Lepitsa in the Valley

Η fish tavern Lepitsa is located 800 meters behind her village Valley, about 6 km from Porto Heli, on the homonymous beach which is considered one of the best Hermione.

A small picturesque bay with white sand and shallow green-blue waters, several pine trees that offer their hospitable shade, some palm trees that give an exotic note to the landscape. A gently organized beach, with sunbeds, umbrellas, showers, and an idyllic view of the setting sun in the Argolic Gulf.

The family of Thodoros Basimakopoulos maintains on this shore, for 40 years a tavern with a very good reputation. We spoke with Kyr-Theodoros:

"My father came from Valtetsi and was a farmer. He was selling water, Barba-Giannis was called Neroula. From the age of 12 I was fishing in the trawl at night. He remembers the time when the Valley had a large fishing fleet. They gathered the nets ("they made a basket = they called") at dawn and lit a fire on the rocks to keep warm. At that time the beach was dunes.

In '67 I sailed on steamers, I traveled far, the farthest 22 months.

In '71 I went to the army and a year later, I "kicked" her from the navy, not to let my father sell the lands. I managed to save them and in May of '77 I opened the tavern. My wife and I cooked. My children and especially Giannis also got the germ. "

Ο Giannis Basimakopoulos studied chef at the Le Monde school, with the late Alexandros Giotis as his teacher.

Giannis continues the tradition of fish in Lepitsa, he has a weakness for pasta and risotto. He likes to try new elements in traditional recipes, e.g. Ermioni pomegranate, recipes that he also presents at the pomegranate festival: Shrimp with pomegranate liqueur, barley with fresh pomegranate puree, fava with cuttlefish ink and caramelized onions.

He comments with admiration on the proximity to the famous Franghti cave, how important it is and how little is known, of particular importance to history of gastronomy: Burnt lentils and food scraps were found, proving that prehistoric man cooked there.

With his sister Kindness, participate in the efforts to revive and upgrade the two important summer holidays:

On the 23rd of June of Klidonas, the Summer Solstice, and the great Feast of the Fisherman in the Valley, the last baidouzi (moon) of summer.

Specialty of the house:

• Grilled
• Sun-dried octopus 48 hours
• Famous Shrimp of the Valley, grilled, with risotto or with linguine
• Kakavia fish soup
• And from sweets, doubles and rakes, the mother's specialties

The ingredients are all fresh, seasonal from the area, sheep's milk from a sheepfold in Lepitsa and wine from Malagouzia Kontovraki.

Famous and ordinary vacationers, tourists and locals, choose the store for its location, its food, the family atmosphere, but also for the parties that often take place - densely with an orchestra.

Η fish tavern Lepitsa is open all year round, continuously for 5 months June-October noon-evening and the rest of the year Friday-Saturday-Sunday.