One Last Plug For Our Sister Site Beware The Cheese

Seriously, if you're in the Athens area, come on down tomorrow night to what's going to be a great show.  Come see some great art, meet the Candy Critic, and maybe score yourself a free treat.  Here's more information about the show:

Come see our final art show in Athens entitled "Αντίο κι ευχαριστώ για τα ψάρια" opening tomorrow night June 4th from 7:30 to 9:30.  On display will be several fine art mixed media pieces, as well as beautiful photographic prints.  The show continues till Wednesday June 11th.  You can learn more about the show here: http://www.bewarethecheese.com/solong/

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Photo Show From Our Friends At Beware The Cheese

Our sister site www.bewarethecheese.com are part of a group photography show in Athens opening tonight.  If you're in the area come on down and see some really nice photographs.

Click here for more information on the show.

Photo Show From Our Friends At Beware The Cheese

Our sister site www.bewarethecheese.com are part of a group photography show in Athens opening on April 18th.  If you're in the area come on down and see some really nice photographs.

Click here for more information on the show.

Photo Show From Our Friends At Beware The Cheese

Our sister site www.bewarethecheese.com are part of a group photography show in Athens opening on April 18th.  If you're in the area come on down and see some really nice photographs.

Click here for more information on the show.

Chocolate Factory Find In Athens

While walking up a street in Athens today, I noticed a really big sign on the front of a building. I noticed it because it happens to be a sign for a very well known chocolate making company here in Athens.  I then noticed that the whole building was in fact covered with this sign and realized that this was a factory where this chocolate is made.  I could tell it was a factory because of the large vats on the left side of the building.

I decided to walk around the factory to see what else I could see.  For the most part the factory was pretty bleak and un-impressive, but then I came to a small pedestrian street along the side of the building.  The first thing I notice was another huge sign, then I noticed that this street must be where the ventilation system ends, because the smell was fantastic.

I decided to walk down this street, so I could enjoy the smell, and I came across two really great machines.  It appears that they've decided to decorate this exquisite smelling street with a few of their old chocolate making machines.  The first one I came across was an old cocoa bean crusher.

The second one appeared to be an old cocoa bean roaster.  The street was fairly sparse, except for these machines, and that's a shame.  I think you could turn this little street into a chocolate museum.  Maybe add a few more machines, and a few interpretative panels explaining the history of chocolate in Greece as well as how chocolate bars are made.  The wonderful smell of the factory would really enhance the whole experience.

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Art Show Tomorrow!!!

Just a reminder that our sister site bewarethecheese.com, is having a big art show at the Finnish Institute at Athens.  The whole Candy Critic gang is going to be there to support the show, and we hope you can make it too.

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Yogurt Instead of Ice Cream

A new dessert place has opened up in Athens and I think it's one of those brilliant ideas that I'm suprised hasn't been around for a long time already.  The place is called "Fresko", and their specialty is Greek yogurt.  Right now, all over Athens, you can find gelato and ice cream places, but as far as I know this is the only yogurt place.  Sure ice cream is great, but most of these places aren't that different or better than one another.  More importantly, although Greek ice cream is tasty, it's not really a great representation of the country.

Fresko takes something that is truly Greek and gives it a tourist/modern twist.  The best way to describe this place is to say it's like an ice cream sundae bar, but with yogurt instead.  They have several varieties of yogurt, to choose from, I went with the tradition Greek yogurt and it was spectacular.  If you've never tried Greek yogurt in Greece, you're in for a pleasant surprise.

The topping slection is also worth note.  They have several different types of honey, preserved fruits, nuts, and a few sweet choices as well.  I suggest the pine honey and walnuts.

If you want to sample a real Greek food experience, yogurt is a must.  Fresko allows you to taste the high quality yogurt, with traditional flavours, but in a modern way.

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Outside Writing Project

I just wanted to announce a little side project that I'm working on right now.  After offering my services to the upcoming Special Olympics happening here in Athens this summer, Team Canada asked me if I would be willing to be the official travel blogger for all of the athletes, families, and fans of Team Canada.  I was thrilled at the opportunity and the first installment of the blog has gone online.  Most of all I look forward to cheering on Team Canada here in Athens at the games this summer.

Click here to check out the Team Canada site and my blog.

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Chocolate Street Athens

Just down this street, right off of Syntagma square, in Athens is a really crazy candy phenomenon.  This one street, actually this one block of this one street, has more candy stores on it then I've ever seen on any street anywhere in the world.  This very short block consisting of about a dozen stores has 5 full size candy stores.  Stranger still is all of these stores are high end fancy stores.

Starting at the end of the block is Le Chocolat.  This store consistently has one of the nicest candy windows in the whole city.

Next down the street is Aristoerateon, a very small candy shop but it's packed to the gills with chocolate covered cookies and fruit.

Next on the street is Leonidas.  Leonidas is a chain of candy stores here in Athens that specializes in high quality Belgian chocolates.

Now this store poses a bit of a mystery for me.  It too is called Le Chocolat, but I'm not sure of its relation to the store down the street.  If it's the same store, I find it a little odd that they would open a second location about 30 feet from the first.

The final store on this street might not really qualify as a "candy store", but instead it's a high end bulk food store that specialize in candy. They sell other stuff too, but they seem to really specialize in candy.  So if anybody finds that they're going to be swinging by Athens and they want a suggestion for a place to see a powerhouse of Greek candy, this is the street for you.  Just look for the "Public" store in Syntagma square and turn down the street.

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Best Looking Chocolate Croissant Ever

The other day, Allison and I were walking through the streets of Athens when we walked by a small bakery.  Both of us stopped, turned and stared at what can only be described as the most intense chocolate croissants anyone has ever laid eyes upon.  Briefly described, it is a chocolate filled croisant with chocolate icing, chocolate sprinkles and icing sugar on top.  It weighs a lot and, as you can see, is about the 6 inches across.  Unfortunately it wasn't the tastiest chocolate croissant in the world.  The dough was really tough and the chocolate was OK but a little low on the cocoa.  It's too bad because had these small details been look after this would have ranked as one of the greatest baked desserts ever.

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Sexy Ad For Cinnamon Buns

Apparently new Cinnabon locations are popping up all over Athens, and they seem to be advertising to a certain demographic as well.  I'm not saying that I'm offended by this, I'm just saying that it looks more like an advertisement for a sexy radio station than a place to get cinnamon buns.  Although when it comes to pastries I think cinnamon buns rank number 2 on the list of most sexy.  Number one has to go to "sticky buns", trust me just do a google search for them.

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Street Oranges

Here in Athens there are orange trees all over the place, you really can't walk a block without seeing one just growing in the middle of the sidewalk.  All of this citrus growing freely on public property made me wonder, can you eat them?

I did a little research and learned that it is completely legal to pick and eat any fruit that is growing on a tree on public grounds.  I also learned that most of the oranges are a breed of orange that tastes horrible (although apparently good for marmalade).  The other thing that kept coming up when I asked people about the oranges is questions about sanitation, I promptly ignored most of these.

I ignored them because I decided that since it was legal and all, I should try one out.  So one day walking home from a fun adventure, I picked what appeared to be a fairly clean looking orange from a high branch.

The first thing I noticed when I cut it open was the amazing smell, it had to be one of the best smelling oranges I've ever cut open.  However after looking at it I was a little nervous about this stunt.

I took one bite... let me re-phrase that, I sunk my teeth into the first bite, and I was blown away at how sour this orange was.  My lips hurt and remained numb for about 20 minutes or so and I didn't even get a full bit in.  I have never tasted anything this sour in my whole life, and that's saying a lot considering the number of Tear Jerkers I've consumed.

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More About Athens Coffee Time Donuts

A few weeks ago I wrote about discovering that Coffee Time Donuts (a chain from Canada) has a few locations here in Athens.  Well today I decided to break down and pick up a donut to compare.  Now you might wonder why I would have to even think about buying a donut in the first place.  Well the fact that they cost about 1.50 Euros is pretty much the main reason.  That's more than 2 bucks in Canadian.

So today curiosity took over and with Allison's heavy encouragement we bought a donut.  We decided to go with a simple chocolate sprinkle in order to give it a fair comparison.  They had a few "fancy" flavours, but it wouldn't be fair if I couldn't compare it with something I'm familiar with in Canada.  As it turns out it's really not that bad or that different.  The only real difference is in the texture.  The Greek donut was a little bit fluffier than I remember the Canadian version being.  It's not surprising as I've found many Greek versions of baked goods to be a little fluffier than their original counterparts.  This is good to know, if I ever do get totally homesick, I know where to turn.

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Free Candy At The Mall

I went to the local mall this weekend in order to make sure none of my family would hate me (i.e. Christmas shopping) and I got a nice little assortment of free candy.  Both where completely random and both tasted absolutely yummy.

Along with my Jelly Bellies I also got their latest catalog of flavours.  So that made this free candy giveaway entertaining and educational.  I sure hope this is a regular thing here in Athens.

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Secret Bread Sticks

Allison and I went for a walk the other day and we decided to pick up a snack to stave off the hunger that comes from venturing through the streets of Athens.  Allison found these bread sticks that had sunflower seeds stuck all over them.  They where super yummy but one thing we couldn't figure out at all.

What does this illustration on the front of the package mean.  Is it telling us that there's a secret ingredient?  Is it telling others not to tell us about these awesome treats?  Maybe it's just telling me to shut up?  I'm confused and offended.

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Donut Shop Sightings In Athens

This weekend I had two awesome donut shop sightings.  The first made me happy because as it turns out a Canadian donut maker has several locations here in Athens.  They apparently opened them up for the Olympics a few years back and they're still around.

The second donut shop sighting was one of the funniest things I've ever seen.  I'd describe it here but you can pretty much see for yourself.

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Coconuts For Sale

Throughout many of the tourist spots here in Athens one often finds these vendors selling coconut treats. Actually only some of the items for sale could be deemed as treats, the main attraction is actually just chunks of coconut. They keep the chunks hydrated with mini sprinklers that put on a good show. The only treat they seem to have is these small little logs that I can only assume are made up of coconut.

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Great Bakery In Athens

While on a long walk through Athens, Allison and I decided to stop at this bakery for a quick snack. Everything on the shelf looked absolutely fantastic, behind the main counter where several large tables with two chefs working feverishly on creating new treats, so it appears everything is made in store.

Best of all the staff was attentive to us but not pushy. In our tired just having taken a really long walk state this was just the type of place we needed to recharge with a sweet snack.

Then it happened, after picking a couple of small treats (pictured above some baklava for me and Allison got a round nutty cookie thing) the lady told us that they where free. This is a brilliant way to keep customers coming back. We got a free taste of some very yummy snacks and we will be coming back, we will recommend this place to all of our friends, and I am plugging this place on my blog.

If you're in Athens here's this bakery marked on the candy map.

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