I've been waiting a very long time for this: probably the best burgers on the island

Artisan's Burger Bar. It's not a bar but its burgers are certainly skillfully made, exactly like the trade of a specialised artisan. Truth is, I was a bit suspicious at the beginning. I was still in the UK when it opened, so I was only listening to my sister and mum raving about the place. Alas, they haven't tried burgers in places like GBK, I naively thought. Nevertheless, I decided to give it try, how bad could it be, I naively thought once again.

I was impressed. No. I was IMPRESSED. Very very impressed. They have three things I love about a restaurant's food: the portions were generous, the food delicious and the chef adventurous. However, let me take you through the menu just to give you an idea.

You choose a starter: chicken wings (from local farms) with your choice of their homemade dips, fried halloumi with a pomegranate sauce (I've been seeing this sauce everywhere in Cyprus in the last year!),  fried zucchini sticks with dill and a homemade tzatziki dip, or if you can't wait to start on the burgers, you can get two mini ones just to start with (which does bring to mind another well-known burger place in the UK...)

Blue cheese and figs burger

You choose your bread: classic brioche, rustic ciabatta or multigrain wholewheat. I got brioche.

You choose your burger and your side: beef burgers are 100% black angus and include a burger with blue cheese, figs and gherkins, another one with tzatziki and feta (personal favourite), and if you're one for the classic cheese-and-bacon combo, get the crispy pancetta and gruyere cheese one with the roasted tomato, their very own BBQ sauce , spicy mayo and gherkins. Even if you're sad you didn't go for souvlakia instead, get the 'sheftalia burger', served with a tomato and tahini dressing.There's even an (almost) vegetarian option, with a grilled portobello mushroom, grilled marrow (this made smile!) and eggplant, with a pumpkin and goat cheese puree.

Regarding the sides, the french fries (or mash or jacket) are from local potatoes and always freshly cooked. If you want to be on a diet (I don't when I'm there), there are grilled seasonal vegetables or just the good-ol' mixed green salad. But if you're really into it, get the sweet potato, carrot, beetroot and parsnip chips.

Tzatziki and feta cheese burger

I'm not going to go on and on about their burgers. You're spoiled for choice and there's noway you won't find a burger to love and cherish. Just go. And wash it down with a cold beer. And their sinfully good ice cream burger (vanilla ice cream between layers of brownies, drizzled with caramel sauce). Guilty grin optional.


They are open for lunch and dinner, and you'll find them at 20, Stasandrou St, Nicosia. Also, if you don't want to take your chances, pick up the phone and make a reservation at 22759300.

Pizzaria Italiana La Sardegna Da Gino

This post is dedicated to anyone who takes their pizza seriously. Like me. So let me explain the deal with Gino's (for short). We decided to escape the overbearing heat in Nicosia with a weekend away to BH's holiday home in Paphos, and managed to discover the awsomest pizza in Cyprus, and the best I've tried in my 21 years. We went to Gino's. Although it is in the main road of Apostolos Pavlos in Kato Paphos, you don't really think much of it at first glance. It's not that elegant, neither does it look exciting. In fact everything is in the colours of the Italian flag which, trust me, is not that original for an Italian restaurant in Cyprus. However, Gino himself is Italian so he has to know something about pizza, plus it came very highly recommended by a friend who has been a regular there since she was a little girl, so we decided to give it a try.

They don't make reservations (too many people, too little time), so we arrived fairly early and waited for the host to greet us and prepare a table for us. We waited and waited, and then waited some more. In the end, we just caught a waiter and asked for a table for six. We waited a bit more and finally we sat down. It was small and crowded. We got the menus, decided on what we would get and waited. Waited, waited, waited. After two failed attempts and one successful one, we managed to give our order in. It goes without saying that there was quite a bit of waiting for our food to be served (BH looked at me with his sad puppy look and whispered in my ear "I'm hungry". I just wanted to give him a biscuit and a cuddle!)

After some more waiting, we were served. The menu was quite extensive, but BH and I settled for this salami and gorgonzola pizza to share (apologies for the quality, an iPhone camera can only be this good!).

At this point I should add that Gino is known for his enormous portions. We got the medium sized one, which probably looks like one of the extra large pizzas served in other pizza places.

 On top of that we got a bruschetta and some garlic bread (served in the form of a pizza) as starters. Needless to say that despite BH's appetite which is similar to the appetite of a black hole, there were some generous leftovers. Although he put up a serious fight, he was defeated by Gino. Nevertheless, the crust was thin and crispy around the edges, the cheese was bubbling, It was proper pizza. And we paid 11Euros per head. Yes, 11Euros for proper pizza in Paphos.

So, if you want to give Gino a try, and I most certainly urge you to do, arrive early, be prepared to wait, and enjoy incredibly delicious pizza among the locals (that's how you know the good places from the bad ones!), and away from the tacky touristy places down at the harbour.



You'll find it at:
70, Apostolos Pavlos Avenue,
Kato Paphos
(+357) 26933399

Enjoy! x

Casa Vieja - Nicosia

Now that I moved back to Cyprus (until September that is), I figured it would be nice to include some bits and bops of the life here (as I write this I keep thinking of the political scene in Cyprus and how many never-ending posts I could write on the subject, but no worries, I'm not going to tire you with my ranting!). Nevertheless, this post is about one of my former favourite restaurants (keep reading).

Casa Vieja (translating to Old House) is a Spanish restaurant in the heart of Old Nicosia which used to be one of my favourite restaurants because of the ambiance (particularly of the garden), the great food and extensive menu (37 different tapas!). The prices were quite good too as we used to pay just under 20euros per person for a filling meal of 5 or 6 tapas (no wine). Then, imagine my delight when I received a text message a couple of weeks ago saying that there was an offer of 50% off all a la carte food just for that week. I called BH instantly, told him the exciting news, hang up, and called the restaurant to make the reservation.

We ended up going with another couple I knew they would love food and the restaurant. In fact we all would if the service wasn't so bad. They messed up the order, bringing the wrong food, but insisting we did order what they brought us, despite any of *my* protests. Maybe it's an ego thing but I've been going there for years. I know the food, and I know what I ordered. By the time the waiter messed up the fourth dish (which although it was delicious, it was NOT what we ordered), I was too tired of complaining and asking for the correct dish. On top of that, the other couple ordered a seafood paella to share. It looked delicious, but although I understand paellas take longer to prepare, it arrived more than an hour later, and they weren't that busy!

As we left I was disappointed and sad. Casa Vieja was one of my all-time favourites, but now everytime I think of returning I remember the face of the obnoxious waiter. It's a shame really.

PS: I know the post reads a bit bitter, but if I write about things I like, it's only fair I also write about things I don't like, n'est pas? Like rude waiters.

THE market

This is not the first time I’m going to sing the praises of markets. Even if they’re online markets, there’s still something magical about them: the time you spend looking around the produce which is often of better quality and much more diverse than what you’d find in an average supermarket, the people poking around, the buzz, it’s all so exciting! This post is about my favourite market: the Borough market. Honestly, the first time I walked in there I thought I had died and gone to Heaven. I don’t know if it was the food, the size of the market, the friendly people, the amazing produce, or a combination of the above. I was ecstatic.

Let me firstly take you through some of the produce:

all-you-can-get tomatoes

and all the mushrooms you'd need

asian tonight?

I get excited when I see cheese this size!

All kinds of herb-infused oils

curry toolkit

curry toolkit take 2

Kangaroo burgers anyone?

And if you're feeling a bit hungry...

Indeed.

...and my lunch of choice: oysters freshly shucked with a few drops of Tabasco to add a kick.

We also needed dessert, obviously!

 

Brownie bliss - confirmed by BH

However, what made me smile the most was finding this little baby: a tortilla press. I've been searching for one these for the past three years and finally my mission was accomplished. Expect a tortilla party.

Anyone else out there sharing my love for markets? Do you visit them often? Any thoughts? x

Saturday at the Broadway Market

Okay, I post this with a bit of delay, but it's been busy these couple of days (shopping, but hey, it's sales!). So, last Saturday we went with BH to the Broadway Market a)because I have a thing about markets and b)I assured BH that there would be plenty of delicious food. Thus, off we go.

From a foodie's point of view, I have to say that it exceeded my expectations. We found everything we would need for a very promising meal, and of course things we would not find in our local supermarket.

You've got to have bread. Always.

...and cheese of course.

...and charcuterie.

We even found dolmades!

and Gigantes! (that's 'giant' beans cooked in
a tomato based sauce with herbs and onions)

I simply couldn't leave without a tub of my favourite olives.
The tarragon and garlic ones are highly recommended!

If you have a sweet tooth you won't be disappointed:

Nor if you have a soft spot for Middle Eastern food:

Four different types of baklawa!

Now, concerning BH's favourite time of the day (lunchtime), we loved the bahn-mi from a stall selling Vietnamese food: I got one with the sirloin, and BH got a 'cha cha chicken' one (you can't really say no to a sandwich called cha cha, can you?). Unfortunately, we wolfed them down almost immediately and I didn't manage to take a proper photograph. However, while waiting, I did manage to take this picture (only because I wasn't eating at the time!).

However, if you're more on the vegetarian side, I loved this little stall with the delicious-looking veggie burgers:

Now, if for some unforeseen reason you're not into food, there are other cool stuff you can get:

Impressive headpieces

bicycles

and my personal favourite: candles in mugs!

The bottom line is, there's something for everyone, particularly if you're a foodie (and there are plenty of photos to prove this!). So I'd say give it a shot, you might find something you haven't tried out before, and bear in mind that the above it's just to give you a small taste. I assure you you'll find a lot more unique bits and pieces if you go yourself. For directions click here, and let me know what you think :)