The Russian tavern is full of babushkas and other russian paraphernalia
Vodka: I like vodka but only with food
Pickles, they are called toursi and go well with vodka (at least I like them like that)
Vareniki, a kind of hand made pasta, this one filled with mashed potato, Blondie’s had cheese
Crepes, but they call them blinis, although I am not sure blinis look like that
Pirozhkis
Russian salad with peas, potatoes, eggs, carrots, pickled cucumber, home made mayonaisse
another salad with beetroot and potatoes
you thought there wouldn’t be bouzouki just because that was a russian tavern?
February 24th, 2006 at 9:53 am
Everything looks so wonderful. The restaurant must have thought you were a food critic, taking photos of it all!
And I sit here wondering what I can make for lunch today…I need a chef.
(other than chef boyardee, that is; and I doubt you have him in Greece…)
February 24th, 2006 at 10:22 am
no, no! they are strange people. they insisted we should sit by the door because we hadn’t made reservations early. This is a basic tavern and although the food is terrific, you don’t really think you have to call 2 days in advance. Anyway, i said i was cold and couldn’t sit by the door and then heard them tell each other “if another party comes later than expected we’ll make them sit by the door, explaining we couldn’t keep their table”!
hehe, this is Greece my friend.
Erm, why don’t you make a nice soup? Boil all the veggies you have and then just liquidize them.
Easy and then you’ll have more time for blogging.
xxx
February 24th, 2006 at 10:59 am
Hello, babuska.
That beetroot stuff looks good.
I’m so sick of the same old Dad-style cooking: brussel sprouts, macaroni and cheese, and some frozen chicken.
February 24th, 2006 at 11:23 am
mmm dem looks like good eatin’ even if they IS commies!
February 24th, 2006 at 11:38 am
That’s making me hungry. Those crepes look good. I’m frying tonight with a dash of white wine.
February 24th, 2006 at 1:08 pm
Looks like you’re having a meatless greasy-meat-days
Why aren’t there any places like that over here? I’d like to try something different. Are you calling the dolls babuskhas? Because I thought they were called matrioskhas and the babushkas were the shoes. We need a Russian expert here 
February 24th, 2006 at 1:22 pm
I did some research! Looks like the babushkas are the scarfs that the dolls have on their heads, with the triangular form. And the dolls are called matrioshkas. So why do I call my moroccan slippers babushkas? I think they’re just babushas without the K.
February 24th, 2006 at 1:23 pm
Hey, Chloe, your posts are the best posts for making me hungry!
And, Devil Mood, I just looked up both babushka and matrioshka, and you’re right. However, I’ve always heard the dolls called babushkas as well. How strange!
February 24th, 2006 at 2:11 pm
I love that beet salad - yummy.
What a terrific evening - how
nice you have your sister
nearby.
The blinis (sp?) look yummy.
My downfall - I would have them
with sourcream and fried
onion.
Smiles!
February 24th, 2006 at 2:22 pm
I wonder if Vareniki, are anythign like Perogies? Either way I want some with sour cream! I think I’ll have to get me some for dinner.
February 24th, 2006 at 2:44 pm
I’ve always thought babushka meant grandmother…an actual person. Little old lady, maybe? Unfortunately the Russian part of my family is now extinct, or at least the ones here who connected us to the ones there are.
I do have to say I’d need to vodka to get through the food though. It was probably quite yummy, but not really my cup of tea
February 24th, 2006 at 4:15 pm
No cheese on toast?
Pah!
February 24th, 2006 at 5:06 pm
I love piroski filled with potato and onions, in olive oil.
February 24th, 2006 at 6:54 pm
Mmmm… now I’m really hungry! Vareniki are just called perogies by my Polish in-laws. If you ever have the chance to try the saurkraut (messed up that spelling probably) and mushroom ones, DO!
February 24th, 2006 at 6:58 pm
I want those crepes!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 24th, 2006 at 8:02 pm
I thought babushka was just a pet name.
Sorry, Chloe, if I inadvertedly referred to you as a shoe, scarf, or an old woman.
February 24th, 2006 at 8:26 pm
“if another party comes later than expected we’ll make them sit by the door, explaining we couldn’t keep their table”!
chloe i dont think this is what we get in athens restaurants. it’s not fair.
February 24th, 2006 at 10:43 pm
Looks like hearty food.
February 24th, 2006 at 11:01 pm
i have polish foster grandparents from when my dad studied in the US as a high school student. and varenikis look/sound just like their pierogies. they were one of my favorite things to eat!
February 24th, 2006 at 11:29 pm
Cool!
February 25th, 2006 at 12:12 am
You take such good pictures that you do make a girl very hungry!! Didn’t we have room for desert?
Hugs,
Connie
February 25th, 2006 at 2:26 am
Yummy, that all looks so tasty. Makes the toasted sandwiches I am making look really boring (I guess they are !!). What a beautiful place, looks like you had a great time. Take care, Meow
February 25th, 2006 at 3:15 am
Yum ! the salad looks awesome and Vodka for me is like water
You had a good time yes ?
cheers
February 25th, 2006 at 4:40 am
erikku
maybe you can start cooking a bit?
i’ll give you the recipes if you ask for them. they are easy to make, especially the beet salad. xx
zona
that’s the commies can cook movement (CCC)
ben
what did you fry? share the recipes please
devil
xxx
you are right about Matryoshkas but not about the kerchief . wikipedia says
“Babushka is a Russian word meaning “grandmother” or “old lady.”
And : “Some American English dictionaries define the word as a “kerchief for the head”. “Babushka” is never used in Russia to mean “kerchief for the head” - that’s simply named платок.” And it adds “Babushka is also the name given to a certain type of Matryoshka doll” Apparently “A doll which represents an old woman is often called babouskha or babushka”.
So yes, babushka means old lady and only nested dolls that portray old ladies are called babushkas. Phew. But we learn!
kimananda
i looked it up in wikipedia and both are somewhat right, but i’m going to ask my russian friend to make sure.
madelyn
Blondie is like a sister to me but she is my best friend. My sister is Penny and we go out together a lot too and are best friends too. So my sister is like a best friend to me and my best friend is like a sister. xx
day
people keep saying that so you must be right but i can check wikipedia again!
okay looked it up ” Varenyky or vareniki are boiled pierogi (from varyty, to boil) and are particularly Ukrainian.” aha!!
stephanie
it does mean grandmother! see how cool russians are? they make dolls out of their grandmothers.
the food was yummy. maybe its appearence put you off (not much green in there?)
bedshaped
i’m having some now. cheese on toast is the best food on this planet. especially with strong coffee.
fuff
that’s exactly what it was! if you drink alcohol try them with vodka.
phx
it’s the same thing, wikipedia says vareniki are boiled perogies. I will! I’m going to try to make them myself.
dew
hey you have your lasagna! and your apple pie!
erikku
no, you called me a doll
joe
that’s cause we never sit so close to the kitchen?
maja
it was, and you really need the vodka to gulp it down
valorie
they are great because it’s such a simple but gratifying taste. and varenikis are boiled perogies (i didn’t know it, i looked it up)
greg
:)hello
connie
there was but i didn’t know what kind of desserts they had (and you don’t mess with dessert)Can you believe i had taken along Madelyn’s chocolates for dessert?
xxx
Meow
the place itself is not beautiful, but the food is great. and the people are strange but you kind of want to know them better.
true blue
like water? wowhow
February 25th, 2006 at 5:34 am
That looks so much better than the food I´m getting here at the hotel in Andorra!
February 25th, 2006 at 7:38 am
Mmmm I’ve suddenly gone hungry.
When I visit can we go there?
February 25th, 2006 at 10:36 am
Maybe - but now you’ve got me picturing this food green. I do love beetroot though. We just call them beets here. When I was first cooking from the yoga cookbook I had a silly moment when I couldn’t figure out what a beetroot was. My friend had to tell me, beets are roots, stupid
February 25th, 2006 at 11:35 am
Mmmm…hungry now.
February 25th, 2006 at 2:07 pm
Î Ïοσοχη με τη βοτκα!Αν την ανακατεψεις με χυμο μποÏεις να μεθυσεις ακομη πιο ευκολα.
Και φυσικα ποτε με red bull.
February 25th, 2006 at 2:27 pm
Great this with the bouzouki in the russian tavern
I’ve just remembered I’ve missed dinner
February 25th, 2006 at 2:29 pm
Mmmmm…good old Eastern European food! Did I ever mention my wife was Ukrainian? I get treated to stuff like that on a regular basis!
Anyhow…hi, guess who’s back?
February 25th, 2006 at 3:45 pm
I love vareniki, but the blini’s I’ve had(and make) are always thin flat pancakes with sour cream dalloped on the top.YOur pictures are making me soooo hungry!
February 25th, 2006 at 4:13 pm
missy
you are reading my follies from Andorra? oh brave girl you! hugs xx
nevets
xx
when you visit we’ll go everywhere!
stephanie
i’ve got a good one: next week i have to dye easter eggs for the eco-magazine, using beets
finn
sending you some vareniki
drugs tv
i never mix vodka!
vista
they played and you just put money in their pockets if you wanted to
Fly
welcome back!
erm you’ve never mentioned your wife at all.
etchen
that’s what i thought about blinis too, that they are round and flat
February 25th, 2006 at 4:49 pm
I was always fascinated by those Russian dolls. My mother has one and it was neat to see how many dolls were within the doll.
February 25th, 2006 at 4:52 pm
Chloe: we’re becoming experts on russian culture
The dolls must be really important, since they even have alternative names for their types. I’m glad we’re not calling wrong names to the things, I’d be angry if I were Russian and realized we didn’t have a clue 
February 25th, 2006 at 5:13 pm
Angel and Devil
i like them very much. there are polished and shiny and brightly coloured. For some weird reason they inspired me to watch Dr Zivango (i know, i am nuts)
February 25th, 2006 at 7:54 pm
Whenever I am anywhere near Moschato, I often make a point of going down the main shopping street for piroski, from a Russian shop that’s like a typopitadiko. They are so good, a piroskitadiko no less..
February 25th, 2006 at 10:34 pm
I am listening to Bono and BB King sing when love comes to town as i read your blog. Now I am rocking way more then the peace you provide.
February 26th, 2006 at 7:27 am
I always love your pictures. They tell such a good story themselves.
February 26th, 2006 at 1:51 pm
nasdarovje!
mine is a double vodka, thanks
February 27th, 2006 at 2:05 am
fuff
moschato? you live in athens? i had no idea!
pirate
I was a sailor, I was lost at sea I was under the waves
hehe
Before love rescued me? how appropriate!
phil
and they keep telling the story long after the food is gone
daria
double vodka = double food portion
February 27th, 2006 at 4:45 am
The food looks lovely. I have had only limited experience with Russian food, alas, though I did enjoy the borscht (beet soup with sour cream) I used to make during my college years. Must try this taverna. Where is it in Athens?
February 27th, 2006 at 5:05 am
Not anymore but I still have my flat so am over a lot.
March 1st, 2006 at 6:50 pm
Joanna it is in Kallithea. It is called Valentina. it is very basic inside but the food is lovely.
fuff
email me when you are in town again
March 7th, 2006 at 5:18 am
again the pic of the food items look yummy!