Athas in Ai-Giannis

Ο Agios Ioannis is a picturesque settlement with careful planning and great agricultural tradition, just 8 km from Monemvasia. It was created about 150 years ago by residents of the surrounding areas, is located at an altitude of 260 m and has 560 inhabitants. Although it is not located on any artery with traffic to Kyparissi, Naples or Sparta, many people visit Ai-Giannis because it is known for its taverns with the traditional food of the area.

The most famous tavern of them is o Athas, that is the tavern of Athanasios Skagos and his wife Sofia.

The photo we chose for the opening of the article about Atha tavern, sums it all up grandeur of his kitchen. Two happy hosts, a part of the tasteful semi-outdoor area, large openings overlooking the olive grove and on the table the family wine of Atha, googles (wide pasta, handmade and fresh), with butter, tomato sauce and plenty of traditional mizithra ( vegetable pies) in cast iron, a village salad swimming in oil and a rooster roasted with spaghetti.

Ο Athas small barge and in 1990 on the privately owned estate made a cafeteria that in 1992 it was turned into a tavern. I cooked his golden-haired wife with me, little by little the tavern of Atha became the place of deposit of Ai-Giannis. Today it can serve up to 300 people. The four oversized wood ovens that can hold dozens of pans with lamb, certify the truth of the matter. Serving in such cases is done by the three young men of Atha (Alexis, Spyros, Giannis - although the latter after studying to cook at Le Monde, will try his luck as a chef in England) and some relatives or neighbors. Family issues.

From the catalog (menu) of the store we distinguish:

The cheese pies, zucchini flowers stuffed with rice, armathies (dried winter herbs that come to life again by boiling like the "hay" of Agios Kosmas, again from Parnonas), beef stew, goat braised, roasted pork , sausages and skewers and sometimes skewers, although Athas claims that the best meat is made in the oven when simmer for 6 hours, who are "even old ewes become thawed»!

For the winter there is the spacious inner room with the fireplace and of course the good company of the Atha family!