Hole in Kynopiastes

I do not know if there is a tavern in Greece in operation, any reputation greater than that of the Hole and has hosted so many important personalities. THE Tripas is located in a small village 11 km from the city Corfu and 3 km from Achillion.

The tavern of Trypa created by barba-Spyros Anifanti, one of the greatest myths of the Greek tavern.

In the middle of the decade 1930 a small grocery store in Kynopiastes sold local cheeses. Spyros, a young man at the time, worked in the mornings at "Ilektriki" in Corfu and in the evening served to the patrons of the grocery store, cooked dishes and wine, prepared by neighboring households. The grocery store slowly evolved into a tavern due to its size it was named "Hole" and the owner of "Tripas".

An arch of 50 sq.m. with 6 tables and 30 seats remains the old grocery store and the "trademark" of the modern Trypa. His kitchen, however, as well as the breweries and warehouses were moved to other places, while the courtyard welcomes over 150 people daily in the summer.

In the summer the groups and those who want to listen to live Greek music sit in the yard, while few, the most sought after enjoy the exuberant setting of the "cod tavern", the hundreds of bottles of vermouth, brandy, Metaxa, wine, standing there with all its traces weather (dust, spiders) and hundreds of photos of celebrities of celebrities with tributes to Trypa.

Because in the sad grocery store - and not in the big yard - Barba-Spyros welcomed the VIPs of the time. Aristotle Onassis and Jackie, Anthony Quinn and Melina Mercouri. This is where the skewered piglet was served to Francois Mitterrand, which was eaten "by hand" by way of derogation from the protocol and the French “savoir vivre”.

The food in Trypa it stays the same for as many years as I can remember and the process is similar: a large record reaches each pair, filled with Corfiot delicacies: seasonal salads, a variety of cold cuts and cheeses, sausages, stew, sofrito, pastitsada, real potatoes in the pan with grated cheese, roast pork and roast lamb, while for sweets, yogurt with honey or kumquat is offered and endless innumerable f.

Things have changed a lot nowadays. The international tourist competition has highlighted many new and attractive destinations, while in Corfu the historic triangle (sleep at the Corfu Hilton or Corfu Palace - Casino game of Achilles - food in the Hole) with the foam of the international community, has been abolished as the Casino was moved in the 80's to the city, at the Corfu Palace Hotel, and the foam is not so frequent on the island of Faiaka.

Nonetheless the grandchildren of Mr. Spyros, Spyros in the service and Rena in the kitchen, are struggling to preserve the heavy heritage of Trypa.

«We may not have the great personalities and glories of the 70's, 80's and 90's, but just the day before yesterday we fed a group of 100 crowned people and out of fun we made them not want to leave the store!", Tells us Rena, the granddaughter who has taken the "says" of her grandfather ("says" in Corfiot is the comfort of speech, the spirited communication).

He remembered me yesterday (7-9-2019) that I visited them again and he welcomed me with joy, as the last time we met was in 2004, when I had written a tribute to Trypa at Aegean Airlines Blue that had made an impression.

He remembered that we were sitting and talking, and I was happy for my part and I was proud of them, because I have been coming to Trypa since 1960 with my family, a little boy in shorts, they are almost 60 years old since then, and I have lived greatness and all its phases.

I especially remember my worries when Mr. Spyros left in 1996 and the parents left for the next ten years, so the 2 grandchildren had to lift the weight.

And from what I found out they manage to maintain one just fine local and national myth, the myth of the Hole.