Simon Gloftis is set to open a new high-end sushi diner, Sushi Room, on Brisbane’s James Street. It’s his fourth restaurant in Queensland’s capital in five years.
According to The Courier Mail, the new venture, which Gloftis co-owns with Kelvin Andrews and Theo Kampolis, will have a fit-out worth more than the average Brisbane home, a set menu for about $300 a head and quality produce flown in from across the country.
“It’s one of those places where we’re not being beholden to any trends. We’re going with the highest quality produce, minimal intervention and maximum flavour,” Gloftis told the newspaper.
Shimpei Raikuni, Theo Kampolis, Simon Gloftis and Kelvin Andrews outside their new restaurant at Calile Hotel in Fortitude Valley. Picture: Richard Walker.
That means a traditional, sophisticated sushi and sashimi menu, all prepared by ex-Kiyomi, Broadbeach sushi chef Shimpei Raikuni, who trained in Japan before moving to Australia.
There will also be a full vegetarian offering and a cracking drinks list from group sommelier Alexandra McPherson.
The venue is set for a late February opening and will join Gloftis’ other successful business ventures including Hellenika, SK Steak & Oyster and the soon-to-launch Sunshine.
A Greek stage actor has refused to perform only for vaccinated audiences.
Coronavirus cases in Greece hit record highs this month, prompting the government to ban those who are unvaccinated against COVID-19 from indoor venues.
Aris Servetalis announced on Tuesday he was stepping down from a Eugene Ionesco play in Athens. The Kivotos theatre said the production is postponed indefinitely.
“I cannot support the segregation of people imposed by the new measures,” wrote Servetalis, who has voiced scepticism over the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.
“We are a society of individuals, not a herd divided between vaccinated and not.”
His decision has drawn criticism from the entertainment industry, which has been hard hit by lockdowns and an enduring economic crisis.
“I am shocked,” said Spyros Bibilas, who heads the Greek Actors’ Association.
“I did not expect an actor to stop a show, ignoring that other people work there too. I find it unacceptable.”
Development Minister Adonis Georgiadis tweeted his dismay, saying: “Are these reasons for leaving his colleagues unemployed, because he is not getting his way in the country?”
Responding to the criticism, Servetalis said he had informed the theatre company and the director in July of his intentions to leave if such measures were taken, allowing them time to find a replacement.
Thousands of Greeks took to social media to congratulate Servetalis.
“It was about time someone said NO,” one Instagram user wrote below the actor’s post.
“I bow to your ethos and integrity,” another said.
From the minute people walk into Karkalla restaurant in the coastal NSW town of Byron Bay, they are instantly greeted by the tantalising scents of locally sourced, seasonal produce and native indigenous ingredients.
That’s no surprise as Karkalla Byron Bay is the passion project of Mindy Woods – a proud Bundjalung woman of the Widjabul Wia-bul clan.
Fuelled by a desire to create opportunities for indigenous and non-indigenous people to connect with Aboriginal culture, art and stories through food, Mindy decided to hire the one person she knew would help her dream become a reality.
That person was 28-year-old Greek Cypriot head chef, Michael Petrou.
(L-R) Mindy Woods with Michael Petrou. Photo supplied.
“As soon as Mindy told us she was buying a restaurant in Byron Bay and it was about to open, I put my hand up and I really wanted to be a part of it,” Petrou tells The Greek Herald exclusively.
Since then, Petrou has been working hard in Karkalla’s kitchen using native ingredients such as lemon myrtle, bush tomato mojo picon and fingerlime ‘in a modern way’ and trying to ‘educate people a little bit about native foods and their history.’
Of course, he also acknowledges that some of the dishes he serves to customers have a distinct Greek Cypriot twist to them.
“There’s a lot of Greek tendencies that come into my cooking because of my Greek heritage… For example, for dinner we have this beautiful baked haloumi and then we put that with bush honey and native thyme and lemon,” Petrou explains.
Petrou loves to cook with native food. Photos supplied.
Interior of Karkalla Byron Bay.
“Even just being generous… I’m always over generous with food and I think that just comes from me, from my parents – where there’s always just way too much food when we go for dinner.
“Also, the whole share-style menu. That’s reflective of being Greek because personally, I don’t like just eating one meal and as Greeks we always like to share so our menu is designed to share.”
‘An honour to work with native food’:
It’s clear Petrou is extremely proud of his Greek Cypriot heritage, having always been immersed in it from a very young age.
“My grandparents owned a milk bar in Lane Cove for 13 years so I spent a little bit of time there… I have vivid memories of them, especially my yiayia always cooking and my pappou taking me out to the shops and getting food,” he says.
Native food served at Karkalla.
“We also always used to go to my aunty and uncles farm… a lemon, lime and avocado farm. We’d always be out there and I’d help pick all the fruits and I just always remember there being so much food.”
Despite these happy memories, Petrou never had the urge to work in a Greek restaurant. Instead, he found himself working in places such as a Spanish tapas bar, an Italian restaurant, and even Shirt Bar in Barangaroo where he met Mindy for the first time.
“[Mindy] was the head chef… her menu was very Asian-inspired so a lot of Malaysian, South-East Asian, Vietnamese food. For me, I’d never really had anything to do with Asian food so that was really inspiring and I learnt so much,” Petrou says.
Some of Petrou’s food at Karkalla has a Greek twist.
Later, he spent roughly two years at Mr Miyagi in Melbourne before partnering again with Mindy at Lotus Dining. Their bond was so strong that Petrou has never regretted taking the next step in his career at Karkalla with the Bundjalung woman.
“To be working with native foods and to be working with Mindy, she’s Indigenous, and to learn about the history and the culture, I actually feel really honoured,” Petrou concludes with a smile.
“It’s much more than just a job for me. It’s really special to be learning and working with all these ingredients because for a long time I wasn’t educated in all these foods and how amazing they are.”
With such a strong passion and love for different cultures and food, there’s no doubt Petrou is destined to leave his mark on the Australian cuisine scene.
George Laggis’ unwavering commitment to mental health crisis support and suicide prevention has seen him named the winner of Lifeline Australia’s Mary Parsissons Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award 2021.
The award recognises volunteers who have shown excellence in their volunteer field, contributed to the community, have been an inspiration within their centre and demonstrated leadership.
In George’s case, whilst volunteering at Lifeline Macarthur and Western Sydney, he has been a compassionate Crisis Supporter and dedicated In-Shift Supervisor to help procure the Lifeline Mobile Cafe.
George Laggis has been awarded the 2021 Lifeline Australia Volunteer of the Year Award. Photo supplied.
He tells The Greek Herald he is “truly honoured to be bestowed with such an achievement and recognition.”
“Having my own lived experience of mental illness and suicide ideation, being able to volunteer with Lifeline has been an absolute privilege, very humbling and an important part of my own recovery,” George says.
“Most importantly, not only has it given me a voice but a voice for so many others, who may at times feel like they don’t have a voice.”
Calls to Lifeline are up every holiday season. Last year the increase was 40% in December alone.
George shared his battle with major depressive disorder, generalised anxiety disorder and substance use with The Greek Herald in September last year. Since then, he says volunteering with Lifeline Australia has taught him a lot about himself.
“Volunteering with Lifeline has taught me how to be human again, how to listen without judgement, how to sit in the pain and the distress of others and mostly importantly, the power of connection,” George says.
“Being a Crisis Supporter is my greatest achievement and being an In-Shift Supervisor is the most important role I have ever held and I will ever hold. And for that, I am forever grateful to Lifeline and for all the callers.”
If you or anyone you know needs help, Lifeline Australia offers 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services. Contact: 13 11 14.
The Greek Australians were handed their awards at a presentation ceremony on Tuesday night by Assistant Minister to the SA Premier, Jing Lee, and the SA Minister for Education, John Gardner.
“Congratulations to all talented students for their fantastic work!” Assistant Minister Lee said in a statement.
Presentation ceremony. Photos: Facebook.
All three students had entered the Association’s Ethnic Schools Children’s Week Competition, which encouraged them to celebrate their diverse heritage through writing, drawing, painting and creativity.
Sofia Pipinias from the Greek Orthodox Community Schools was awarded 2nd prize in the ‘creative / handmade’ category for students aged 4 to 6 years old.
In the 14 to 18 year old group, Sofia Papakostas from the Greek Orthodox Community and Parish of Norwood and Eastern Suburbs Schools won 3rd prize for her ‘writing’ piece, while Dezzi Tsoukalas from the Greek Orthodox Community Schools won 1st prize for her artwork.
Photos: Facebook.
Writing piece by Sofia Papakostas.
In photos from the event, which was held in the Space Theatre at the Adelaide Festival Centre, all three girls were seen beaming from ear to ear as they received their awards and proudly represented their Greek culture.
Their creative works, along with those of the 33 other winners, will now be on display for the public to view in the “Space Foyer” until Sunday, December 5.
Liberal MP and psychologist, Fiona Martin, has told The Sydney Morning Heraldthe mental health of Australians will be damaged for another five years or more as a result of COVID-19 lockdowns and recent natural disasters.
“We are very vulnerable. We’ve gone through a lot with all the natural disasters and the pandemic, and people are really struggling and they will continue to struggle, I think, for a good five years after this,” she told the newspaper.
It was an honour to present the Select Committee on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention's final report to parliament today. Watch my speech here 👉https://t.co/DWiji7EMT3
This statement comes after Dr Martin, who is the chair of the select committee on mental health and suicide prevention, tabled the recommendations in the committee’s final report to Parliament on Wednesday.
The report’s 44 recommendations include reviewing mental health training for GPs, creating a standing committee for mental health and expanding the number of masters programs for psychologists to increase the mental health workforce.
The Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Committee, which I chaired, was pleased to hear the success of doubling Medicare funded mental health consultations and other federally funded initiatives, such as Telehealth which helps remove barriers to access. pic.twitter.com/5txi6oYUAf
The report also recommends changes in parliament, including introducing a new permanent committee for mental health and including the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Mental Health in all crisis meetings.
“This is about making sure that we’re armed and ready, and we’re protecting the mental health of Australians,” she said.
The Chairperson of the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA), Mary Patetsos, along with 16 other prominent leaders in the aged care sector, have been appointed to the inaugural National Aged Care Advisory Council.
The Council will provide expert advice on aged care issues and the implementation of the Morrison Government’s $17.7 billion reform agenda in response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
Ms Patetsos, who is also the Chair of ACH Group, said she was proud to be named on the Council as “aged care in Australia [undergoes] its most significant reform in a generation.”
Mary Patetsos.
“In my role with ACH Group, one of South Australia’s largest residential and home care providers, I hear the lived experiences of people being supported with aged care and their appetite for change,” she said in a statement.
“I look forward to amplifying their voice on the Advisory Council to help shape aged care in Australia for the future… I am very passionate for all voices of the community to be heard at this landmark forum.”
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, also welcomed the appointment of all 17 members of the Advisory Council and said he looks forward to working alongside them.
Greg Hunt MP has welcomed the appointments.
“This is the most significant reform ever undertaken by an Australian Government to improve the care of senior Australians both in residential care and care at home,” Minister Hunt said.
“This Advisory Council will play a key role in guiding that implementation, alongside a new Council of Elders and an Inspector-General of Aged Care.”
Council of Elders nominations have been received and the membership of this representative body will be announced later this year.
Full List of the National Aged Care Advisory Council Members:
Sydney Olympic FC’s highly anticipated night of glory didn’t go as planned on Wednesday night as the Belmore side fell 4-2 to Sydney FC, being eliminated in the FFA Cup Round of 32.
With a packed Belmore crowd and thousands of Olympic fans rallying to support the squad, FFA Cup greatness was tipped in the NPL side’s favour.
It was a slippery start for both sides as rain pelted the field, with some early slip and slide challenges showing Olympic’s aggressive side.
Olympic stunned the Sky Blues as they proceeded to dominate the opening thirty minutes, with winger Adam Parkhouse firing crosses across the goal. Darcy Burgess and Oliver Pufflett managed to get on the end of a few chances but failed to challenge experienced Sydney FC keeper Andrew Redmayne.
Parkhouse’s early efforts were eventually rewarded with a spectacular goal that deflected off the defender to bounce perfectly over Redmayne’s head, giving Olympic a 1-0 lead at Belmore.
Olympic were put under heavy pressure in the next quarter hour, giving away plenty of corner opportunities to Sydney FC. A minute out from the first half whistle, Sydney FC were gifted a free kick opportunity that resulted in heartbreak for the Olympic fans.
Brattan sent the ball hurling into Olympic’s six-yard box, bouncing towards the head of Adam Le Fondre who nodded it past keeper Nicholas Sorras to equalise before the break.
A poor start to the second half from both sides, yet Sydney FC were quick to find their footing.
Patrick Wood managed to skirt around Olympic skipper Michael Glassock and strike it past Sorras to give Sydney FC the lead.
The A-League giant pulled off a dominant second half display yet were denied multiple opportunities in a show-stopping display by Sorras between the posts. The Greek Australian keeper pulled off a double save and prevent the Sky Blues from scoring off multiple attempts.
The attacking prowess of Sydney FC eventually became too much for the NPL side, however, as Elvis Kamsoba scored his first goal in Sydney FC colours in the 77th minute.
Four minutes later, hope returned to Belmore as Redmayne failed to grab hold of a slippery free kick ball by substitute Brendan Cholakian, forcing an own goal by Liam McGing.
Much to the annoyance of the Sydney Olympic players, Sydney FC didn’t hold for a win in the final ten minutes, constantly challenging Sorras and looking for a goal to bury the FFA Cup hatchet.
The Sky Blues found their fourth goal in injury time as forward Trent Buhagiar chipped it over the top of an exposed Sorras.
A valiant display by the home side, Sydney Olympic director Damon Hanlin said he ‘couldn’t be prouder’ of the boys who stepped on the pitch to represent that badge.
“Last night was an exceptional night for the Sydney Olympic Θρύλος football club,” Hanlin told The Greek Herald.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the players, the coaching staff, administrators, and the volunteers.”
Football Australia CEO, James Johnson, and Head of Marketing, Communications and Corporate Affairs, Peter Filopoulos, were also present at the match, even taking the time to snap a photo with a few Sydney Olympic legends.
“The fans are exceptional, the turnout was brilliant and I couldn’t have been prouder last night. It enforces the fact that Sydney Olympic Θρύλος is here to stay and is a real force in Australian football.”
Hanlin added that the squad will take what they learned from the FFA Cup match into the new NPL season, where the squad will look to secure the 2022 Men’s NPL NSW title.
“Although the results didn’t go our way this time, our team showed talent, tenacity and the Olympic fighting spirit, and will take away many positives from this into the new season,” Hanlin concluded.
Sydney Olympic FC starting eleven against Sydney FC in the FFA Cup Round of 32. Photo: Peter Takis/The Greek Herald.
A moving photo of 81-year-old Panayiota Noumidi taken during the fires that devastated the Greek island of Evia this year has been named among TIME Magazine‘s ‘Top 100 Photos of 2021.’
Taken by Konstantinos Tsakalidis, the photo encapsulates the horror and fear that struck residents of Evia and other parts of Greece in August as fire destroyed forests and villages.
Speaking to Star.gr back in August, Panayiota said she lost sight of her husband in the flames moments before the iconic image was taken.
“At the moment of the photo, the flames were coming towards us and my husband ran with the bucket to throw water behind our house where the fire was. I lost sight of him and cried, ‘help, help!’,” Panayiota said.
Panayiota explained she could not find her husband (pictured) as flames engulfed their home.
Panayiota was later reunited with her husband and taken to a hospital for treatment, but was discharged because she wanted to return to Gouves, her home of 34 years, and inspect the damage. Her home was saved.
The photo joins a number of other iconic images on the list including the moment George Floyd’s family cheered a jury’s verdict into his death, the time the Taliban walked into Kabul then knelt in prayer, and also the time where National Guardsmen slept in the US Capitol.
The coronavirus pandemic has lumbered the Mediterranean island of Cyprus with a 6 million kilogram stockpile of its prized white halloumi cheese.
Demand crumbled for the island’s biggest export over the past year due to COVID-19 lockdowns across Europe which shut down the hospitality sector and impacted tourism.
In response, Cypriot Commerce Minister, Natas Pilides, said the Cypriot government is mobilising its embassies abroad to help shift the backlog of halloumi to other markets.
“Through the foreign ministry, we have contacted all the embassies to help dispose of stocks through bilateral arrangements,” Ms Pilides said.
Although cheesemakers said exports are picking up, they are selling fresher products because if they unloaded old stock to regular clients the prices would slump.
In April, the European Union registered halloumi as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) after a seven-year campaign.
This means halloumi stocks produced before October 1 cannot carry the EU’s PDO brand, which is why authorities are also seeking markets outside the bloc.
In the longer term, and despite the pandemic, securing the PDO registration is expected to boost halloumi exports.
