Having enjoyed Crete for almost a week now, I thought I’d try out one of the best Cretan cuisine establishments on the island.
Elia & Diosmos has got to be the best authentic Greek restaurant of my trip so far. The 5-star reviews and great comments written about this place come as no surprise to me.
Elia & Diosmos is located on the edge of a quaint little village within the town of Skalani. Only a short drive from Iraklio itself, then a further ten minutes south of Knossos (Quick tip: remember to download the offline Google maps before travelling here. I would consider it mandatory, especially if sight-sighting via car).
The restaurant came highly recommended by our trusty guide book “Lonely Planet - Crete”, as well as by the famous newspaper “The Guardian” back in London so my excitement was already building. Though nothing prepared me for how delicious the food tasted. Easily, one of the best restaurants I dined at on this awesome trip!
I arrived just in time for an early lunch after some brief exploration of the Knossos. I found the village to be very calm and serene. A stark contrast to the bustle and hustle of London life and a welcome change.
Upon entering the Elia & Diosmos, we were graciously greeted at the entrance and seated by the garden terrace area which provided some much-needed shade from the hot weather. The interior of the restaurant itself was beautifully designed with the lavish décor looking quite modern as opposed to Greece’s usual historical feel.
The venue was clean and very well-maintained considering how big it was comparison to other buildings in the village. I’d have loved to come here in the evening time to observe what the atmosphere would be like then. I’m sure they’ll be a next time!
The garden was full of plants, some of which were small lemons and olive trees. The whole place had nice, homely ambience to it. Near to where I sat and towards the back garden, there were two huge domed clay ovens which added to the overall authentic atmosphere of the establishment. A very nice touch indeed.
They offered up a varied menu of different local food. Apparently, they insist on using seasonal local produce in keeping with traditional Cretan dishes, including tender choice cuts of succulent lamb dishes.
The waiter who served us could not have been more friendly and helpful in explaining the various menu options available and making his recommendations known. You could tell he was a true professional in his field who was obviously very passionate about how the food was prepared. He definitely added to the already amazing experience.
All the dishes were sheer excellence. Carefully prepared with their fresh local ingredients. The style being heavily influenced by traditional Cretan cooking, yet with a modern twist.
A little plate of beautiful, fresh homemade bread and refreshing salad beans were served whilst we waited for the mains. As with all the food in Crete, it was of the highest standard.
But mains were exceptional, beautifully presented and absolutely delicious! The cook seemed to have such flair to culinary detail and was clearly very proud of her work.
My main was Lamb of Minos which is a combination of rosemary, honey and garlic accompanied by potatoes and seasonal vegetables on the side.
I enjoyed the pure bliss of the quintessential lamb shank. Super juicy and soft, tender meat together with the honey flavoured sauce blended with creamy potato. This was definitely turning out to be a very memorable highlight.
And those servings of fresh courgette, sweet roast pepper, soft aubergine and ripe tomatoes. Vegetables are so fresh, unlikely anything I’ve tasted in the UK. What a feast of flavours!
My husband had the slow roasted lamb with fresh hand cooked chips. Even that was such a delicious treat. I believe the secret to them creating such amazing lamb was the traditional clay oven they used. It was always burning and kept at the optimum temperature. A great idea to attract many hungry diners!
The local wine I tried added the perfect finishing touch to this outstanding meal!
Although we really wanted to try out their desserts, there was literally no room left in our bellies! it was an early lunch after all, lol. However, we were treated with a lovely plate of fresh fruit at the end. Again, another example of the genuine hospitality of the Cretan people!
I have mentioned this before but it can’t be emphasized enough. The people here are some of the nicest I have ever met. So incredibly generous, warm and inviting. They are the true treasures of this great island.
It is common knowledge here in Crete that things should not be rushed. It’s all about the relaxation and enjoyment of the people and the places. So there was no rush to get the bill paid either. Just a nice, care-free lunch whilst we let the time fly by.
For such beautiful food here, it surprised us that the price was so reasonable as well. The final bill for the two of us was less than 30 euros. Just incredible value for money!
To wrap up, this is a truly exceptional restaurant where everything is fresh, delicate and flavourful. The ingredients were all of the finest quality and made with care and loving attention to detail. Will most definitely go back there when we visit Crete the next time!
Later that same afternoon, we visited the lovely Potamos beach, situated next to the archaeological site of Malia where I was two days ago. Due to it's location, the hotel buildings and touristic development are restricted here so it is less congested than the main beach of Malia. Some would say it's way more peaceful and has plenty of free space. Great for those who prefer to escape the large crowds of Malia.
Potamos itself is a beautiful, golden sandy beach with blue, crystal clear water including a few trees scattered around. It feels very relaxing to be there, with a lovely breeze and comfortable sun loungers. There are beds and umbrellas available but because of the ample space, you can just lay your towel down in a free spot on the sand.
The beach's lukewarm water is ideal to swim in or for taking a wistful stroll along it's lengthy stretch of sand in. Perhaps even for playing a game of beach volley for more fun in the sun!
You can enjoy good food and coffee, check out the Kalyva tavern overlooking the beach and possibly enjoy the glorious sunset too!
来克里特岛近一周时间了，我打算要品尝一下岛上最好的希腊风情美食。
Elia＆Diosmos餐馆是我在这次旅行中吃过最正宗希腊美食的地方。所以这家在网上的五星级好评，一点儿也没错！
这家餐馆位于Skalani镇上的一个古老小村庄的边缘，离Iraklio很近，在Knossos开车过来也就多10分钟。（小小温馨提示，如果开车自助游过来，记得出行前下载好谷歌地图，不然很难找到）。
我们的旅游书“孤独星球”以及伦敦名报“The Guardian”都有推荐这家，所以我非常期待来看一看。结果我一点儿都没有失望，这的确是我吃过最好的一家希腊菜!
我在 Knossos 镇游览了一个上午，就跑来这儿享用午餐。村子非常平静和安宁，与伦敦生活的喧嚣形成了鲜明对比，让我有非常休闲舒适的感觉。餐馆干净整洁，它的规模在这个小村庄里应该算大了。这里中午相对安静，但晚上人多时一定很热闹。有机会的话我会再来享受晚餐的，呵呵。
花园里到处都种满了植物，有硕果累累的柠檬树和橄榄树，非常温馨的乡村氛围。在花园后边儿有两个巨大的圆顶的陶土烤炉，很有特色。
菜单里有许多不同的当地美食。听说他们坚持只用本地季节蔬菜来制作传统菜式，包括肉鲜味美的羊肉佳肴等。侍应生非常友善，耐心地向我们介绍并推荐他们的特色风味菜。我能看出他非常熟悉自家菜式并为之自豪。
我们对点的菜都非常满意，每样都是选用本地新鲜材料精心准备，在传统希腊的烹饪风格中融合了一些现代元素。
首先上来的是新鲜出炉的面包片儿和沙拉豆，清新开胃。
主菜卖相不错，也超级美味，简直是色香味俱全！厨师不仅有天赋，也是下足了功夫才能制作出这样的美食！
我点的是Lamb of Minos。它是由迷迭香，蜂蜜和大蒜腌制，再配上土豆和季节性蔬菜。
鲜嫩的羊腿肉柔软多汁，与甜丝丝的蜂蜜调料配搭，伴着奶油土豆泥，超级好吃，绝对是一个亮点！配菜是烧烤新鲜的翠玉瓜，甜椒，茄汁与番茄等，味道都特别好，与伦敦的蔬菜比起来，口感相差太远了。
我的丈夫的主菜是烤羊肉配炸新鲜薯条，也很棒！我相信羊肉能烤得这么好吃，与希腊人使用传统的陶土烤炉有很大关系，因为烤炉能持续燃烧并保持最佳烧烤温度！
当地的葡萄酒也相当不错！
虽然我们很想品尝他们家的甜点，可惜肚子真的一点余地都没有了，毕竟是午餐嘛，呵呵。侍应生最后送上了一盘新鲜的水果，当地人真热情！
我以前也提到过，克里特岛的居民们是我见过最热情，最真实和最友善的。他们才是这个美丽岛屿上最大的宝藏。
在这个岛上我意识到，生活节奏都是慢半拍的，每个地方都以轻松享受为主，在餐馆也没有客人会急于付账。我们也入乡随俗，静看时间飞逝，在这儿度过了一个慵懒休闲的中午！
结账的时候发现，我们两个人的账单才不到30欧元。在这样的旅游圣地，算是非常划算的。
Elia＆Diosmos 是一家非常特别的餐厅，使用最新鲜的材料，制作出最美味的特色菜，性价比超高。下次来克里特岛，我一定会再来光顾的！
当天下午，我去了 Potamos海滩，就在我两天前参观的Malia 考古遗址旁边。由于它的位置特殊，一定程度上限制了酒店建筑和旅游开发，所以它没有 Malia其他海滩这么拥挤。这里有广阔的空间，非常安静平和，特别适合那些想避开Malia 繁华闹市的人们。
Potamos 是一个美丽的金色沙滩，清澈蔚蓝的水，还有几棵树零星地穿插在岸上。我舒适地躺在沙滩椅上晒日光浴，享受阵阵夹带咸味的海风，感觉轻松自在！沙滩上有出租的太阳伞和沙滩椅可供选择，但也有充足的空间位置让游客摆放自带的沙滩毛巾及用品。
海滩的水温非常适合游泳或沿着海边漫步，又或者晒着和煦的阳光在这儿进行一场沙滩排球比赛！
同时你还可以到旁边的Kalyva小酒馆(我在“希腊特里克岛之旅-第五天”的文章里介绍过) 俯瞰海滩，喝杯咖啡或是享受美食，静观日落！