With the scent of Crete |
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Traditional Cretan cuisine, |
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and the flavours of Greece |
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We search for local products |
Malia in Crete
Malia is a small town in the Heraklion prefecture. It is well-known for its horticultural products, its picturesque windmills, the wetland with rare flora and fauna, and the clean beaches with clear blue waters. Malia is also well-known for the Minoan palace of King Sarpedon, son of Zeus and Europe, which is one of the Read more about Malia in Crete[…]
Ο χώρος | OUR PLACE
Welcome!
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αρθρα | BLOG
Our own craft BeeRA
Our craft beers are fresh, unpasteurized, unfiltered beers It all started with our LAGER back in 2020. It was produced in limited quantities and exclusively for us by a local microbrewery (Notos Brewery, Heraklion). A high quality lager beer, brewed from selected ingredients according to our own recipe, with a traditional brewing method. Next year Read more about Our own craft BeeRA[…]
Talagani cheese
A traditional, handmade cheese made 100% of Greek ship and goat milk. It comes from an area in south Greece, Messinia. Thanks to its consistancy, it keeps its full taste – all reach aromas and distinct touch of mint – when grilled. It has a mastic texture and does not melt or lose its shape Read more about Talagani cheese[…]
Michael Tsagarakis – “Tsagaromihalis”
ο Τσαγκαρομιχάλης – Μιχαήλ Τσαγκαράκης This mansion was built by Michael Tsagarakis (the man pictured above) at the end of last century. He was a well respected man and had his own olive oil factory and flour mill. He had eight children. One of his sons, Kostas, was a judge and also Read more about Michael Tsagarakis – “Tsagaromihalis”[…]
‘Katsouna’ – the Cretan shepherd’s crook
In the mountains of Crete lives a tree, Ampelitsia … … a relative to elk in danger of extinction. Shepherds’ crook in Crete are traditionally manufactured with its wood. The Cretan crook or else ‘Katsuna’ was an integral part of the body of the Cretan. Elders but also young Cretan shepherds kept a ‘katsuna’ to help them Read more about ‘Katsouna’ – the Cretan shepherd’s crook[…]
Cretan diet
Greek culinary, with the variety and quality of its materials, with its wise, beneficial combinations and centuries of knowledge, enjoys a privileged position in the global taste culture. Greece is characterized by the numerous islands and the intense relief of the mainland. This morphological variety creates “worlds inside a world”. Common characteristics are the excellent Read more about Cretan diet[…]
the family pictures
The old family photo was a rare depiction of the family … … usually taken by itinerant photographers. The photos were black and white and the ones depicted on them were usually set and did not smile at the flashlight. When they called for the itinerant photographer to take a photo, people dressed in their Read more about the family pictures[…]
“Philotimo”, the Greek secret
Leading Greek-Americans Explain Why Hellenic Excellence Throughout History May Result From The Uniquely Greek Word “Philotimo” Arianna Huffington,George Stephanopoulos, Bob Costas and Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America Demetrios are among the nationally-known Greek-Americans who appear in video titled The Greek Secret produced by Manatos & Manatos for the Washington Oxi Day Foundation. The video suggests Read more about “Philotimo”, the Greek secret[…]
Our new video
An impressive and atmospheric video production by Videographer Nick Deris (NicPa Productions) visually transferring you to our restaurant and our avli (yard)
New additions to our wine list
For the 2020 winter season we introduce some very special labels of selected, aged red wines. Awards: silver – Grand International Wine MUNDUS VINI 2018 silver – Balkan International Wine Competition 2018 silver – Decanter World Wine Awards 2018 gold – TEXSOM International Wine Awards 2019 silver – Mundus Vini 2019 gold – TEXSOM International Read more about New additions to our wine list[…]
Farm fresh eggs
Most of the eggs used in our kitchen come from our chicken coop in our farm in Vitsilia, Malia. Real free roaming eggs, from chickens living in a natural habitat and under the best conditions; grazing at the grass field, under the Greek sun and clean air, eating natural and organic food.
Our heirloom ‘buffalo’ tomatoes
Our heirloom tomatoes come from an old and forgotten variety of Crete “psomontomata” that is cultivated organically – using his own, kept seeds for us – by a certified organic farmer, Vasilis Kavvalos in Agios Vlasis village. The difference from other varieties is at colour (pink), shape and unique flavour.
Organic cherry tomatoes
The cherry tomatoes we use are organic and of various varieties, such as cherries, acorns, etc. Our main supplier is the certified organic farmer Vassilis Kavvalos that cultivates them in the village of Agios Vlasis, Heraklion, with a lot of passion and special attention, so that they are always delicious and healthy. We also cultivate Read more about Organic cherry tomatoes[…]
‘Vlita’, nutrient local greens
Delicious and healthy greens* from our own garden, which offer many nutrients. They are rich in iron (132 g of steamed green vegetables provide 17% of the recommended daily iron intake), making them an ideal source of iron. They are rich in vitamin C and vitamin A. They are also a source of manganese, magnesium, Read more about ‘Vlita’, nutrient local greens[…]
Rocket
Rocket is an excellent tonic and extremely healthy green It protects against osteoporosis, obesity and cancer. It cleanses the blood, removes cholesterol, strengthens the walls of blood vessels, lowers blood sugar levels, stabilizes metabolism and therefore helps in our effort to lose weight. Our cultivation of our rocket comes from our field in the area Read more about Rocket[…]
Strawberries
We pay great attention to our cultivation of strawberries *the plant can easily take all the elements of its environment (soil, water supplies and others) and the strawberry has a tendency to easily retain pesticides. Our strawberries are grown on our estate in the region of Vitsilia in Malia, without any use of pesticides Read more about Strawberries[…]
“Liatiko”: our house wine
Our wine is made from 100% Liatiko variety grapes Liatiko is a Cretan variety, one of the oldest in the Mediterranean. The grapes ripen very early and have a faint red color as their main characteristic. Our vineyards are located in the village of Veni, in the province of Mylopotamos, in Rethymnon. We make our Read more about “Liatiko”: our house wine[…]
Cretan ‘Apaki’
“Apaki” is a particularly delicious Cretan pork, raised and prepared with love and in a special way. It is a traditional, natural product, which contains no preservatives. It gets its particular taste thanks to the choice of good raw materials, quality vinegar and the wonderful aromatic herbs of the fertile lands of Crete. The preparation Read more about Cretan ‘Apaki’[…]
“skioufihta”: the Cretan traditional, handmade pasta
Skioufihta are the local pasta – handmade, delicious, cooked in different ways according to your taste The main ingredients are wheat flour, water, salt and a little olive oil. They have a cylindrical shape and are not made with a classic dough roll like many other fresh pastas. Their name “skioufihta” or “skioufikta” comes from Read more about “skioufihta”: the Cretan traditional, handmade pasta[…]
“Siglino”, the Cretan cured pork meat
In Crete, “Siglino” is cooked from pork kept in the “glina”: the fat resulting from its sizzling. This method kept the pork as long as possible after the slaughter of the animal, since there were no refrigerators for storage at that time .
Our raki
Our raki (or Tsikoudia) is traditionally homemade using old methods After crashing the grapes to make wine, the rest of the pulp is stored until the small distilleries open and start producing the ‘raki’. It is a high quality distilled product with the aromas and the flavour of the Liatiko variety. Liatiko is an indigenous Read more about Our raki[…]
Homemade “Tirozouli” cheese
Tirozouli – “Tir-o-“: cheese, “tiro-komo” (verb): to make cheese, “-zouli”, “zoulao” (verb): press This traditional product of Crete has its roots in mythology. Remember Amalthea (the goat that raised the Cretan Zeus), whose horn still symbolizes abundance today! The milk of Cretan sheep and goats today is processed in a traditional way, but in modern Read more about Homemade “Tirozouli” cheese[…]
Tiro-philia; all Greek (cheeses) to you …
For all those considered as cheese lovers we prepared a list of selected – for their quality and taste – Greek types of cheese and traditional recipes to include in our menu. They are all meant to tempt your taste buds ! Join us on a culinary trip to some of the most famous products Read more about Tiro-philia; all Greek (cheeses) to you …[…]
Festive dishes for the Christmas period
We love Christmas and we love spending time with family and friends, enjoying delicious food and precious moments. In AVLI we have prepared selected festive dishes for the period, with Greek flavour, adding something ‘symbolic’ to our menu to bring you more than a nutritional satisfaction – which is always important. Come to try them Read more about Festive dishes for the Christmas period[…]
Our own early olive oil
Early olive oil is the natural juice from crushing unripe – unwrinkled olives retaining the green color and aroma of the fresh fruit. It is rich in all the valuable ingredients of olives – antioxidants, minerals, vitamins and provitamins, polyphenols and therapeutic substances – but also up to 5 times higher in content than a Read more about Our own early olive oil[…]
Νο1 Moussaka in Malia, by restaurantguru
Avli in Malia Restaurant Guru 2022 We joyfully received this latest award and we feel honoured! Moussaka is a classic greek dish, a light mixture of aubergines, courgettes and potatoes, with minced beef sauce covered with Bechamel sauce. If you haven’t tried it yet, you suggest you should!
VILANA FUME
We would like to introduce some of our new additions to our selected wine list for the summer 2022 season. We hope you will like them as we do ! A trail blazer for Cretan standards in wine making… From the delicate white Vilana variety, an impressive smoked white wine. A golden yellow wine Read more about VILANA FUME[…]
ORTHI PETRA RESERVE
We would like to introduce some of our new additions to our selected wine list for the summer 2022 season. We hope you will like them as we do ! Red BIO dry wine aged for 12 months in French and American oak barrels. Syrah 60%, Kotsifali 40% – 14,5% alc. It is known Read more about ORTHI PETRA RESERVE[…]
Selected dishes with organic ingredients
WE ADDED TO OUR MENU DISHES THAT ALLOW US TO USE INGREDIENTS COMING FROM OUR GARDEN ‘Dolmadakia’ With aromatic yoghurt dip € 4,80 ‘Kolokithanthi’ Stuffed zucchini flowers filled with a blend of local cheeses and basil. Deep fried in a crispy batter. € 5,00 Stuffed ‘kadaifi’ Shredded pastry (kadaifi) stuffed with pastourma (cured Read more about Selected dishes with organic ingredients[…]
A BIG THANK YOU FROM US!
Coming to the end of our summer season we would like to say a big thank you, for your love and support. We truly appreciate and are grateful for your help in learning new things, improving what we knew and getting strength and new ideas for the future. Thank you for being a part of our Read more about A BIG THANK YOU FROM US![…]