of Burgernomics, where the price of a standard burger is compared worldwide as a rough guide to the cost of living in different countries. Well, here I launch the Wine-o-meter, where we simply compare the price of a glass of wine in various hotels, lounge bars, pubs, tavernas and restaurants in Cyprus.
I will start the ball rolling with this list and together with Cyprus Gourmet invite you to let us know what prices you have found in your travels, together with a little detail on the type of venue and location.”
7 Seas Music Bar Limassol – Lounge – live music – €9;
Annasa Hotel Bar Latchi – Lounge – live music – €8;
JJs Lounge & Pianobar – Lounge – live music – €4.40;
5th Floor Paphos – Lounge – no music – €3.50;
Armou Tavern, Armou – Coffee Shop – no music – €2;
Anthos Pub, Armou – Pub – no music – €1.00.
For Cyprus Gourmet, we would also like to know the size of glass and the name of the wine. PLEASE SEND US YOUR VIEWS! Only by publishing information can we expand the serving of wines-by-the-glass which provide quality and value.
1. Name of restaurant, bar, hotel or other location;
2. Other activities: e.g. food / music / live entertainment / other;
3. Address, phone number and any other relevant information;
4. Name of wine-by-the-glass purchased;
5. Size of glass (approximately);
6. Cost;
7. Name(s) of owner/chefs;
8. Opinions on quality and value of wine and establishment generally.
Please send your nominations by email, marked “Wine-o-meter” to [email protected] , or visit our website and use the form provided there.
Nominations for “Best Cyprus Cook” will be featured on this page, on our website and in “Cyprus Gourmet Magazine”, and we shall make our awards for the TOP FIFTY later in the year.
Your ratings of “Good Wine-by-the-glass” will also be published regularly.
