WHAT I ATE: PAROS
I was last in Greece over 20 years ago (to the darling island of Hydra) so I assumed this trip to Paros would also entail the same Mediterranean basics wherever this non-meat eater roamed: grilled fish, Greek salad, or spanakopita on repeat. I couldn’t have been more delightfully wrong.
We ate out every night except the first (we had a chef come to the house and serve our jet-lagged selves a home-cooked meal in our outdoor dining room:
There are dozens upon dozens of restaurants in Paros for every budget and every taste.
Here are just some of the highlights:
Located at the Cosme Hotel (we snuck in a romantic two-day stay after our family vacation was over) their beachfront restaurant Parostià, with its breathtaking views across the Bay of Nausoa, tempted us once and then again.
Warm and proficient service accompanied a glamorous menu via maestro Yiannis Kioroglou. If you go don’t miss these dishes:
Veggie Mango Ceviche : Daily Fish Sashimi served with lavender and marjoram dressing
Revithada Cosme: slow cooked chickpeas with truffle cream: it’s to share but I wanted the entire warm casserole dish to myself!
For dessert: their Semifredo: lemon and thyme concoction involving layers of dried mint and white chocolate.
Nestled in the cove of Ambelas beach, this was our first stop after we landed for lunch and we returned later in the week.
Of course we had their array of oysters, (hulled from France, Ireland, British Columbia and of course, Greece ) snappily served on an oversized blue and white melamine plate but their island salad with rockets, souroto cheese, sea fennel and other healthy delights swished down with a magical concoction involving passion fruit, amaretto and ginger was the clincher!
And their beetroot risotto with gruyere and black truffle oil! …again, reinforcing the global yet local vibe.
The service was as warm and friendly as the early afternoon sun.
Authentic Mediterranean tastes from local ingredients reimagined. What a joy to walk into an outdoor restaurant that’s brimming with people as casually elegant and festive as the food.
After gobbling down a feast of shared appetizers like tuna tartar with avocados and capers and split fava peas with octopus sauce sous vide in sun-dried wine, we all dashed out of our seats to their nearby dock at sunset for an epic family shot and then returned to our table to find the waiters lighting our sea bass baked in coarse salt à la table:
After a meal in Naoussa’s bustling port filled with people, winding streets and no cars, we climbed some steps perched over the water to a second floor oasis: an intimate bar with open windows overlooking the sparkling harbor and stunning Church of Agios. With vibey-music thanks to a DJ our kids were already dancing and sipping on cocktails by the time we had joined them. It was all so cinematic, we couldn’t stop taking pictures!
We loved grabbing cappuccinos and an occasional delicacy at Cannelait as we crisscrossed the island exploring.
With its slight Brooklyn hipster meets Paris vibe, everything here is handmade. Icing on the proverbial and literal cake is that, as they put it: “We also preserve and grind our very own citrus confits, praliné pastes, and spice blends to give life to our baked goods."
Captain Pipinos Seafood Taverna
One day we hired a small motor boat and explored coves around the nearby island of Antiparos. (which is a must-visit by quick ferry ride from Paros) At one point we looked up and saw the Church of Agios Spyridonas, a tiny deserted chapel perched high on a tiny islet like a white beacon for those who floating past on the Aegean.
We then bopped into this outdoor fish taverna that’s as simple as it was sensational.
There’s nothing more “I’m on vacation in Greece” feeling, than diving into a plate of marinated anchovies and a Pinot Grigio in your bathing suit and wet hair.
