Impressions and photos from a …Dionysian cigar-dinner at the new and delicious venture Ananias Rotisserie, with the signature of chef Ilias Skoulas in the kitchen.
One day before Valentine’s Day and three days before “Tsiknopempti” we decided to …roast it differently and with a dose of humor! We chose the brand-new Ananias Rotisserie, a different and very interesting meat restaurant that opened in Maroussi and is based on the French Rotisserie.
We chose an exuberant menu with some of his most delectable dishes. Alongside them we put three very good Greek wines that are hard to come by. At the end, we remembered the ..ice-cream soda based on a fantastic “kaimaki” from the famous Maskotitsa of Mytilene. Then a delightful bittersweet single estate espresso Taf from Entre Volcanes in Guatemala, an excellent malt whisky from one of Scotland’s last independent distilleries: the Glenfarclas 15 YO, one of the most distinctive sherried whiskies! Along with it, a fantastic, custom made cigar from Cuba measuring 132mm X 53 that has excited the public and will be much talked about…
As always, our first guests couldn’t wait and started arriving well before nine. Fortunately, the wonderful Single Vineyard Assyrtiko from the Venetsanos Winery kept them company as they put the finishing touches on the room, and then the wine accompanied the famous Caesar salad of Skoulas, along with a handmade sausage and Hermtaz salad, a delicious version of the Russian salad.
A rare wine that held up wonderfully, Taralas’ Naoussa from way back in 2007 was the next round’s match: beef meatballs with roast beef sauce and mashed potatoes and bruschetta with iberico pork on the parilla. While the Greek gastronomic water Doubia with its delicate bubbles took on the difficult task of refreshing us to enjoy the exuberant continuation and climax of the dinner: the Rotisserie!
The cigars, classics, had already started to light up before we finished dinner but found their perfect pairing in the rich and round Glenfarclas 15yo that came out at the end. The evening continued until after 1am and we made an appointment for the next FNL event: a flash-back to the 80s at the historic Blue Pine restaurant on Monday 6 March. Of course, before that, tonight (Monday, February 20) a few of us will have the experience of a lifetime at The Iconic Cigar-dinner!
*Photos by Panos Smirniotis