Food & Drink
Due to the long-time Venetian domination, the cuisine of the Ionian islands has significant influences from the Italian cuisine. Greek food is so much more than feta and olives, and the climate lends itself to a plethora of delicious home grown fruit and vegetables.
LOCAL CUISINE
Local dishes worth trying include the kreatopita and aubergines skordostoubi. Kreatopita is a perennial favourite for its rich, well-spiced flavours, using bay leaf, garlic, cinnamon, nutmeg and marjoram. Usually it’s prepared with a mixture of veal and lamb, which are cooked in a tomato wine sauce with vegetables like carrots, potato, leeks, then it’s all baked into a pie. Aubergines skordostoubi is a local vegetarian dish where the aubergines are cooked down with tomatoes, potatoes and carrots. The rich red sauce is seasoned with paprika, vinegar, garlic cloves, and a generous smattering of local olive oil!
LOCAL RESTAURAUNTS
There are a number of wonderful local restauraunts and tavernas near Villa Tal Hamsa, both up in the hills and on the coast. A 5 minute drive from the villa brings you down into the quaint Agios Nikolaos Port where there is a vast array of culinary choices. We’d recommend you try some of the sumptuous fresh sea bass or calamari caught that morning or local delicacies such as homemade moussaka. The locals are also becoming rather proud of their wine, although there is an abundance of more obvious choices.
In the villa, guests are able to benefit from a comprehensive list of currently recommended local restauraunts, including reviews, opening hours and phone numbers. In many cases we have developed close relationships with the owners of these establishments, and preferential treatment is often made to those staying in Villa Tal Hamsa!
FOOD AND WINE SHOPPING
Villa Tal Hamsa is essentially a self-catered villa, despite the option of using our recommended in-villa private chefs and hosts. Supermarkets are well stocked with all the essentials you crave from home ranging from Marmite to a healthy supply of Whispering Angel rose wine on the island. There is a Lidl close to Zakynthos Town (open until 8pm in high season) and various other options closer to the villa.
We have curated a great relationship with the mini-market at Port St Nicholas, a 7 minute drive from the villa. Villa Tal Hamsa guests not only receive a 10% discount, but food and drink can be delivered to the villa during your stay, and a ‘welcome basket’ of essentials can be arranged for your arrival.
Although the Greeks are proud of their own wine, there is an abundance of Old and New World options available in the supermarkets, as well as holiday staples such as Hendricks gin and Fever Tree tonic.
COOKING AT THE VILLA
Villa Tal Hamsa has all the kitchen equipment one could expect for a high-end villa holiday. A large fridge with freezer, and a separate drinks fridge, an electric oven, microwave and outdoor bbq. Catering for large groups, there is an abundance of crockery and glasses, and a cork screw will never be far away!
Guests can dine in a number of locations across the property; inside at the large round kitchen table, outside under the sun on the main balcony or in the shade of the adjoining terrace looking over the swimming pool.
Short of using one of the private chefs on offer, high quality, meat and fresh fish can be prepared and delivered to the villa. Whether you require 2 dozen home-made burgers for some hungry children, or a marinated butterfly leg of lamb to go on the bbq, virtually everything can be arranged, including the delivery of alcohol and ice. Rosemary, mint and bay all grow in the villas’ garden.
CONTACT
If you would like to discuss staying at Villa Tal Hamsa, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.