Christina’s potato salad (patatosalata) is a zingy, tasty no-mayo salad bursting with Mediterranean flavours including olive oil, lemon and herbs. Perfect for cookouts, potlucks, a summer side dish or picnics.
INGREDIENTS 6-8 potatos 1/2 onion, diced finely 3 garlic cloves, diced finely 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil Juice of 2 lemons Splash of vinegar eg. Red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar Salt and pepper to taste Plenty of Fresh herbs, chopped. Parsley, mint, dill and chives work well.
Soak chopped onions in bowl of lightly salted water for 10 minutes then drain. Combine with garlic, oil, lemon juice, vinegar, salt and pepper. Mix well.
Peel and Dice potatos evenly into 3 cm cubes. Place in large pot of salted boiling water. Boil on medium heat 12-15 minutes. Keep an eye on potatos after 10 minute mark, they over-cook easily. Use fork to test a piece. It’s ready when it crumbles with slight resistance when halved with a fork. Do not over boil.
Top up pot with cold water then immediately drain potatos in colander. Allow to rest 5 minutes.
Place potatos in a large bowl. Add oil mixture and gently combine, being careful to not mash up the potatos.
Cover and refrigerate 1 hour to allow potatos to fuse with the wet mixture.
Remove then add fresh herbs, combine gently. Add salt only if required. Serve at room temperature.
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The supporters of The Hellenic Initiative (THI) around the world responded strongly to its call to come to the aid of the people of Greece who were affected by the devastating fires of the summer of 2021.
Mobilising through the press, social media platforms, and especially its New Leaders young professionals group, $600,000 was raised by the global non-profit organisation that brings together Diaspora Greeks and Philhellenes to address current crises and invest in the future of Greece.
“After the Mati fires in 2019, thanks to the generous support of over 548 donors, The Hellenic Initiative was able to raise over $200,000. Last year our friends and supporters came through once again – 4200 donors donated $600,000 and we can’t thank them enough,” Andrew N. Liveris, THI Board Chairman, said.
The Hellenic Initiative raises $600,000 for Greek wildfire relief.
THI has since identified partners and projects that meet the needs of people on the ground today, strengthens Greece’s capacity to fight fires tomorrow, and heals the wounded Earth.
THI’s Venture Impact Awards (VIA) support not-for-profits and for-profits that are also focused on giving back. After the 2021 fires, THI was able to recruit one of the 2020 VIA winners – Apiceuticals, pioneers in turning the output of bees into exceptional skincare products – to help a community badly hurt by the fires.
Beekeepers in several regions in Greece lost their livelihood, but now THI is helping nearly 2 out of 3 beekeepers affected by the wildfires in Laconia and 1 out of 4 in Evia. Apiceuticals is responsible for: the purchase and delivery of 550 THI-branded beehives – 100 of which have already been delivered, bee breeding and queen rearing, training and logistics.
Beekeeping was impacted. Photo: Small Business Trends.
True to THI’s goal of not only assisting people today but helping them build a brighter future, these bee farmers could hit revenues of roughly $200,000 in the first year and double this number in year 2.
When possible, THI also helps the Greek state and municipalities build capacity for better serving their communities and responding to crises.
In partnership with the Greek authorities and the Greek Fire Service, THI identified a need to purchase pickup trucks suitable for transporting firefighting commando teams during emergencies. THI is in the process of ordering five of them, with delivery expected later this year.
The devasting fires that regularly ravage Greece threaten lives and upend families, and in their wake they also leave a scarred Earth that not only wounds the spirit of a community but also increases other dangers, like flooding. The lost trees must be replaced.
Flames rise as a wildfire burns in the village of Limni, on the island of Evia, Greece, August 6, 2021. Photo: Reuters / Nicolas Economou.
As part of THI’s efforts to make Greece a greener country, fight climate change, and stimulate the economy – especially in the countryside – the organisation has committed to planting trees that will speed nature’s recovery and generate income for the locals. THI’s staff has identified a team that will help them plant trees in areas where they are needed the most.
This effort will be part of a much wider campaign that THI will launch inviting people from across the globe to contribute to the reforestation of Greece. In exchange for their donation, they will receive a certificate that identifies the tree they helped plant in the Homeland.
“With these endeavors, THI’s unmatched ability in the Diaspora to both raise money and identify the best way to use those funds for the short and long term needs of Greece and its people is on display in a very moving way,” George P. Stamas, THI Board President, said.
Peter Poulos, THI’s Executive Director, added: “once again tragedy reminds us of our unwavering commitment to Greece. The people of Greece appreciate that they can always depend on the generosity of our supporters and the vision of THI’s leaders.”
Several trafficked antiquities seized from billionaire hedge fund founder, Michael Steinhardt, have been returned to Greece after a year-long investigation into the acquisition of his art collection.
At a handover ceremony on February 23, the Greek Culture Minister, Dr Lina Mendoni, thanked federal investigators and the office’s Antiquities Trafficking Unit, led by Assistant District Attorney Mathew Bogdanos, for working with Greek officials to identify items.
“The illegal trafficking of our country’s cultural treasures is a serious trauma that hurts all Greeks all over the world,” she said. “We work systematically to stop this crime.”
Amongst the artefacts is a sculpture of a young man from approximately 560 BC, known as a Kouros. This piece alone is worth roughly 14 million dollars, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg told local media.
The district attorney’s office accused Steinhardt of relying on a “sprawling underworld of antiquities traffickers, crime bosses, money launderers and tomb raiders” to build his collection.
The deal to return all the pieces was announced in December last year, with Steinhardt told to surrender 70 million dollars worth of artefacts acquired illegally from not only Greece, but from countries like Egypt, Israel, Syria, and Turkey.
ICYMI: We returned 55 antiquities valued at over $20 million to the people of Greece as part of a multi-national criminal investigation into one of the world’s largest ancient art collectors: https://t.co/qRlBmdOZv3 cc: @GreeceinNewYork
According to this agreement, Steinhardt will not face any criminal charges but is subject to an unprecedented lifetime ban on acquiring any other antiquities.
A spokesperson for the district attorney said a total of 55 artifacts worth over 20 million dollars have been sent back to Greece, where they will be handed to regional museums depending on where they were originally from.
Any bid by Israel to improve strained ties with Turkey won’t come at the expense of its “strategic relationship” with neighbouring Cyprus, the Israeli president said Wednesday.
Isaac Herzog was speaking after talks with his Cypriot counterpart, Nicos Anastasiades, at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia, Cyprus.
Herzog said he’s aware next week’s visit to Turkey has touched a raw nerve in ethnically-split Cyprus, but added that “nothing in my visit and what would ensue will be on the account of this strategic relationship with your country.”
He said Israel seeks to strengthen relations and pursue dialogue with all nations and all faiths, including Turkey.
The past few years have seen a fast and sound development of our relations. Significant political capital was invested for bringing us where we are today; in a forward-looking strategic partnership and a friendship of proven strength and resilience. 🇨🇾🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/fuEL7g9o22
— Nicos Anastasiades (@AnastasiadesCY) March 2, 2022
“We have to… if possible to lower the tension and move on in a true dialogue that would definitely include issues of climate and the economy,” Herzog said.
Herzog and Anastasiades also discussed the ongoing conflict with Ukraine during their talks, as well as the trilateral relationship with Greece and the ongoing energy cooperation between the countries.
“The fact that the war in Ukraine greatly impacts the energy supply and its prices, reinforces even more the argument and the belief that the EU needs diversified and stable energy supplies to guarantee its energy security,” Anastasiades said.
The Eastern Mediterranean, he added, could prove highly beneficial to the EU’s energy security.
President @Isaac_Herzog has long been a true friend of Cyprus. In recognition of his friendship and contribution to our bilateral ties & in honor of his effort to fight of #antisemitism and promote universal values,I have awarded him the Grand Collar of the Order of Makarios III. pic.twitter.com/htIapcNTJG
— Nicos Anastasiades (@AnastasiadesCY) March 2, 2022
“Cyprus and Israel participate in projects that fit very well into this discourse. The East Med pipeline, if proven technically and financially viable, can provide gas and hydrogen, thus diversifying European supply routes and adapting to various needs of the market,” Anastasiades said.
The Cypriot President also briefed Herzog about the latest developments on the Cyprus problem, thanking him for his stance against Turkey and for Israel’s commitment to reunify the island.
The Israeli president was then awarded with the Grand Collar of the Order of Makarios the Third during the ceremony, “for the contribution and future efforts in promoting universal values and enhancing the ties between the two nations.”
The Greek government has approved a multibillion-dollar proposal to upgrade the country’s naval forces, the largest modernisation plan in two decades for the country.
Greece will spend 2.26 billion euros to purchase three Belharra frigates from French defence contractor Naval Group over the next four years. Athens may also exercise their option to purchase another Belharra frigate and four corvettes next year.
The Belharra frigate is equipped with advanced weaponry not currently deployed by any other forces in the Aegean. This vessel features the latest version of the Exocet anti-ship cruise missile, able to strike targets up to 200 kilometres away.
“The basic thing the Belharra will offer the Greek armed forces is to break Turkish numerical superiority in the air. It will clear the airspace and offer naval forces the opportunity to operate,” a Greek naval officer told Aljazeera.
Naval Group has a long track record of successful transfers of technology across the world. Construction of the 1st frigate in France will ensure delivery to the Hellenic Navy in the shortest timeframe and secure the transfer of technology to allow construction of the other 3 frigates in Greece.
While the world is watching war break out in Ukraine after Russia’s invasion, there are growing concerns for Greece that another war may be imminent in the Aegean after rising tensions with Turkey.
These tensions between Greece and Turkey have increased due to debates over territorial waters and sovereign rights to undersea resources such as oil and minerals.
Naval Group, France
Greece’s need to prepare strong naval deterrents has also been driven by growing concerns of the knowledge of Turkey’s own shipbuilding programme.
This newly announced transfer of technology will ensure long-term autonomy for the Hellenic Navy and significant economic benefits for the Hellenic naval and defence industries and for the supply chain in Greece.
On this day in 1857, Bulgari founder Sotirios Voulgaris was born. Bulgari is one of the world’s most famous jewellery brands today, and to honour its founder, The Greek Herald is looking back at his life.
Early life:
Sotirios Voulgaris was born to George Voulgaris and Eleni Strougari in the Greek village of Kalarites (Epirus, Greece) on 5 March 1857.
Voulgaris was one of eleven children and the only to survive and continue the family tradition of a life as a jeweller.
His passion for jewellery started with his grandfather Constantine, who was a street vendor in the villages of Epirus.
Due to problems the family faced with Ottoman authorities that still occupied Epirus at the time, the Voulgaris family was forced to move to Naples, Italy.
Sotirios with his parents, George Voulgaris and Eleni Strougari
Work:
In Naples, the family opened their first gold jewellery shop however, due to the heavy crime culture of the time, the shop was forced to close after multiple burglaries.
In 1881, Sotirios Voulgaris and his family moved to Rome.
Three years later, in 1884, he founded his company and opened his second shop in Via Sistina.
The store in Via Sistina was then replaced by the current flagship store in Via dei Condotti opened in 1905 by Bulgari with the help of his two sons, Constantino and Giorgio.
The Ministry of Culture has introduced an initiative within the framework of the ‘Cultural Routes’ program to restore important monuments in northern Greece inscribed on the UNESCO protection list.
These monuments include the church of Panagia Acheiropoietos in Thessaloniki, the Palaeologan frescoes in the churches of Agia Aikaterini, Agios Nikolaos Orfanos and Profitis Ilias, the Orta mosque in Veria, the central church of Maximianoupolis in Komotini and other important monuments.
A total of 11.6 million euros will be allocated from the resources of the Recovery Fund for the creation of two of five pilgrimage routes. “In the Steps of the Apostle Paul” will be allocated 2.7 million euros while the “Egnatia Road” will be given 7.9 million euros as it covers a large part of northern Greece.
Nestors Palace in Pylos, Messinia
The 300 km-long cultural route includes the stations of the Second Apostolic Tour includes places like Kavala, Amphipolis, Philippi, Apollonia and others, while the places that St Paul visited by sea include Samothrace, Athens, Keghres, Ancient Corinth, and Nikopolis.
The second route will include the maintenance of the Rotunda in Thessaloniki, the restoration of the Palaeologan frescoes in the churches of Aghia Aikaterini, Aghios Nikolaos Orfanos and Profitis Ilias and the restoration of the Bey Hammam baths built in 1444.
The Ministry of Culture recently approved the third cultural route “Monumental works of Cyclops and people during the Mycenaean period,” which will have the fundamentals of Mycenaean architecture with a budget of 500,000 euros.
Stations of the route will be Dimini, the citadel of Gla, the vaulted tomb of “Minya” in Orchomenos, the citadels of Mycenae, Tiryns and Midea, the vaulted tombs of Messinia, and the palace of Nestor.
These historical monuments have been a crucial part of Greece’s culture and the investment by the Ministry of Culture has ensured that the future generation has access to these incredible pieces of history.
Anthony Locascio is back this week to tell us all his favourite Greek recipes, from things he found in Greece to things his Yiayia made for him growing up. Are his favourites in your list as well?
Lahanodolmades
Like traditional dolmades but swap out the vine leaves for lahano (cabbage) making them bigger and badder; and with Greek food, bigger=better is usually the mantra! These are my Yiayia’s go to – avgolemono on top is optional, but recommended. (Avgolemono is a lemon/egg sauce, but is often confused with the kotosoupa, chicken soup, which is served with avgolemono on top as a main attraction of the Greek Easter feast).
Lahanodolmades
Pastitsio
(basically Greek Lasagne)-pasta plus mince is always a victory, but adding a roof of bechamel is the stroke of culinary architectural genius you never knew you needed. Probably the most common dish to find in a Greek/Aussie household too. Often mispronounced ‘PastiCHO’ – an example of the Aussie bastardisation of Greek as with the avgolemono confusion above (it really upsets me, sorry).
Pastitso, not PastiCHO!
Kolokithokeftedes
Keftedes are meatballs, but these ones are made with kolokithi (zucchini) and your choice of Greek cheese. I could plow through about 30 of these at a restaurant in Greece if nobody stopped me. Plus the word is fun as hell to say. I actually never tried these until going to Greece as a kid, but I promptly begged my Yiayia to learn the recipe. She actually already knew it, and was holding out on me. We didn’t speak for months.
Kolokithokeftedes. now say it five times fast!
Saganaki
You could probably deep fry a sock in olive oil and drizzle honey on it and it’d taste alright, so doing so to kefalogaviera, my personal pick for Greece’s best cheese, is like touching heaven. Usually drizzled with honey, I’ve been told by some restaurant owners that ‘real Greeks drizzle Ouzo’ onto it, and I worry for these people’s livers. Unless you fancy oil smatterings as a nice addition to your kitchen wall paint, don’t try to make this one at home.
Saganaki. The greek word for ‘mouth watering’
Papara
This is a total cheat, but sue me. Papara is not a food per se, but a philosophy; nothing is wasted. The art of papara is mopping up any remnants of your meal, be it one of those I’ve mentioned or simply the last trickle of oil in your Greek salad, with fresh Greek bread. This is, for lack of a better way of putting it, the woggiest shit you can do.
The best part of the Greek salad is right at the end
A worsening flood crisis in New South Wales has led to evacuation orders for large parts of north-west Sydney ahead of more heavy rainfall expected today.
According to ABC News,the weather system that drenched the state’s north has been sitting off the Central Coast but is now heading onshore and is expected to make landfall later today.
A number of flood evacuation orders remain in place, including for communities across western Sydney along the Hawkesbury-Nepean. Check @NSWSES for the latest warnings. If you’re in a warning area, take action. #NSWRFS volunteers will be out again today helping where they can. pic.twitter.com/dLUNTcf3X8
In response, evacuation orders were issued this morning for flood-affected parts of the city with thousands of people living along the Hawkesbury River in Sydney’s north-west and Georges River in the south-west told to evacuate by 9am.
The SES said that 300,000 people are now under evacuation orders.
A flooded street in Penrith, Western Sydney, as water began to rise yesterday. Photo: AAP Image / Dan Himbrechts.
Many roads across Sydney also remained closed due to flooding, including the Bells Line of Road at North Richmond, the Yarramundi Bridge and Windsor Bridge.
More than 100mm of rain fell over parts of Western Sydney overnight and the Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting that flooding along the Hawkesbury and Nepean Rivers could be worse than that seen this time last year.
Fatalities in the northern NSW disaster zone continue to mount, with four people confirmed to have died as of Wednesday night.
The funeral of Marietta Giannakou, a former education minister and veteran lawmaker with the country’s ruling New Democracy party, took place on Wednesday in Athens.
The funeral service was attended by Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, former PM Kostas Karamanlis, and several ministers and MPs from New Democracy.
In a small eulogy during the service, Mitsotakis said Giannakou “was an example of a self-made politician and of a strong woman.”
Funeral service. Photo: The National Herald.
“She never shied away from responsibility. She had a rare breadth of knowledge and stood out for her clear and tangible choices,” the Prime Minister added.
“Her kindness over the years shaped a unique example of political conduct that was accompanied by radical rhetoric. She proved that a progressive mindset is not a catchphrase nor is it simply joining a political sphere. It is a lifestyle.”
Marietta Giannakou.
After the ceremony, Giannakou was laid to rest at Athens’ First Cemetery.
Giannakou had a history of health problems, including a recent fall at home, a heart attack six years ago and the amputation of a leg in 2008, due to complications from diabetes.
She passed away on Sunday at the age of 70 and is survived by her daughter, Zoe.
