“See? We have the best neighbor. President of the Hellenic Republic. In fact, the residence of the Portuguese Ambassador to Athens, Elena Paiva, is located right next to the Presidential Palace. And at her recent invitation from journalists who wanted to learn more about her country’s culinary culture, we enjoyed magnificent Portuguese mezedas on a balcony overlooking the nearby Presidency Garden. Portugal is running a special campaign this year to promote their flavors and amazing wines. Elena Paiva’s call was made in cooperation with the travel agency Kyklos Travel, which has specialized in Iberia for many years. And as its leader, Alexandros Byzantiadis, told us, the love of travel between the Greeks and the Portuguese has increased a lot lately.

This means that all flights from our country to Lisbon and Porto are constantly full, all months of the year, and thanks to the great demand, another airline has been added to cover the demand. “I have not met a Greek woman who did not tell me how fascinated she was with my country, but the opposite is also true: the Portuguese love Greece. Our goal is to introduce your compatriots to the culinary and wine richness, to our traditions in cuisine, to our local products,” said Paiva, who is one of the most active diplomats. The company has already achieved a lot in promoting contemporary Portuguese design. In fact, the furniture, carpets, lamps and utensils of the embassy residence are all from Portuguese factories. The title of this campaign was “Made in Portugal, Naturally”.

Tasty Journey

Now it was time to try, and the Thessalonians were the first winners, because that was where the first action took place. The most famous and delicious Portuguese dessert is called pasteis de nata and combines phyllo and cream. While it can be found in London, Paris or New York, it is completely unknown to us in Greece. Therefore, the chef of the embassy residence collaborated with the employees of the Plaisir confectionery on Aristotelous Square and passed on to them the know-how and recipes for the dessert, which is now sold in the capital. However, the next tasting will again take place in Northern Greece, Halkidiki, in June, in cooperation with the municipality of Aristotle, with the invitation of a Portuguese chef. We hope that Athens will soon taste the products of Portugal, as exquisite as its inhabitants, distinguished by delicacy and kindness.