1 Mediterranean-Greek Food & Nutrition

in collaboration with

DURATION Five days (four nights) PARTICIPANTS 4-10 pax. BOOKING ADVANCE 15 days PRICE from 600€ pp., VAT (23%) included; price subject to change depending on specific arrangements according to your preferences and the number of participants. NOTES (GEAR NEEDED ETC.) The proposed program is indicative and adjustable to the groups wishes and preferences. The last day’s program will depend on time availability. It is suggested that you bring along hat, mallot, suncream, trekking/walking shoes!

BOOKING CODE MFN HIGHLIGHTS Mediterranean and Greek Diet, historical center, Greek typical food, Vouliagmenis thermal lake, Cape Sounio, winetasting, beach, Ancient Temples, themed walks.

BeyondAthens ~ Olympou 5, 19010 , -GREECE Tel.: +30 22910 22953; +30 697 9760560 ~ E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] www.beyondathens.net

DESCRIPTION 2

In this 5-day Mediterranean Food and Nutrition program in Greece you will have the chance to visit Athens, the Greek capital, its beautiful surroundings and savour typical specialties with the invaluable insights and tips of a local.

You will hear and learn about Greek and Mediterranean food, experience how to cook it in healthy ways and of course taste it. All this on the spot, in the superb sea coast of Attica, few kilometers from Athens.

All sessions will take place in the mornings at The Ktima (which means small ranch)- and last 3-4 hours. They will include a practical session and a small lunch with the food you will have contributed preparing.

Some of the food you will learn preparing is Greek salad, mother yeast bread, traditional pie, lentil balls, tzatziki, sundried tomatoes, pastel and halvas.

MFN trainer

Sofia Kanellou, MSC in vegetarian nutrition, has studied and trained extensively in Greece and Italy as a professional dietitian, nutritional counselor and herbalist. She has arranged and conducted several seminars, workshops and culinary classes, as part of a healthy lifestyle and sustainable living.

BeyondAthens ~ Olympou 5, 19010 Lagonisi, Attica-GREECE Tel.: +30 22910 22953; +30 697 9760560 ~ E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] www.beyondathens.net

Day 1 3

As soon as you will land in Athens a BA van will pick you up at El. Venizelos airport and take you to your hotel. One of our guides will welcome you aboard and provide you with general info about the next days’ itinerary and activities and hand you informative material.

After a treat with Greek specialties and a short rest, you will head to a tranquil suburb on the Athens coast. There, hidden in the pines, stands a natural site of incredible charm. In Vouliagmenis Lake you will enjoy a brief visit and description of the place and swim in the thermal lukewarm waters of the lake from a specially dedicated prive area. Your already seduced senses will be further relaxed with a mild yoga practice on the greenery by the lake. Finally, an aperitif will be offered, as well as a light dinner with Greek typical specialties. Our guide and driver will then take you back to your hotel, as your first day will end.

Day 2

Day 2 of Mediterranean Food and Nutrition Program will start with your first workshop session at The Ktima.

First session will start off with a brief introduction of the working group, the surrounding area and working space. After a small theoretical talk you will set about dealing with mother yeast and how to use it in bread and Greek typical dough filo (φύλλο). You will also familiarize yourself with yoghurt and fresh cheese made of goat and/or sheep milk. You will take part in the preparation of a horiatiki Greek

BeyondAthens ~ Olympou 5, 19010 Lagonisi, Attica-GREECE Tel.: +30 22910 22953; +30 697 9760560 ~ E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] www.beyondathens.net

salad (χωριάτικη σαλάτα) using the already prepared cheese and a traditional pie 4 (πίτα). Finally, you will have lunch and taste with your group mates the food you will have cooked.

The afternoon of the second day will be devoted to the cradle of the Greek Ancient Civilisation, Athens. Our van with a BeyondAthens guide will collect you and drive you to Athens downtown. With the invaluable help of an insider you will meander through the fascinating colourful old town of Plaka, rich in architecture, archaeological sites and local shops. Of course you cannot miss a visit to the Acropolis and the Parthenon. Next, you will decide whether to continue visiting the Agora, Ancient theatres and other sites, go to the Acropolis museum or simply rest in a café.

If time is enough you may want to visit the stunning Acropolis Museum or take one of our suggested short themed tour/walk of your choice with a specialized local insider guide. Indicatively, you will be able to choose one among “Flavours of Athens”, “Walking Meze” or “Photo Safari”.

Dinner is free for you to decide if to stay over in Athens and eat in a local tavern or New Greek Cuisine Restaurant handpicked by us or head back to your hotel.

BeyondAthens ~ Olympou 5, 19010 Lagonisi, Attica-GREECE Tel.: +30 22910 22953; +30 697 9760560 ~ E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] www.beyondathens.net

Day 3 5

The third day of your stay will be planned also according to your preferences and mood.

In the morning you will join Sofia for your second session of the MFN program. Second day will include: traditional Greek bread making with mother yeast, properties and use of legumes in the Greek/Mediterranean Diet, preparation of sundried tomatoes and a brief presentation of the main Greek wild herbs, focusing on those typical of the Region of Attica and Southern Greece and their role in traditional cooking. Υοu will also prepare aromatic salt. Eventually you will prepare and taste lentil balls, homemade tzatziki and bread and a fresh salad.

Then in the afternoon you may choose one of the following options:

1) Visit a winery in the rural inland handpicked by us and participate in a wine tasting , where you will hear about and taste typical local varieties dating back to Ancient Greece such as white Savatiano and be treated small snacks consisting of local cheese, bread rusks and olives. 2) Go on an open-air walk in the nature by the sea and collect Greek wild herbs and forage where possible edible vegetation and visit a vegetable garden. 3) Simply rest, enjoy a swim if hot or go for a walk nearby your hotel.

Later in the afternoon you will head South along the impressive coastal road that after a series of caves, beaches and bays will lead you to Cape Sounio . There lies the magnificent Temple of Poseidon and the ruins of the Ancient citadel, now being excavated. You will eventually enjoy either a guided visit to the Ancient site or a small walk in the surroundings or both. BeyondAthens ~ Olympou 5, 19010 Lagonisi, Attica-GREECE Tel.: +30 22910 22953; +30 697 9760560 ~ E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] www.beyondathens.net

Finally the day will end with a delicious dinner at a seafood, modern or traditional 6 Greek tavern carefully selected by us and enjoy a typical menu prepared exclusively for you.

Day 4

Third and last session of your MFN program will be devoted to the sweet yet not less healthy side of Greek traditional nutrition. Key elements of this sweet small tour will be honey, dried nuts and seeds and petimezi (πετιμέζι), that is grape molasses.

In fact you will tought about the unique features of Greek honey, enjoy a honey tasting of the 3,4 main and most characteristic types of honey. Next you will familiarize with Greek dried nuts, among which pistachios, also a local product, almonds and nuts play a pivotal role. Together with sesame seeds they are widely used. In this case, you will take part in the preparation of the sweet bar pasteli (παστέλι), made of honey, sesame seeds and some nuts. Finally you will discover petimezi, a great substitute for plain refined sugar. You will learn how to make traditional halva (χαλβάς) with it. And of course at the end taste all these goods, along with dakos and garden vegetables salad.

In the afternoon it is up to you to decide whether to:

1) Visit Athens for a themed culinary walk, go shopping including some handpicked places where to buy Greek gourmet and traditional products, or visit the Greek Gastronomy Museum, a Beyond Athens partner. 2) Alternatively you may opt for a Greek cheese tasting, or BeyondAthens ~ Olympou 5, 19010 Lagonisi, Attica-GREECE Tel.: +30 22910 22953; +30 697 9760560 ~ E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] www.beyondathens.net

3) Simply rest, swim at the beach if hot weather or enjoy a nearby walk. 7

After dinner you can join us for a last drink at a beach bar if hot weather or at charming Sazerac bar in the city port of Lavrio.

Day 5

In the last day of your stay the program will be made according to your time availability and departure time. Hopefully time will be enough to visit the natural, historic area of Vravrona , on the East Coast of Attica, where you can admire the Ancient Temple of Artemis (Greek goddess of the hunt, wilderness and childbirth), a lovely archaeological museum and walk an eco-footpath along Erasinos river.

Our transfer to El. Venizelos International Airport will mark the end of your stay. By then, you will have explored the beauties of Athens and its surroundings, discovered, experienced and learned the philosophy behind Greek Mediterranean nutrition and the natural life that it promotes.

INCLUDED : accommodation in a 3 or + starred hotel; all transfers with private van; private guide; three Mediterranean Food and Nutrition workshop sessions including material, food and cooking ingredients and light lunches; admission to Vouliagmenis Lake – privè area – tour, swim, yoga and dinner buffet; admission to Sounio Temple; Athens downtown day tour; visit to winery and wine tasting or Athens themed walk and Museum of Greek Gastronomy; two dinners at taverns and restaurants.

BeyondAthens ~ Olympou 5, 19010 Lagonisi, Attica-GREECE Tel.: +30 22910 22953; +30 697 9760560 ~ E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] www.beyondathens.net