Loukoumania … the taste of Greece
Rupee Lane St., Villanueva Village, Paranaque City
0949-4297697
The blues and the whites … the sun and the sea … my name, Vanessa (butterfly in Greek) … it is all about Greece and more .
Have you ever loved a place you have never been to? Have you ever loved something but can’t touch it? It is in my bucket list … and as part of my journey , I’d stop and dream awhile … in a Greek nook just outside the Villanueva Gate of Multinational. This is owned and managed by Michael Winn , a Greek but born and bred in Brisbane, Australia. He is fun, hospitable and generous.
SOUVLAKI (pork or chicken) Php 95 ala carte / Php 150 platter w/ salad, chips, tzatziki
“Souvla” means skewer . This is a popular Greek fast food consisting of meat usually pork in skewers. It is eaten in the skewer or with pita bread with a sauce called tzatziki. This has been said to be a fave among the ancient Greeks and earliest references are found in Homer. In Santorini , excavations enearthed skewers which could have been used earlier than 17th century.
Souvlaki is usually marinated in oregano, pepper, olive oil, garlic and lemon juice then grilled for 5 minutes each side.
Souvlaki Platter
GYROS (pork or chicken) Php 100 ala carte / Php 155 platter w/ salad, chips, tzatziki
“Gyros” means turn. This is meat roasted vertically srved in a pita bread with tomato, onion and tzatziki sauce. This is akin to shawarma.
GREEK SALAD – this salad shouts summer – all crisp, fresh and lemony. This is usually consisted of feta cheese, tomato, bell pepper , onions, olives, salt, dried oregano and olive oil. This is palate cleansing. This is Greek goodness without the guilt.
Greek Salad
Photo Courtesy of Loukoumania
(*) Greek DIP PLATTER WITH 2 PITA bread Php 240
My 1st encounter with this is in Mati in Rockwell . It is when I 1st fell in love with the Greek cuisine.
Pita Bread – “Pita” means solid or clotted . This flat slightly leavened wheat bread which is either round or oval is usually a staple in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean countries. This requires high amount of heat to cook. Php 11 per order
Tzatziki (garlic yogurt w/ cucumber) This is made of yoghurt which is usually served cold with cucumber, lemon, salt, garlic, olive oil, dill or parsley. This is the sauce for souvlaki and gyros.
Melitzanosalata (eggplant) This is made from mashed eggplant usually roasted mixed with olive oil and lemon juice.
(*) Hummus (chick peas) This is mashed chick peas (my fave) with lemon juice, thini, olive oil, salt and garlic.
Dip Platter with Pita Bread
PATATES TIGANITES Php 60 – this is fried potatoes which is crispy and delightful . This is usually a meze, a side dish in Greece but can also be eaten as a main dish for a light meal. Most Greeks don’t usually drain the oil in absorbent paper towels but it is always a matter of choice.
Patates Tiganites
LOUKOUMADES (honey puff) Php 50 . “Lokma” means mouthful or morsel. This is a fried-dough pastry served with confectioner’s sugar and chocolate syrup.
Traditionally , this is usually soaked in sugar syrup or honey and cinnamon and served with sesame seeds.
LOUKOUMADES
BAKLAVA (walnut) Php 65 – Not in any way related to a good friend of ours. This traditional Persian dessert is made of layers of filo pastry filled with nuts (walnuts or pistacchio) and sweetened with honey . This is an oily dessert.
This word means “to pile up” bayla in Mongolia.
Baklava
(*) KOURABIEDES (Greek Short Bread) Php 65- This is light short bread made with almonds. This is crescent in shape and dusted with confectioner’s sugar. This is usually called polvoron in Spain and the Philippines. But unlike our typical polvoron this is harder. This is my fave in this restaurant when it comes to dessert.
You get FREE kourabiedes for every 250.00 purchase.
KOURABIEDES
RIZOGALO (Rice Pudding) Php 50 – this is made from mixing rice with milk and water . Usually cinnamon is sprinkled on top. In the Philippines, this is champorado but without the cocoa.
RIZOGALO
GREEK COFFEE – this is akin to the Turkish Coffee which is “muddy” . The ground beans are boiled in a coffee pot usually with sugar and served in a cup to allow the grounds to settle. This is similar to our rice coffee but ours is better. This is not as strong as our coffee.
Greek Coffee
(*) MOSTRA RED WINE – Php 360 – 500 ml bottle – Greek Wine – this is a red semi-sweet wine. Soft in the mouth with cherry and sweet vanilla notes. I found my red wine . Ya Sou!!!
Mostra Red Wine
There is always a good thing around the bend …. a good find amongst the unsuspecting places … I found this when everything else is in limbo … when too confused , just throw your cares to the wind and say “Ya Sou!” Cheers!
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