5/15/10 -Saturday - Preparations - Cappari tasting

5/15/10 - Saturday - Preparations - Cappari tasting

So, today we did all the prep work for the Memorial service for tomorrow. Had the house cleaned and mopped - it's dusty. The washing done, etc. Apparently there's a whole process to getting ready to host a Mnimosino - memorial service.
Let me see if I remember it all.

• Make sure there are enough Artos for each of the deceased - That's 3 for Sunday's service (Dad, Gradma and Uncle Teddy) and a LARGE one for the esperino (couldn't find an appropriate link here, but it's a Saturday night service).
• Deliver said Artos to church and ensure everyone's name is written down so it will be mentioned on Sunday. Pay for each one of the deceased mentioned (a la carte)
  
• Make or order Koliva for all. I remember these covered with powdered sugar and crushed roasted chickpeas (kouame - no appropriate link). Now they're served with sesame seeds, almonds, raisins and pomegranate kernels.
• Order or make snacks for the visitors after the service. We picked up some Spanakopita, Tyropita, Koupes, and some pourekia.

We got all that done, picked up, ordered, delivered and it was time to get some lunch. Which meant it was time to taste the cappari from a few days before - it was finally finished.

And here it is in all its glory as part of a complete meal. Fresh fava beans with fresh tomato, two keftedes and a few sprigs or cappari.


Close up money shot.
I think it was some of the best cappari I have tasted, but I could be biased.

For dinner we went to a local steak house called Rancho. I was surprised at how good the steak was and that it was cooked correctly. Cypriots tended to overcook their meats. Glad to see a positive improvement in this area. I wanted to go to a traditional cypriot restaurant, but it was not to be. Will try to go there over the next few days and report back.

That's all for now... Stay tuned...

4/27/10 – Tuesday - the Elusive Caper Bush

4/27/10 – the Elusive Caper Bush

All pictures are thumbnails - click for bigger version.

So, today, cousin Polydoros and I went collecting Cappari. For the uninitiated, caper berries come from the caper bush. The caper berries (hereon referred to as Koutrouvi) are the unopened flowers, that are picked, and pickled. The Cypriots also eat the fresh shoots from the bush (also pickled). According to my sources the Greeks do NOT do that (no matter what Wikipedia says). The bushes here are wild and the collectors have to hike about looking for them (read: long pants, gloves and walking/reaching sticks.

OK, so you drive, stop, get out, grab your equipment and walk around looking for the freaking things. Poly tells me to start looking. I tell him I don't know what I'm looking for. Ahh, he says, let me show you. He shows me and I'm off and hiking. Equipped with dangerous knowledge, I spot several bushes and start picking.

On a side note, these things have thorns. Seriously. Look at the picture from the link above. Well, first time out, I was excited and forgot the gloves. Let's say that the bounty was paid with torn skin and a bit of blood. But Dammit, I was getting mine. Oh and did I mention that you have to watch for poisonous snakes? Apparently the walking stick is used to scare off the snakes by beating on the bushes around where you're walking. I did a lot of dirt-caning – ahem...

We walk around pick some, get back in the car, drive a bit and repeat for 10 or so times. Fast forward 2-3 hours, and we have a cooler full of the stuff. Poly says we have about 2.5 kilos of the tasty morsels so we call it a day and head to Lefkara for some refreshments. Quick snack and some water and we head back to Lakatamia

So there's a process to make the Cappari. Soak in water for a few days, changing the water to get rid of the bitterness. Then put in jar with vinegar and salt. Let sit and enjoy in 4-5 days. I'll try to keep you apprised of the process as it goes.

Here's a picture of my share of the bounty “in process”.

Late lunch at Uncle John's house, relaxing at home, visiting Androulla for coffee, and some more sheftallia for dinner.

Random thoughts:

• I REALLY need to buy a hat.
• Nature Likes to Hide - Heracletos
  
• So far there's no clear winner in the sheftallia battle from 3 different establishments. All are equally delicious. But I, dear reader, am determined to find the best. No matter how many I'll have to eat. I will suffer for your entertainment.