Taverna Tales
Antonis Soulis was born in Greece. After a spell of travelling around Europe twelve years ago, he settled in Cardiff to launch a live music venue and bar.
 Antonis describes eating out the Greek way:
(Need help with RealPlayer?)
Do you enjoy eating out?
I love eating out and socialising with friends over a meal. It is part of my culture. Eating out in Greece is a part of life. You can spend the whole night in a restaurant or taverna, just talking, drinking and eating. You can stay there till the early hours of the morning, and there is never any pressure to move on.
It's a different game in this country. In Cardiff, going out to a restaurant is just a passing point before going on somewhere else. I do miss the food culture that we have in Greece.
One thing in Wales that we don't have in Greece is pubs. I enjoy going out for a good pub lunch and sitting in the garden soaking up the summer sun.How important is food in your life?
Food has always been an important part of life. I love good food, and I love concocting recipes. I also enjoy socialising and eating together with friends.
What do you most enjoy cooking?
I enjoy cooking Greek food, but I also enjoy experimenting with different cultural influences. Since settling in Wales I have learnt a lot about Indian cuisine.
Where do you go to shop for ingredients?
I used to find it very difficult to find Mediterranean ingredients in Cardiff, and had to go to Bayswater in London. It was even difficult to find good olive oil with just the right acidity. Now Cardiff is so much better. Forum on Crwys Road in Cardiff is excellent. It has good olive oil, rice, olives, dips and sauces, okra, and herbs such as dill. Corner halal shops are also good for finding ingredients.
|
|
