Exploring Athens
As mentioned I took a small holiday last week and visited Athens and then the Amalfi Coast in Italy. The weather was beautiful the whole time and both places have their own charm. I wasn’t anticipating much from Athens but I really enjoyed it there. It’s grungy, there is graffiti everywhere and a bit of filth on the ground but look past that and the city has a style of its own.
The laneways leading up to the Parthenon twist and turn and cafes line the sidewalks. Flowers crawl up the walls of the buildings and once you get up the mountain the view across Athens is incredible. Houses and buildings spread for miles and taking in the view while the sun is setting is pretty spectacular.
There is such a lively vibe as you walk through Plaka. Restaurants are loud and filled with people and the food is so good. I had the best Greek yoghurt I’ve ever eaten and the gyros are amazing. So too is the feta. And the Greek coffee. I could go on and on!
Combined with its ancient monuments it’s a pretty amazing city to visit. To think that these huge monuments were built so long ago without modern day equipment is pretty extraordinary.
Next week I’ll be putting together a post for the Amalfi Coast so stay tuned.
If you would like to see more you can read my 10 things to do in Athens over at Sourced Cities.
Have a great weekend everyone!
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Rebirth of ‘a little relish’
I’m back from my trip away and have plenty of photos to share. But first a little update…
I mentioned a short time ago that the planning was underway for the next issue of a little relish. And you may recall I mentioned a slight rebranding? Well, many hours have been spent thinking, planning and thinking some more about the direction of the magazine and I realised it could be much more than just featuring my foodie finds of a city.
There is so much more to a city. Of course sampling the city cuisine is a big part of it but so too are the unique boutiques scattered throughout a city to do some shopping, the parks you might sit in to take in the sights or a hotel to rest your feet after a big day of exploring. With this development in mind I’d like to announce the birth of Sourced Cities.
Through the Sourced Cities guides I will take you on a walk through the city sampling the unique tastes, sights and style of what makes up each city. From morning, noon to night I’ll offer suggestions and through the photography and stories I hope to inspire you on your own personal journey there.
To keep you entertained in between city guide volumes you can follow my travels on the Sourced Cities blog. Here I will post my unique finds as I travel from place to place. I’ll provide suggestions or give advice on how to get around these cities. You will also find sneak peeks of the next city I’ll be featuring as a Sourced Cities guide.
And for the wannabe chef who likes to show off their culinary skills to family and friends, I’ll be posting regular recipes to provide you with a few ideas.
I’m excited about sharing my discoveries with you. To be updated with my travels and unique finds I invite you to join the Sourced Cities mailing list. Want to know where I’ll be travelling to next? Join the list and you will soon find out.
To receive updates by email subscribe to the Sourced Cities mailing list
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PS. I’ll still be keeping this blog updated with my personal projects and work :)
Le Falco
I recently visited Le Falco and instantly fell in love. The owners of this cafe really do have a nice design aesthetic. As you walk through the door you soon discover this is no ordinary cafe. Behind the counter is a collection of siphon coffee making equipment and watching how the coffee is brewed is both methodical and artistic.
For my second visit I went here early. Breakfast was their syphon coffee of the day (Ocamonte) along with a white chocolate and vanilla brioche that they order in from Boulangerie Guillaume (a very good bakery in Mile-End). Behind the counter food was being prepared and I hear their speciality is their onigiri, a Japanese rice ball wrapped in seaweed. All their menu items look light and everything prepared with care and delicacy.
The interior is very cool and styled perfectly with its blend of industrial and vintage elements, black and white graphics, potted plants and touches of glass. There is also a Bassi bike hanging from the ceiling and a hammock that is clearly the favourite item of children that come in with their parents.
Le Falco is an impressive and elegantly styled space and much more than just a cafe. It’s peaceful and inspiring. You could happily sit for hours working away on a personal project or reading a good book with coffee in hand.
I’m looking forward to a third visit so I can try a few other items on their menu. Have you been to Le Falco yet?
5605 de Gaspé
www.lefalco.com
I will now say au revoir for a week as I head to Athens later today. I’ll be spending a few days in Athens with my parents and then flying to the Amalfi Coast for a few nights. I can’t wait. It has been grey and rainy all week here in Montréal so the thought of some sunshine and glistening blue Mediterranean water has me a little excited. Have a good week everyone!
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{ thanks tina for telling me about le falco }
How to make hummus
This week I have been trying to stay away from my favourite boulangerie and sweet stores. Not easy to do! But I’ve found hummus has been my healthy alternative for those mid-meal cravings. Made with chickpeas you can eat hummus on its own or with a number of toppings. Spoon some on a piece of pita bread or if you are super healthy dip a carrot or celery stick into it instead. It’s really easy to make as you will soon see but if you prefer it’s easy enough to buy a tub in your grocery store. I roasted some garlic in the oven but you can use fresh crushed garlic as well.
Easy. And it won’t leave you feeling too guilty. What healthy snacks do you reach for when on one of your health kicks?
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Le Couteau
There’s a new cafe in town and it’s called Le Couteau which translates into English as ‘The knife’. The graphic of the knife which can be spotted as you’re walking down rue Saint-Denis points you inside to a very cool looking cafe. Black, white, hints of blue and natural timber form the colour palette of this place with plenty of spaces for people to sit. They brew 49th Parallel coffee from Vancouver, a very good coffee and on the counter you will see their various equipment for brewing the perfect cup. And if you’re after something to eat to go with your coffee they have a number of pastries and cupcakes there to tempt you. As word gets out I’m sure this place will be the local hotspot on rue Saint-Denis.
Address: 4627, rue Saint-Denis
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{ merci valérie for finding it }
