Saying goodbye to 2020, I would like to write a few good words about two small hotels in the Greek region, which honor the Greek hotel. Two hotels that are models for example, because it is a great proof how the careful, rich and local breakfast can take off the reputation of any hotel, but also that the taste, the love for the local gastronomy is a huge capital, as long as one take advantage.

Finally, these two hotels - now that we are saying goodbye to the second decade of the 21st century, the decade in which the "Greek breakfast" -  they do not allow me to identify with the lyrics of the unforgettable song of Manolis Chiotis, "my past loves"…

My past loves
dreams that you erased.

On the contrary, wherever I travel, “my past loves", The hotels that offer Greek Breakfast give me joy because, the" old loves go to Paradise " of Greek gastronomy.

And this happened because the hoteliers realized the importance of the Greek Breakfast, and today throughout the territory, we can meet very dignified versions of it. The two hotels I mention are Tourist Boutique Hotel Kefalonia in Argostoli and Kritsa Gastronomy Hotel, in Portaria, both of them are run by two hyperactive and capable women, the Konstantina Charitou and Eleni Karaiskou, and was one of the first to join the Greek Breakfast, being the shining example of everything that followed.

I visited them this year and not only do they maintain their reputation, but they surprise with the power of their creativity, even in the difficult times of the coronavirus.

 

Tourist Boutique Hotel Kefalonia

On the beautiful pebble beach of Argostoli with the impressive palm trees and the wonderful Caretta Caretta turtles that are there daily and enjoyed by locals and visitors, is the traditional Boutique hotel TOURIST, ready to welcome visitors all year round for holidays and for your business trips.

Tourist Boutique Hotel Kefalonia (TOURIST hotel) is 5 minutes from the main square and next to the pedestrian street, the historic "Lithostroto", where all the cafes and shops of the city are located, while the view of its balconies rests on the calm "lagoon" of Koutavos and the historic De Bosset bridge or the bridge of Devoseto or for the common people the "Pontes" which is the largest stone bridge in Europe with a length of 689,9 meters.

What made the Tourist Boutique Hotel stand out, from all the other hotels, was not so much its beautiful view and its privileged location, the constant renovations in its facilities, its services such as satellite TV, wireless WIFI high speed Internet, but the Greek Breakfast.

Η Konstantina Charitou the creator - literally - of one of the most attractive mornings in Greece, first adopted the Greek Breakfast in Kefalonia, and since then her hotel has been identified with it.

"I started and my goal was to include all the gastronomic wealth of my area in breakfast. Until then the breakfasts provided by the hotels were American breakfast and continental breakfast. In this way I would present to our foreign visitors the richness of Greek gastronomy. Products such as pastries, oil, olives, yogurt, honey, pastries, jams, cheeses, cold cuts, pies, fruits, pastries, drinks, were on my daily buffet.

The presentation in traditional utensils, screens, the lantern that was used as a refrigerator in the old days, made the breakfast impressive !!! I had already entered the kitchen myself. The good day from the morning seems !!!! At breakfast every day was a celebration !!!! The customers not only responded but also got excited with this pioneering move of mine. This resulted in the breakfast rising and the reputation of the hotel very high. The better breakfast you have the more you upgrade your services. If a stranger enjoys breakfast he will write it on the website, make a comment and it will be a huge promotion of the hotel. The Kefalonian breakfast is now a fact !!!"

In Kefalonia five years ago, I met my best student, who put on my glasses, because apart from the great variety of local dishes, the presentation was very discreet and reminiscent of manorial hospitality.

The strapatsades and the meat pie, for the fanatics who want from the morning to be fascinated with strong flavors…!

Rice milk and lemon creams to soften the stomach…

Honeycomb of local honey to sweeten your day.

Cheeses of all kinds from Kefalonia but also from opposite Ithaca.

Bakery products, cookies, village breads of all kinds.

And in all this, accompanied by the courtesy and hospitality of the hostess who waits to satisfy every gastronomic desire. In Kefalonia, Hellenic Breakfast found one of its best ambassadors.

 

Kritsa Gastronomy Hotel

In the main square of Portaria under the huge age-old plane trees, the fountains with the cool water and the blooming hydrangeas is the hotel Kritsa Gastronomy Hotel.

The combination of the romantic rooms with the neat decoration, with the famous Greek breakfast, but also the richness of the dishes of the Pelion cuisine served in the restaurant of the Hotel, the very high level of service and knowledge of the local food and the Greek wines and finally the unrepeatable warm family hospitality make the stay as the highest gastronomic experience of Pelion and fully justify the title of the hotel.

Breakfast is one of the most authentic Greek breakfasts I have ever had - and I think I have every reason to have an opinion. Leaning on beautiful wooden furniture, monastery tables, sideboards and showcases, you first have the feeling that you are in a rich mansion and not in a hotel with stainless steel and technological findings. The utensils, one by one, welcome local honeys, herbs for drinks, vegetables from the gardens, homemade pastries, cakes, buns, local pies - every day a different type -, omelets, spentzofai breakfast to style you for the cold days, local cheeses such as galotyria and others and pastries and delicious pastaflores and apple pies.

It is no coincidence that every morning you see people outside the hotel coming to try the Greek Hotel Breakfast.

The pies star in homemade meat pies, cheese pies and green pies γωνισ.

For his friends trachana is served with feta cheese, while for the more fanatical with hot paprika!

Tarts with tomato, onion and olive and cheese….

The heavy artillery of Pelion in the reinforcement of the Greek Breakfast…

The traditional spetzofai (Local sausage with peppers) and fried greens with eggs…

The  Kritsa Gastronomy Hotel in Portaria is a small gastronomic paradise. Eleni, her sister Niki, their children Stefanos, Filippos, Meletis, Antonis and the other collaborators honor Pelion and the Greek hospitality. We thank them.