Tag Archives: Mediterranean Cuisine

Thessaloniki, Greece: Restaurants and Nightlife

Restaurants

Thessaloniki-Greece-B-Restaurant-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

B. Restaurant

If you’re a fan of Mediterranean cuisine, you will be delighted in Thessaloniki! Here are some restaurants I’ve tested and much loved during my (too) short stay. Let’s start with B. the restaurant of the Byzantine Museum that I have unfortunately not visited for lack of time.

As soon as I came, I really liked the decoration of the courtyard and the cosy atmosphere (above and below pictures). The dishes prepared by award-winning chef Sotiris Evangelou change with the seasons. Excellent Mediterranean cuisine enhanced by French and Italian elements: tasteful, lightweight and gourmet.

Thessaloniki-Greece-B-Restaurant-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Daios Bar-Restaurant

Thessaloniki -Greece-Hotel-Daios-Luxury-Living-Gastronomic-Restaurant-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Located in Nikis Avenue, this restaurant of the Daios hotel offers a very pleasant view to the blue Mediterranean sea. Close to the famous Proxenou Koromila street (shopping area), the place is chic and casual.

The beautifully presented dishes are delicious (below pictures), inspired by a combination of modern Greek cuisine and Mediterranean cuisine. Excellent! I took the opportunity to visit one of the suites on the top floor with stunning sea views (yes the sea, always the sea!).

Thessaloniki -Greece-Hotel-Daios-Luxury-Living-Gastronomic-Restaurant-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Navona Restaurant

Thessaloniki-Greece-Navona-Restaurant-@Makedonia-Palace-Hotel-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Interesting decor, I liked the circular bar and wall panels (above and below pictures). I had a very good dinner, we laughed a lot! The Navona is one of the Makedonia Palace restaurants, located on the waterfront.

Italian cuisine and friendliness: in my plate, a succulent grilled chicken with a very good pizza. Go there with friends or family. Unpretentious atmosphere. 

Thessaloniki-Greece-Navona-Restaurant-@Makedonia-Palace-Hotel-2A-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Ouzou Melathron

Thessaloniki-Greece-Ouzou Melathron-Traditional-Food-Restaurant-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

The Ouzou Melathron is a classic in Thessaloniki, nestled in a quiet pedestrian street with empty bird cages hanging in the air. To discover traditional Greek cuisine in a Greek ambiance! The night I was there, Cretan customers danced the Sirtaki.

On the principle of meze, I’ve tasted many different dishes all very good (and a little greasy). Meatballs, salads with feta cheese and fresh vegetables, potatoes baked with lemon and olive oil … A treat!

Thessalonique by night

Thessaloniki-Greece-Bars-Nightlife-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Thessaloniki is a student city, full of bars and terraces where to go out at night. The best is yet to have a walk and choose a bar according to the inspiration of the moment. Go with the flow and enjoy!  

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

Informations   

Visit Greece, Thessaloniki Hotels Association & Ryanair

From Ryanair flies to Thessaloniki and ten other destinations in Greece including Athens and Santorini.

Related posts : DESTINATIONS & HOW TO PREPARE YOUR TRAVEL 

Many thanks for this beautiful invitation to Visit Greece, Thessaloniki Hotels Association and Ryanair. As always these are my opinions.

Croatia: Le Mandrac, The Gourmet Restaurant in Opatijia

Croatia-Opatija-Le Mandrac-8-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2013

After my long visit of Opatija

with Zé under a blazing sun, we follow Lungumare (a paved path along the sea with a beautiful view) to Le Mandrac, a gourmet restaurant. We are in a small cove with a backdrop worthy of the golden age of the Italian cinema. It feels like home… and also reminded me of the Marseille’s Calanques and a distant dinner at Chez Fonfon (a famous restaurant in Marseille).

I love the scenery, I’m blown away! The view from our table is just WOW (picture 1)! Impeccable service. The black bread looks like the one I tasted in South Tyrol (picture 4). Excellent starters (pictures 2 & 3), followed by a perfectly grilled fish with olive oil (pictures 6 & 7) and a chocolate cake, with in the middle some hot chocolate and garnished with a lemon sorbet … OMG and beleive me, I am not at all a dessert person (pictures 8 & 9). After the second starter, I wasn’t hungry!

Croatia-Opatija-Le Mandrac-1-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2013Croatia-Opatija-Le Mandrac-2-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2013Croatia-Opatija-Le Mandrac-7-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2013Croatia-Opatija-Le Mandrac-9-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2013

The chef Denis Zembo

Honestly, I think it must be a nightmare to have lunch with me. Each dish is carefully photographed before and sometimes even after, as below, LOL! Here everything is so flavorful and tasty that between the main course and dessert, I improvise a quick meeting with the talented chef and owner of Le Mandrac, Denis Zembo (picture above): 

How would you describe your cooking? – Mediterranean cuisine with a twist. Unpredictable and surprising. 

What kind of ingredients inspire you? – Only some Mediterranean herbs and garlic found in the mountains. I like to use different techniques, such as caramelize. The presentation is half of the dish too. 

– What traditional Croatian dish would you recommend to someone who comes for the first time in Croatia? – The risotto, all made pasta, scampi. My avant-garde interpretation of traditional fritaja (fritaya), with scrambled eggs and local ingredients: wild asparagus, truffles and mushrooms. 

Thank you Denis Zembo.

Croatia-Opatija-Le Mandrac-3-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2013Croatia-Opatija-Le Mandrac-4-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2013Croatia-Opatija-Le Mandrac-5-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2013Croatia-Opatija-Le Mandrac-6-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2013Croatia-Opatija-Le Mandrac-12-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2013

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés. 

Informations 

Le Mandrac : Obala F. Supila 10, Volosko, 51410 Opatija – Tel +385 51 701 357. Opatija Tourist Board www.visitcroatia.be  

Follow my whole trip in the CROATIA section. ENJOY! I was hosted by the Office National Croate du Tourisme and as usual all my opinions are mine.    

Related posts : DESTINATIONSLIFESTYLE & HOTEL REVIEWS 

South Tyrol: Stadele, A Really Good Restaurant In Lana

I Like Light Dishes Based On Fish-vegetables 

Definitely olive oil, I do not like sauces and fatty dishes disgust me. The most important is the quality of ingredients, cooking mode and “airy” presentation.

The cuisine with Mediterranean influences of Wenin Matthias, the Stadele chef, suits me perfectly! Simple, tasty, with a touch of originality and light.

I discovered an excellent black bread served hot (picture above), typical of the region. Prices are fair, the service and location are very pleasant. It feels good in this unpretentious family restaurant, housed in an old converted barn.

Informations   

www.stadele.euwww.suedtirol.info, www.meranerland.com, www.suedtirols-sueden.info, www.lufthansa.com    

Related posts : DESTINATIONS & LIFESTYLE

Many thanks for this beautiful invitation to Suedtirol and Lufthansa. As always these opinions are my own.