About
Hello! We are Efthymios and Neofytos, two Londoners born and raised in Athens and Cyprus. We have recently launched The Athenian, a small street food venture, offering freshly-made souvlaki prepared in the healthiest, most authentic way possible. WHAT IS SOUVLAKI? Ask any Greek and they will be sure to tell you that souvlaki is our nation's favourite food to eat on the go. A quick, healthier alternative to fast food, it consists of a pita wrap filled with grilled meat (or cheese as a vegetarian alternative) and served in a way we love. Its name comes from a medieval word, meaning 'little skewer', after the cooking method. At The Athenian we start making our souvlaki by grilling tender pieces of chicken, pork or tasty Talagani cheese (think halloumi with a more refined texture and minty undertone) marinated in Greek herbs, before wrapping them in a soft, handmade pita and adding freshly chopped red onions, tomatoes, lettuce and parsley. We top things off with a choice of our perfected homemade dips: tyrokafteri (spicy feta and red pepper), tzatziki (cucumber, yogurt and garlic) or our original Souvlaki Sauce, a top secret recipe, designed to lend a subtle sweetness to the flavourings. For us, these ingredients were staples of family life, part of the Mediterranean diet that is famed as one of the healthiest in the world. The inspiration for our own pursuit of cooking began in the remote mountain village of Vamos on the island of Crete. It was here that a local lady, Mrs Koula shared her own secret recipes with Efthymios. We were so blown away by Mrs Koula's culinary skills that we wanted to recreate that unforgettable experience here in London. On moving to the UK, we realised that Greek cuisine was being somewhat misrepresented here. We were often disappointed by out-dated, unappetizing dishes and our search for lovingly-made, mouth-watering souvlaki was nearly impossible. That's how The Athenian came about: we wanted to bring something new to the people of London, with an updated image of Greek cuisine, to the city's thriving food markets. By paying us a visit you will find souvlaki the way it is meant to be made: simple, fresh and authentically Greek. We look forward to serving you our delicious souvlaki!
Details
