Acclaimed Greek director, Yorgos Lanthimos dominated the European Film Awards in Berlin on Saturday, December 7th, taking out eight awards for his film “The Favourite”.
One of these awards included the biggest award of the night – European Director.
Lanthimos’ wins came after his film “The Favourite” was nominated for 10 Academy Awards last year.
The film also won “Best European Film”, “Best European Comedy” and lead actress Olivia Colman won “Best European Actress” for her role in the film.
“The Favourite” has been described as a “tragicomedy” about the story of Queen Anne.
Greece has seen an increase in Chinese tourists in 2019.
Between 150,000 and 200,000 Chinese tourists visited Greece last year, which marks a 20 percent growth from the year before.
China is among the 50 countries who are participating in the 6th International Tourism Expo in Athens, on Sunday 8th December.
“For tourists, today’s quality does not mean only luxury experiences and services, but a product and service respecting the environment, employees, tradition, which preserves cultural heritage,” said Tourism Minister Harry Theocharis at the expo.
With Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis recently visiting China, as well as China’s President Xi Jinping recently returning from his visit to Greece, the two countries have put increasing diplomatic relations on the agenda.
“What we are currently doing is trying to increase the number of the 250,000 (Chinese) visiting Greece today (per year) to 500,000 gradually,” said Angela Gerekou, president of the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO).
Greece is trying to promote more cultural and historical aspects of tourism year-round, which Chinese tourists have recognised, outside of Santorini and Mykonos.
“The (Attica) Region is here, coordinating in all levels hoteliers, health services providers, cultural and sports organisations so that we will all be ready in two years to welcome 500,000 Chinese visitors who will enjoy their stay in the country of wellbeing and cradle of western civilisation, a country Chinese people love, as we know”, Giorgos Patoulis, regional governor of Attica said at the International Tourism Expo.
Giannis Antetokounmpo celebrated his 25th birthday yesterday on 6th of December with a surprise video from Bucks fans, wishing the Greek Freak a happy birthday.
Many fans in the video wished the basketball star a happy birthday, along with sending personal messages of gratitude and happiness. One fan told Giannis, “You’re my biggest inspiration”, with another saying, “thank you for being a great leader”.
The Milwaukee Bucks beat the Los Angeles Clippers yesterday in a 119 – 91 point win, ranking first on the Eastern Conference ladder.
President of the Greek Orthodox Community in Melbourne, Mr Bill Papastergiadis, has been invited by the Greek parliament to discuss the legislative limitations in the current diaspora vote.
In her letter, Vice-President of the Commission Mrs Sofia Voultepsis invited Mr Papastergiadis to come to the Chamber of the Senate of the House of Representatives on the 6th of July to present his views on the draft law of the Ministry of Interior, stating that the bill “Facilitates the exercise of the right to vote for non-Greek voters and greatly modifies the electoral process”
However, Papastergiadis wrote back saying that he was unable to arrive in Greece until Monday and instead, due to the seriousness of the matter, proposed to give his views on the telephone.
The bill allows Greek citizens who currently reside in Australia to vote on the Greek parliament, however Papastergiadis believed that it excluded the majority of expatriates from voting and did not practically accommodate expatriates in the election process.
“Libya’s Ambassador was summoned to the foreign ministry this morning, where he was informed of the decision for his expulsion. He was given a 72-hour deadline to leave the country,” Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias stated on Friday.
The foreign minister noted that the decision reflects the Greek government’s dissatisfaction with the Tripoli government and noted that it was taken after “the Libyan side did not meet the terms that we set.”
Dendias added that the text of the agreement between Turkey and Libya bears the signature of the Libyan foreign minister, who had provided the Greek side with assurances of the opposite nature in September.
The expulsion does not constitute the severing of diplomatic relations, the foreign minister stressed.
Referring to the Turkey-Libya deal on the delimitation of the two countries’ maritime zones, the foreign minister said that its posting on the Turkish National Assembly’s website simply served to confirm Greece’s future.
“The coordinates of the attempt to demarcate maritime zones confirm that this agreement is a large violation of the International Law of the Sea and the sovereign rights of Greece and other states,” he said.
Dendias made it clear that, in addition to its substantive and formal defects, this attempt was unlawful and did not generate legal effects, while adding that it points to the deliberate provoking of tension on a bilateral and regional level. It is therefore unequivocally condemned, he underlined.
Moreover, Dendias confirmed that the president of the Libyan House of Representatives will be in Athens on Wednesday.
This is one of the most loved (and healthiest) traditional recipes in Greece. Dolmadakia consists of vine leaves stuffed with rice and several herbs. A drizzle of lemon and virgin olive oil skyrocket the taste! This delicious delicacy is one of the best things to eat along with your ouzo after a day at the beach.
Tirokafteri is a spicy cheese dip usually spread on bread. It’s not a secret that the Greeks love cheese and especially the delicious local feta. That’s why you’ll often find feta in many versions, such as tirokafteri. This dip is made of feta (obviously), greek yogurt, peppers, wine, and vinegar. The best part is it’s a very simple recipe you can easily follow at home.
Tigania is one of the most popular meat-based mezes in Greece. It’s a delicious plate consisted of chopped meat (beef chicken) cooked with several vegetables, such as bell peppers, leek, and onions and herbs. It is usually cooked in a pan with virgin olive oil and served along with fries. If you are a meat lover, you’re going to adore it!
Fava
Fava is one of the most delicious Greek spreads/dips! It is made of chickpeas, olive oil, and several herbs that give it a rich taste. Fava is one of Santorini’s local delicacies, so if you happen to visit the island, don’t miss to try the traditional fava. What’s more, it is a dish you can easily recreate on your own, as it is made of simple ingredients blended together!
Kolokithokeftedes is basically zucchini balls with cheese and herbs. They are usually fried, but can also be roasted as a more diet-friendly option. They are tasteful and light and are often accompanied by a fresh yogurt-based dip. Zucchini and yogurt make a killer combination!
Cheese
Greece is wildly popular for its hard cheeses. Depending on what island or town of the Greek mainland you might be, you’ll get the chance to taste different local cheeses. Graviera, kasseri, arseniko Naxou, and ladotiri Mytilines are some of the Greek cheeses you need to try. They are so delicious, that they can alone accompany your ouzo or wine!
Fried calamari is one of the most popular Greek mezes, especially in the summer. Especially if you’re planning on visiting a Greek island or a seaside village in the Greek mainland, don’t miss to try fried calamari. It is usually freshly caught by the local fishermen and tastes like heaven!
Olives
Olives play an important role in the Mediterranean diet! Their rich taste and high nutritional value make it not only a great snack but also an inseparable part of a Greek meze dinner. They are perfectly paired with freshly baked bread and feta cheese.
Tomatokeftedes is yummy tomato balls, usually fried or roasted. It is one of the most iconic traditional recipes of Santorini, which is famous for its tomato production but can be found at restaurants all around the Cyclades.
Stuffed peppers are a must for a traditional Greek meze dinner! This dish is usually made with green peppers that get stuffed with feta cheese and herbs. The sweet taste of the peppers and the slightly sour taste of the feta cheese create an absolutely dreamy dish.
Students from All Saints Grammar graced the offices of the Australian Archdiocese on Tuesday, December 3rd, with songs and carols that spread the Christmas spirit.
The students sang well-known Christmas and New Year songs in Greek and English, after being welcomed into the office of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios.
His Eminence sent his warmest wishes to the students present, as well as the rest of the school.
His Eminence invited the students back to visit next Christmas, and gave them a tour of the Archdiocese.
Throughout the tour, His Eminence Makarios explained the historical background of the Archdiocese, including his predecessors and the international structure of Orthodox Christianity.
Years pass and they bring about changes; people come and they go, and demographics change in an area. But some things thankfully stay the same and the longevity and success of Marrickville’s delicatessen, LAMIA SUPER DELI, emphasises the suburb’s significant Greek legacy.
What an incredible role delicatessens have played in providing ingredients and products for respective European migrant groups in post WW2 Australia; more importantly, they introduced so many products and foods to mainstream Australia which were ultimately accepted into the Australian diet and cuisine. Walking into LAMIA SUPER DELI and you will see Greek customers stocking up on their Greek delicacies but there are always non Greeks in the delicatessen and watching them ask for Greek products just emphasises how multiculturalism has shaped Australia.
Over the
many years, owners and locations may have changed, but LAMIA SUPER DELI remains
at the heart of Marrickville’s shopping strip. As it has recently passed fifty
years of operation, such is the strength of LAMIA’s reputation that it transcends
time and trends.
LAMIA
delicatessen was initially established by Apostolos and Maria (nee Danas)
Haralambis, with Kostas Goulas and he later married Angela, in 1968; the
initial premises were a lot closer to the Marrickville and Illawarra Roads’
intersection. Apostolos was inspired to open a delicatessen from his
brother-in-law, Dimitris Danas, who was running his own delicatessen on
Illawarra Road. With thousands of Greeks living in the area in the late 1960s
and having a bus stop in front of it, LAMIA was an instant hit with locals. At the time, the shopping
landscape was very different as Marrickville did not have a supermarket yet;
so, LAMIA was like a mini supermarket itself, selling everything from washing
powder to olives and cheeses.
After Kosta
and Angela left the partnership, the Haralambis family continued this
successful delicatessen until 1995 when their employee, Harry Cotsinis, took
the opportunity to buy the business and he has been running LAMIA SUPER DELI
ever since. With the redevelopment of the building, Harry moved the business a
little further down Marrickville where another delicatessen used to operate-
run by the Parmakellis family.
What has
ensured LAMIA’s longevity as a successful business is Harry and his partner
Christine’s adaptability to market changes. With so many professionals moving
into the area and the subsequent demand for sandwiches and rolls, a sandwich
bar was introduced and hot food- such as home-made moussaka and lasagne- was
introduced too.
LAMIA’s customers love the shop is that it is like walking into a shop in Greece. The aural waft of Greek music floats throughout the shop; there are Greek products throughout the shop; and Harry and Christine- with staff like Stella- have that welcoming Greek ‘filoxenia’ that embraces everyone. What also reassures customers is the abundance of products on offer; whether it is shelves or the fridges, they are filled with such a variety!
Harry
reiterates how Australian attitudes towards Greek food has changed over the
years as he points out so many of his customers are non Greeks, and these
customers are very open minded and willing to try new foods.
Although Harry believes Christine, with her zest and energy, is the heartbeat of LAMIA SUPER DELI, the shop itself remains the heart of Marrickville’s bustling shopping strip.
Amazon announced today that they will be debuting their first scripted Australian Amazon Original series – Back to the Rafters.
The show will pick up six years after it left off, and will feature the original principal cast members including Rebecca Gibney (Julie Rafter), Erik Thomson (Dave Rafter), Jessica Marais (Rachel Rafter), Hugh Sheridan (Ben Rafter), Angus McLaren (Nathan Rafter), Michael Caton (Ted Taylor) and Greek-Australian, George Houvardas (Nick “Carbo” Karandonis).
Houvardas played the “Greek boy-next-door” in the popular series, which launched his popularity on Australian television. Since then he has taken up new roles, including a leading role in the ABC’s hit new series ‘Frayed’.
The Vice President of International Originals at Amazon Studios, James Farrell, expressed his excitement for the return of the Rafters on Amazon.
“Packed to the Rafters is among the most beloved Australian series and this revival will allow us to give our customers the locally relevant entertainment they want. We’re thrilled to be working with Seven Studios to bring back the Rafter family for Prime members in Australia and around the world,” said Farrell.
“The world has changed so much in that time, and it is a writing dream to be able to explore how the Rafters have changed with it, while at the same time reconnecting with the life affirming combination of humour and heart that characterised the original series. In an increasingly dark world, it is wonderful to use the Rafters again to spread light.”
The series will launch on Prime Video in Australia and around the world in more than 200 countries and territories, with filming scheduled to begin in 2020 with Seven Studios.
The Holy Monastery of Panagia Pantanassa in Mangrove Creek NSW is in the direct line of an “unstoppable” bushfire.
Yesterday, it was reported that the fire was at the door step of the Holy monastery, and that all necessary measures have been put in place to save the monastery, but authorities fear the fires may be uncontainable.
The nearby St Dionysios Hall was set up as a base for emergency assistance and a ground for volunteers.
The monastery came under the Archdiocese of Australia when the late Archbishop Stylianos blessed it in 1976.
It is the first Greek Orthodox monastery that has adapted ancient Byzantine architecture and ancient materials, with contemporary designs in an Australian context.
The Holy Monastery of Panagia Pantanassa is a monastery for men located on the Central Coast of NSW, on Mangrove Mountain, which is 90 minutes north of Sydney.
