Friday, August 13, 2021

Flames in the Greek restaurant

 

Yes, my family went out to celebrate a birthday for one son and a work anniversary for the other son, at our favorite Greek restaurant. We love the flaming Greek appetizer called Saganaki and order it often. It is Kasseri cheese and brandy and they light it on fire at our table. It is so dramatic, delicious and adds to the fun. The flames reached perhaps four feet in height.

We arrived at 4:30 and the diners all sat at tables far from each other. Another group had the flaming cheese too. In other years they had Greek musicians play in the restaurant, and some evenings the owner, who is from Greece, would throw plates to the floor and break them, in dramatic manner, while calling out "opa". I am sure he used old chipped plates. He would also when inspired (and perhaps drinking some ouzo) carry a small table in his teeth, while dancing. This is a festive place to eat and we love Greek food. So fun to go to a restaurant to eat after such a long pandemic. As the Greeks say, Opa.

Oh, and thinking of Greek food, I must brag a bit and tell you that I got a marriage proposal based on the baklava I baked. This was years ago, at a potluck where I didn't know most of the people, I baked baklava and a man called out across the room, "Who baked this? I want to marry her." I guess that means he loved it. I had to tell him I was already married. Nice story though.

29 comments:

Kathy G said...

It sounds like a great time. I love Greek food.

Miss Merry said...

Gosh, I love Greek food! What a fun place to visit. Cases are rising in my area so we won't be visiting restaurants very soon. I miss eating in new places.

Mevely317 said...

What a neat experience at the Greek restaurant! Despite living in a Greek township (Tarpon Springs, FL), I only experienced a flaming entree once. The closest thing we have here in Alabama is a Japanese steak-house. It's still great fun to watch these food artists.

PS - Ha-ha-ha on that marriage proposal!

Marcia said...

What a spectacular appetizer! Not sure if a flaming dish would be fun here right now with the heat so high.

DUTA said...

Like the marriage proposal story. I suppose your baklava was super delicious.

Olga said...

I do love a good Greek restaurant. But, wow, never saw the the flames go that high!

The Feminine Energy said...

Oooooooohhhh.... saganaki!!!! One of our favorites!!!! We haven't visited the restaurant that serves it in years but I remember, as our waitress lit the deliciousness, she'd say "Ooohpah"!! *haha* So fun! Glad you got the chance to go out, Terra! ~Andrea xoxoxo

Wanda said...

What and exciting celebration for your family. I would say "ther was a hot time in the town tonight"..haha.
Love the story of your marriage preposal!!! The way to a man's heart in through in stomach!

Lovely post, it made me happy.

Granny Marigold said...

What an impressive dish that flaming cheese is. I've never heard of it. I had heard of the Greeks saying OPA ( watched My Big Greek Wedding years ago).

happyone said...

Wow that's some huge fire!!

Marie Smith said...

That was quite the baklava.

That flaming cheese looks interesting!

dori said...

The Greec kitchen is wonderful! This restaurant seems extrano special, a fine place to make a feast.

O you are a good cook!! I think, the Baklava is not the only reason to marry you! :)

Mari said...

This sounds like a fun place! I love the proposal story!

Pom Pom said...

Ha! I want some of that baklava!

Ann said...

Sounds like a fun place to eat. I love Greek food.

Betsy said...

It sounds like a lovely time and wonderful food. I like the story of your proposal too.
Blessings,
Betsy

Margaret D said...

Seems a really friendly place to eat ones meal, they do know to enjoy themselves the Greeks.
The baklava you made must of been sooo good.
Take care.

Judy at GoldCountryCottage said...

Terra, that looks like fun and sounds so good. The proposal story is too cute. We need those kinds of things in our lives once in awhile, even we can't act on them! Happy Weekend..xxoJudy

Blondie's Journal said...

I'm craving Greek for now. My husband had a Greek law partner and she made the most delicious baklava with her grandmother. It's just one of those sweets I could go overboard with!

Jane

Jean said...

What a great time! Brought back a memory of eating in a Greek restaurant with my son years ago, complete with live music and plate throwing!

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Sounds like a nice time. Glad the table were far apart. Also I love Greek food, especially Gyro's.

Carola Bartz said...

We love Greek food, too. In Germany we could often buy gyros at a booth in the street - I do miss that. It was so tasty, with lots of tzatziki - yummy! I'm getting hungry just thinking of it. Those flames look quite impressive, I'm not sure I would like 4 feet high flames indoors. I have never eaten this kind of cheese, it does sound tempting.

baili said...

happy birthday to your son ( i just guessed he is your son sorry if i mistaken) !

so right that such happy outings can bring nice change to life stuck in pandemic for so long ,glad you had great time .i loved the way you mentioned the delightful way of chief there and the flame almost four feet high wow cool :)

i enjoyed the story about proposal ,how amazing that your dish could do such magic :)

more blessings to your lovely world!

Fairy Qu33n said...

I hope all the food was good and not burned like that.

Barbara said...

Cute story about the marriage proposal!

I had no idea Greek restaurants could be so entertaining. Apparently I lead a sheltered life. Thanks for an entertaining blog post!

My Tata's Cottage said...

Oh I love those flaming tableside specialties. My mom baked Baked ALaska, I always loved the whole show of it all. Such a nice memory. Glad to see you here and hoping you are doing well. :-)

Sandi said...

"Who baked this? I want to marry her."

😂

Red Rose Alley said...

What a fun story about the baklava, Terra. And your post hit home for me, as I'm part Greek. ; ) This looks like a fun and delicious restaurant you went to celebrate your son's birthday. The flaming appetizer sounds interesting. This sounds like a lively place to eat with gracious people working there.

Happy September days. And Yes, Greeks do break the plates! It's a longtime tradition.

~Sheri

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Oh, I love saganapi too! And I haven't had it for soooooooo long because of the pandemic! I've never personally made baklava, but I do make a mean spanakopita.