Apart from its rugged natural beauty, lovely beaches, whitewashed churches and immaculately clean villages with lots of twisted olive trees and roaming mountain goats, Tinos island is where I’ve been served some of the best food of any Greek island I’ve ever visited!
Actually, after so many yearly trips to Tinos I’ve come to the conclusion that the islanders really understand their local produce and manage to use that know-how to make dishes that fit the island’s mood and allow the produce to shine.
On this year’s trip, the Dio Horia roadside tavern, located in the mountain village with the same name got my top marks together with the Sto Kapaki café/bar in the village's square where one evening my husband and I enjoyed drinks served with an old fashioned meze and a plate of delicious cold cuts and local cheeses (see photos above).
This awesome looking cold cut plate included a variety of cheeses, including a rare one called To Kariki; a strong tasting yellow cheese that is matured in a pumpkin for at least six months and got my taste buds so excited that I immediately wanted to buy some to take with me back to Athens.
As this cheese is not so widely available, I was told to go to O Boras butcher’s shop in the center of Hora (the island's main town) where, if lucky, I would be able to purchase this cheese!
It took me two trips into town and a long chat with my new friend, Giannis Thodoris, to get a reasonably large piece of the cheese.
I didn't mind as I thought it was time well spent, as apart from the cheese, I learnt a lot about other local products and superb quality local meats and sausages, some of which we had already enjoyed at he Dio Horia tavern.
Not only was the food at the Dio Horia tavern really tasty and authentic but the drive up to the village is lovely and the view truly spectacular. From the tavern’s terrace you can see all the way down to Tinos’ harbor while munching on freshly and well prepared traditional Greek tavern food.
My favorites of the array of mouth-watering food were the outstanding cheese pie and the meatballs together with a simple green salad that had just been brought from a local garden . . . served with crumbled local cheese.
I was also told that the slowly oven braised goat meat is tremendous when available, but having had so many encounters with cute goats that roam around the island, I think I would have had a hard time consuming a dish including that ingredient!
To end the meal we were offered, as usual on the house, a choice of sweets but opted for citrus spoon sweet that was also just perfect!
Some other places I like and recommend:
1.
Dragonisi Tavern
Next to the Kolimbithra beach - well known to surfers!
Here I had some of he best zucchini fritters in Greece! Worth a trip . . . for the beaches the food!
I didn't keep the contact info. of the tavern, but if you go to the Kolimbithra beach . . . you can't miss it!!!
2.
Thalassaki
Oromos Isternia
Tel: 22830 31366
A Seafront tavern serving creative Greek specialties! Lovely sunsets too!
3.
Kounaria Tavern
Aetofolia, 84200 Tinos
I loved the picturesque village of Aetofolia (eagle’s nest) which is built high on a slope of the so called “North Mountain” not too far from the well-known Kolymbithra bay on the north shore of the island where we discovered the family run Kounaria Tavern.
Our meal included awesome tasting lemon marinated artichokes, homemade cheeses (young and aged), zucchini & pumpkin pies, steamed string beans (ambelofasola) as well as perfectly grilled beef patties with home cut fries.
For a sweet ending, we were offered one of the best tasting pasteli (honey sesame sweet) that I’ve had in Greece . . . . served on fresh lemon leaves from the garden.
4. Marathia Seafront Restaurant
Ir Politexhniou
Tel: 22830 23249
A romantic seafront spot that serves tasty food made with family recipes. A special place worth a visit!
5. Itan Ena Mikro Karavi
Trion Ierachon
Tel: 22830 22818
An elegant indoor-outdoor eatery that serves trendy Greek fare with a Mediterranean flair in Hora's town center. Here, my husband and I have enjoyed several truly good meals made with fresh ingredients and innovative ideas!
As I write this however, I can't find the many photos I've taken at this restaurant!!! I know I've saved them somewhere but I just can't find them. Sorry!
In any case I hope you get a chance to visit Tinos island . . . and enjoy it as much as I and by husband do!
Until next time!