TAVERNA for Gastronomos Magazine
In this photo story about Taverna for Gastronomos magazine, I shared my angle of view and my respect to all these people who in daily basis keep alive the living history of the greek culture. In all these little spaces, mostly away from the crowd,
humanity and real contact have the first role. The philoxeny and the devotion of the owners, make these spaces ataxic and creates a space in where different people could connect, share their personalities and create culture.
"We enter the 42 oldest haunts of Athens and the countryside of Attica and talk to the people who for decades have held the reins of famous family shops that have written their own history in Athenian gastronomy.
From “Athinaikon” and “Lelouda” to “Oikonomou” and “Diporto”, the historical Athenian taverns that from being haunts of the popular strata became a favorite culinary destination of all social classes.
We select and collect the famous recipes from the most famous taverns of Athens and the surrounding area and present them in detail, with their secrets and the selected ingredients that established them: the fried meatballs of “Katsogiannos”, the yuvetsi of “Kitsoula”, the kakavia of ” Pezoula”, the rooster with thick macaroni of “Rhamnouda”, the bekri meze of “Vardi”. 40 iconic recipes immortal and timeless over the decades.
We learn the history of the tavern, from ancient Athens to the present day and gather in a glossary the old and new terms associated with the tavern and its culture.
We met people of letters and art in historic taverns and let them explain to us through their own experiences and reflections the meaning and essence of the tavern. Pantelis Voulgaris, “Deipnosophist” Christos Zouraris and Christos Chomenidis discuss and reflect on famous dishes of the Greek tavern and George Pittas gives his valuable advice to young tavern owners, through experience as well as his long-term study of history of the tavern.
How much did the Athenian tavern influence literature and music? Papadiamantis, Polemis, Karyotakis, Tsirkas were inspired by the popular atmosphere of the tavern and transferred it to their works, while theories and existential anxieties unfolded on its tables from the companies of Seferis, Papagiorgis, Papanoutsou. But the tavern also left its indelible mark in the popular song that praised it and captured its atmosphere like no other genre.
The tavern in art: Painters and photographers from Hatzikyriakos-Ghikas and Topazis to Manousakis, Craxton and Zavicianos each captured with their art and their eyes the warmth of the tavern and transferred it entirely to their canvas and film . Along with them is the self-taught popular painter Giorgos Savvakis, who with his blinding colors decorated over 40 taverns in Plaka with his murals, vividly capturing their aesthetics and patrons".
International Womens Day
From the International Womens Day campaign of Grand Bretagne Hotel. "Celebrating our lovely ladies, our heroes, our daily inspiration. Happy #InternationalWomensDay to all the strong, powerful women across the world. Keep shining!"
Vasilis & Marina Theocharakis
Vassilis and Marina Theocharaki are the inspiration and guiding force of the Theocharakis Foundation.
Vassilis Theocharakis is a multifaceted personality at the helm of a dynamic and diversified group of large-scale businesses: from the automotive industry, banking, manufacturing and healthcare, to cosmetics, digital systems and shipping.
An equally important aspect of his life is painting. Alongside his legal studies, he attended classes with the great Greek painter, Spyros Papaloukas. His first exhibition was in 1957 at the International Youth Festival in Moscow and since then he has exhibited his works inside and outside Greece, some of which adorn important public and private collections. He has been awarded the titles: Chevalier de La Légion d'Honneur of the French Republic, Archon Cartulary by the Ecumenical Patriarch and of the Order of the Rising Sun by the Emperor of Japan. Marina Theocharaki has had an active relationship with the arts for many years, with many exhibitions and publications to her credit.
Portrait photography for Grand Bretagne Magazine.
Headshot photography for Lena Manta
Headshot photography of the greek author Lena Manda. She is Greece’s best-selling women’s fiction author of almost 2 million copies of her books sold in Greece and Cyprus alone, and whose books have been sold to Albania (THE HOUSE BY THE RIVER/LOVE LIKE RAIN/COFFEE BREWING ON THE EMBERS/THE LAST CIGARETTE/THEANO, SHE-WOLF OF ISTANBUL), Bulgaria (WALZ WITH 12 GODS), China (WALZ WITH 12 GODS), Italy (THE HOUSE BY THE RIVER/LOVE LIKE RAIN), Serbia (COFFEE BREWING ON THE EMBERS/LETTER OF GOLD), Spain (THE HOUSE BY THE RIVER), and Turkey (THEANO, SHE-WOLF OF ISTANBUL/THE HOUSE BY THE RIVER) as well as World English rights (THE HOUSE BY THE RIVER/THE LETTER OF GOLD (Rights under offer)). She is a true commercial voice to be reckoned with and every new book is a tour-de-force in the Greek publishing world.Lena Manta was born in Istanbul, Turkey, to Greek parents. She moved to Greece at a very young age and now lives with her husband and two children on the outskirts of Athens. Although she studied to be a nursery school teacher, Lena instead directed her own puppet theater before writing articles for local newspapers and working as a director for a local radio station. Manta was proclaimed Author of the Year in both 2009 and 2011 by Greek Life & Style magazine and received the 2016 Public Book Award for Inspirational Heroine for her book ONE LAST APOLOGY. With a charismatic personality that exudes positivity and inspires all who meet her, she is extremely popular in the press as well as social media and Facebook where she is immensely active. Just as her stories and characters captured Greek readers’ hearts, so we believe that they will continue to do the same outside Greek borders. PSICHOGIOS PUBLICATIONS have published 17 of her books – mainly novels. All of them have sold around 100,000 copies each while her best-seller, THE HOUSE BY THE RIVER, has sold over 250,000 copies. Her books have been translated into English, Turkish, Albanian, Italian, Spanish, English, Chinese, Bulgarian, Serbian and Arabic. her book was released in 2001. Sixteen other novels of hers, as well as two collections of short stories, have been published by Psychogios publications. Her books have sold two million copies. Lena's Manta portrait photoshoot took place at her place in Athens.
Dimitra Milona Headshot
Headshot photography for the sailing world champion Dimitra Milona. She started sports at the age of eight. She received her first important distinction in 1993, where she won (as skipper) the Panhellenic championship (Overall, and women) of type 420 boats. In the same year, she also won 5th place with her crew in the Laser II world championship in Lago di Garda . This was the beginning of an impressive sporting career. From 1993 to 2002, she championed in Panhellenic, Balkan, Mediterranean, Eurolymp, but also in global competitions, such as the "Tropheo Princesa Sofia" in Majorca (overall and women's gold medal in the 420 boats). Her journey culminated with a bronze (1998) and a gold (1999) medal at the world championships. Since 2001 she has been serving as an officer of the Navy (Naval Cadet School and NCO School (SMYN)) and lives in Aegina with her family.
Christos Chomenidis
Portrait Photography if the novelist Christos Chomendis for Greece-is.com.
Christos Chomenidis (Greek: Χρήστος Χωμενίδης) (born 3 August 1966, Athens, Greece) is a Greek novelist. He studied Law at the University of Athens and in Moscow and Communication Studies in Leeds. He worked as a lawyer before becoming a full-time writer.[1] His book Νίκη won the 2021 European Book Prize in the Novel category
Costa Navarino Resort food photography
In this food photography for Costa Navarino Hotel in Greece, main object is the recipes with Navarino Icons products. You may not be able to pack the Messinian sun, sea or landscape into your suitcase, but you can certainly take some of its wonderful flavors back home to treat yourself to a Messinian meal. With more than 50 international distinctions so far, the Navarino Icons line of select products from local producers provides you with the ingredients and the inspiration to adopt a healthy lifestyle with all the Mediterranean diet benefits, while indulging in the delicious flavors of Greek food.
I live in a country with a great food culture, that produce a great variety with unique quality of raw ingredients. Many different tastes and cuisines, from one end of Greece to the other, give a rich culture, a polymorphic taste in such a small country.
Food is such an important part of vacations and food photography of every hotel or resort should bring this quality to the viewer. Costa Navarino is a unique combination of beautiful geography, friendly weather, local products. Because of all that has become one of the most known destinations for family vacations worldwide, ideal place to rest body and mind.
In this set, breakfast has these qualities, made of fresh and pure ingredients from the surrounding area of Kalamata and gives to each visitor the feeling of hospitality one needs to relax and feel joy. This year Greece was named 6th Best Country to visit worldwide and 3rd Friendliest in Europe following Condé Nast Traveler’s 2022 lists. The Westin Resort, Costa Navarino and the The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort, Costa Navarino is one of the best resorts and hotels in Greece.
Food Photography for Hotel Grand Bretagne
Going through the photography process, challenging my self in new methods as a photography speaker, clients are always the best "creative friends" to unlock views and angles in order to please them and their viewers. Food photography, a common field for magazines and advertising as well, it is a field that challenge the artist - food photographer to brake the rules and through his creativity, to serve a well cooked photography plate.
"In a spirit of renewal, Executive Chef Asterios Koustoudis of the Grand Bretagne and King George hotels in Athens has appointed new heads of restaurants at each venue. In doing this he's done what all good chefs should do, and used tried and tested ingredients in innovative ways to create excellent new results Experienced chef Nikos Livadias, who has worked in leading restaurants in Athens and on Santorini and Mykonos, arrives as the new chef de cuisine at Tudor Hall, promising to add a new dimension to modem Greek cuisine. He brings with him high aesthetic standards and a talent for creating dishes with fine lines and geometric shapes that entice at first glance. Food photography continuous with the young chef Giannis Liokas after stints in London at restaurants such as Fera at Claridge's and Davies and Brook with Daniel Humm. He returns to Athens to take the position of chef de cuisine at GB Roof Garden. The restaurant's menu remains definitively Mediterranean, but Liokas' style is a shade more homey, and the food is filling and no for the soul. Clearly devoted to creative Greek cuisine, Asterios Koustoudis is promoting fresh seasonal produce across all the menus focusing on dean flavors and supporting smaller, high-quality local producers. These underlying principles are evident in both restaurant and are Needy translated to the dishes themselves. As for the meal's sweet epilogue, the talented new assistant pastry chef Alexandros Koufas will supervise the preparation of recipes created by the distinguished 'Messier Arnaud Lehrer, while also creating his own stunning desserts for the degustation menu - impressive and delicious, like every ending should be. Beginnings too, should do this fantastic four has been brought together to create unforgettable high-quality gastronomic experiences in Athens".
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Four Seasons Athens hotel staff
Every member of staff at the Four Seasons Astrir Palace Hotel Athens is committed to doing everything in their power to make you feel at home. Tender loving care in hospitality comes with a smile. The secret to good hospitality is... Not really a secret at all, I think. It’s about being able to respond to every guest’s different and changing needs. Nowadays, Four Seasons staff has the means to create a profile for every guest and to know what they like so that they can make sure they have it, but it’s also important that they respect every guest privacy.
Portrait photography for Four Seasons Magazine, Text by Nena Dimitriou.
Thanks to the Members:
Yorgos Vournazos Chief Concierge, Member of Les Clefs d’Or International
Vicky Zafeiri Hotel Assistant Manager
Rafaela Nikolouzou Public Relations Coordinator
Alexandros Makropoulos Executive Sous Chef
Ilir Rumbullaku Housekeeping
Apostolis Dimou Executive chef
Manon Kapfer Bar Manager
Georgia Sfika Assistant director of Reservations
Lilian Labropoulou Director of People and Culture
Mikael Lambotte Assistant director of rooms
Vyron Mavroudis Assistant Restaurant manager
Eva Sotirakopoulou Catering Executive
Nikodimos Koulits People & culture manager
Marios Schwab
"Marios Schawb is a creative director and a prominent representative of British fashion, having studied in Austria, Berlin and London, the renowned Greek-Austrian designer founded the brand of the same name in 2005. A year later, Marios Schwab received the British Designer of the Year award at the British Fashion Awards. One of the most important collaborations of his career was the one with the historical American fashion house Halston, which started in 2009 and lasted for two years. Among his most impressive collections was the famous Chiaroscuro collection for the summer of 2012. This season, Schwab is interested in a more sustainable, more responsible approach to fashion and production. Collaboration with Zeus + Dione offers him this opportunity. Their goal is to jointly highlight the value of proper management of valuable materials. Materials that characterize the work of the creator over time".
The portrait photoshoot took place at the Winter Garden of Grand Bretagne hotel for the Hotel Magazine.
