Plain, medium or sweet… both Greek and foreign visitors must take a step back and relax while enjoying their frappé. This is the deeper meaning of it, or is this just another urban legend that frappé is the coffee for the lazy?

Frappé coffee, or Greek frappé, is a foam-covered iced coffee drink made from instant coffee (generally spray-dried), sugar, ice cubes and water. It is very popular in Greece and Cyprus, especially during the hot summer temperatures, but has spread to other countries around the world, and especially wherever Greeks are present.

The Greek frappé became a symbol of the post-war outdoor Greek coffee culture. Although Freddo, another Greek invention, has become very popular, Cafe frappe to this date remains the most popular coffee beverage among the Greeks.

Dimitris Vcondios is the coffee-lover who invented Frappe in 1957.

But what is the history of the frappe and how it came to be? After contacting Yiannis Michalopoulos, Senior Brand Manager at Nescafé of Nestlé Hellas, the widely known story of the frappé being invented by accident at the 1957 International Trade Fair in Thessaloniki was confirmed. The invention of the frappé belongs to Dimitris Vakondios, an employee of the representative of the Nestlé company. Nestlé was introducing a new chocolate beverage for children that was produced instantly in a shaker. During a break, Vakondios wanted to have his regular Nescafé Classic but he could not find any hot water, so he mixed the coffee with cold water in a shaker.

Frappé took over its official name and became the national coffee beverage of modern Greece around 1979. Although the word frappé originates from the French word meaning “shaken” or “stirred,” the Greek invention has nothing in common with the French chilled beverage produced in a shaker, but contains milk or fruit juice instead of coffee.

Greek frappé is available in three degrees of sweetness, determined by the amount of sugar used. These are: glykós (sweet – two teaspoons of coffee and four teaspoons of sugar); métrios (medium – two teaspoons of coffee and two teaspoons of sugar); and skétos (plain – two teaspoons of coffee and no sugar). All varieties may be served with milk or evaporated milk, in which case they may be called in slang frapógalo (frappé-milk), or without. Sometimes, frappé is served without any water (besides the water used in the foam) and milk is used instead. This variation is most commonly found in Cyprus. Different kinds of liquors are sometimes used for additional variation, as well as chocolate milk or a ball of vanilla ice instead of milk.

The preparation recipe is quite easy. The coffee can be made either with a cocktail shaker or an appropriate mixer (e.g. a hand mixer). One or two teaspoons of coffee, sugar to taste and a little water are blended to form a brownish foam, which is poured into a tall glass. To this, add cold water and ice cubes, and, optional, milk – typically evaporated milk. The glass is served with a drinking straw.

Nescafé Frappé is exported to many European countries, including the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Luxemburg, Bulgaria, the USA and Australia. Michalopoulos noted in his exclusive interview with Greek Reporter that exports within Europe are free of trade restrictions, while the company respects the legal frameworks concerning coffee imports of other countries.

Ever since its first commercial launch in 1979, Nescafé Frappé has been symbolically and visually connected to the easy-going and careless summertime for Greeks. This iconic connection and the unique property of the frappé consistency to maintain its quality longer than any other beverages, has resulted in developing the myth of the frappé being synonymous to a carefree tasty experience. However, Michalopoulos explained that extensive research has shown that the two key reasons why someone chooses to drink frappé are stimulation and social sharing, two stimuli that are directly connected to a more energetic and dynamic way of life. This is the two-dimensional direction Nescafé Frappé will be launching its new communication project, promoting the dynamics, spontaneity and creativity of the most favored coffee brand in Greece.

Source: greekreporter.com

In the context of inter-regional cooperation of the Ukraine regions and of the regions of other countries, the Head of Kyiv Regional State Administration, Anatoliy Prysiazhniuk, met with the official delegation of Crete headed by the Governor of Crete, Stavros Arnautakis. The two signed a memorandum of Cooperation for the promotion of tourism as well as the business-trade collaboration of the countries.

In a ceremony held in the District of Crete in the presence of Greece’s and Ukraine’s ambassadors, Georgoutzou and Skourofm and the Ambassador of Ukraine in Crete, Giannis Litinas, the interregional cooperation between Kyiv and Crete was officially established for the development of tourist activity, including religious tourism and commercial collaborations for the import of quality Cretan products in the Ukrainian market.

During the last two years, a tremendous increase has been recorded regarding Ukrainian tourists going to Greece and particularly Crete (72% of the total tourist mobility), while the Cretan oil and the island’s bottled water are everywhere to be found on Ukrainian supermarket shelves. In the coming months, more Cretan products are expected to be exported to the Balkan country.

Source: greekreporter.com

Greek wines fascinate the entire world. They are promoted in every continent by successful winemakers, international media feature about them and they keep winning medals and distinctions in international contests.

As it seems, the financial crisis can’t affect their perfect quality. So now, it’s the turn of the Greek wines to shine at the 19th International Contest Concours Mondial de Bruxelles.

This year’s contest was held in the city of Guimarães in North Portugal from May 4-6. It is not just a local event, since 8,397 wines participated in the contest from 52 different countries.

Prominent tasters judged the wines and the result is, undoubtedly, worth the hard work of the Greek winemakers. In total, 42 Greek wines from every region of Greece received medals at the contest; nine won gold medals, while the other 33 were awarded silver.

Source: greekreporter.com

Events marking the Pontian Greek genocide in Asia Minor are to be held in Athens and Thessaloniki on May 19. Hellenism all across the world will commemorate the tragic historical event.

The date has been chosen by Parliament as a national memorial day to commemorate the massacre of some 353,000 ethnic Pontian Greeks (Black Sea coast) in 1919 by Ottoman forces.

Evzoni of the Presidential Guard appeared, for the second year in a row, in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier wearing traditional Pontian costumes carrying the typical black head band, known as “Paslik” or “Paslouk,” on the occasion of the May 19 Commemorating day.

The Pontian Genocide was the systematic killing of the Greek population of the Ottoman Empire during World War I and its aftermath (1914–1923). It was instigated by the government of the Ottoman Empire against the Greek population and it included massacres, forced deportations involving death marches, summary expulsions, arbitrary executions, and destruction of Christian Orthodox cultural, historical and religious monuments.

POE (Pontian Federation in Greece) has organized a commemorative concert in Athens that will be held at 6:30pm in Syntagma Square. Pontian artists will perform for the audience and a march towards the Turkish Embassy will mark the ending of the event. POE representatives will once again demand the Pontian Genocide to be internationally acknowledged.

Events also took place this morning in the central Saint Sofia Square of Thessaloniki. POE took place in the ceremony of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, attended by Mayor Giannis Boutaris, Deputy President of POPS (Panhellenic Federation of Pontian Associations) Christina Sachinidou and Pnagia Soumela Federation President Giorgos Tanimanides. A memorial service was held for the 353.000 Pontian victims followed by a moment of silence in honor of the dead.

Source: greekreporter.com

Four sailors aboard a Turkish freighter were missing Saturday after their ship capsized from a suspected cargo shift near the Ionian Sea island of Zakynthos, the Greek coastguard said.
Another six men sailing on the Turkish-flagged freighter Erol Sankaya were previously rescued by coastguard vessels and other ships arriving for assistance, a coastguard spokeswoman told AFP.
“The freighter was sailing with a crew of 10 from Zakynthos to Turkey when it capsized in relatively good weather conditions off the Peloponnese port of Kyllini, probably owing to a cargo shift,” the spokeswoman said.

The ship was carrying pomace wood, a type of biomass fuel drawn from olive kernels during oil extraction.
Five Greek coastguard vessels continue the search, assisted by nearby freighters and cruise ships and a helicopter belonging to EU border agency Frontex, the spokeswoman said.
Source: AFP

Despite the rainy weather, thousands of Athens’ residents gathered at Panathenaiko Stadium on May 17 to celebrate the  handing over of the Olympic flame to London.

The flame, symbolizing purity because it comes directly from the sun, has been carried across Greece, from Southern Crete to the Northern city of Alexandroupolis. Almost a week ago, actress Ino Menegaki acted as an ancient priestess and caught the sun’s rays in a parabolic mirror situated between Temple of Hera and the ancient Olympic Games stadium.

Greek commentator Alexis Costalas joked about the weather, saying that “we brought London’s weather to Athens today, to show them our hospitality.”

The Olympic ceremony included music as well. In a symbolic show, young Greek children handed the light over to older English children, while accompanied by John Lennon’s “Imagine,” sending the message of peace abroad. Many people around the world whispered “Imagine there’s no heaven, no hell below us, above us only sky,” while watching the children leave the stadium.

Greek renowned tenor Marios Frangoulis sang the Greek anthem under a rainbow in the Athenian sky and moved not only Greeks, but also everyone around the world watching the ceremony via live streaming on CNN and BBC.

Greek President Karolos Papoulias attended, while Olympic weightlifter champion Pyrros Dimas and Chinese gymnast Li Ning were two of the last torchbearers lighting the cauldron in the center of the stadium.

David Beckham and Princess Anne, as well as chief Lord Coe, Olympics Minister Hugh Robertson and London Mayor Boris Johnson received the Olympic flame. The President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, Spyros Capralos, passed the flame to the Princess in order to transfer it to the British capital. On July 27, the flame will light the cauldron in Stratford’s Olympic Stadium at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games 2012.

Travelling back to the Games’ modern history, the flame was first lit at the Amsterdam 1928 summer Games, but it was not until Berlin in 1936 that a torch relay route was set from Greece to Germany.

Turning back to Panathenaic Stadium, the Greek ceremony could not escape political symbolism. Greek commentator Alexis Costalas closed the celebration shouting “Greece you can and you must!”

The same slogan was also repeated by Greek Olympic champion Nikos Kaklamanakis, who delivered his speech surrounded by kids dressed in white clothes carrying balloons. “Being Greek means never stop fighting,” continued the Greek athlete.

When the kids released the balloons, which travelled up to the air to reach every individual around the world, the Athenian sky became sunny again.

Source: greekreporter.com

Navigator of the Seas is one of the world’s biggest cruise ships and included the port of Souda on Crete in its destinations. It arrived there with more than 4,000 passengers on board.

The cruise ship is 311 meters long and 48 meters wide. It offers 3,114 cabins for passengers, while 1,185 people work onboard. The “marine palace” provides many entertainment facilities on its 15 different decks.

It offers swimming pools, as many would expect, and restaurants and bars. But who would expect an ice-rink, a basketball, volleyball and mini-golf court and a climbing wall? The travelers also have the opportunity to enjoy theatrical plays or cinema movies while sailing to the open sea.

As for the women, the Navigator cruise ship has a four-floor-mall as long as two football fields.

Source: greekreporter.com

European Parliament President Martin Schulz visited Athens to meet with political figures of the country.

Schulz planned to visit the Greek capital May 13-14 but cancelled it. Later, he stated he just postponed the visit but did not make clear the reason for the change.

Schulz has already visited the President of Greece, Karolos Papoulias, and is about to visit other political leaders. During his meeting with Papoulias, he commented, “We want to help Greece, not enslave it!”

In his opinion, which he may also make clear at his press conference today, is that Greece should adopt a development policy within the country but also within the EU, in order to provide employment opportunities. “Europe is not a community of austerity – Europe is a community of solidarity,” said Schulz.

This morning, he gave an interview from Athens to a Greek radio station. “Many people believe that it would be the end of a negative cycle, but for me it would be the beginning of an even more negative cycle,” suggesting that the Eurozone would be affected in a negative way should Greece exit.

“If Greece returned to single currency, its economy would collapse within days and Europe would be called on to provide Greece with more money than it does now to avoid the domino,” admitted the President of the European Parliament.

Source: greekreporter.com

A tribute to director John Cassavetes will be the curtain raiser at this year’s edition of the Tainiorama film festival, which is set to run for 42 days through June 27 at the Asty Cinema in Athens.
There will be 42 thematic units at this year’s festival and 126 films from all over the world, with three screenings taking place daily.

Tonight’s screenings will be the celebrated Greek-American indie filmmaker’s “Faces” (1968), “Opening Night” (1977) and “A Woman Under the Influence” (1974).

Tainiorama is dedicated exclusively to art-house cinema and this year will be featuring legendary films such as Orson Welles’s “Falstaff,” Lars von Trier’s “Europa,” Mario Monicelli’s “I soliti ignoti,” Guillermo del Toro’s “The Devil’s Backbone” and David Lynch’s “Lost Highway.”

Details of the films being shown at Tainiorama this year are available on the website: www.amafilms.gr.

Source: ANSA

Renowned Greek artist Costas Tsoklis is trying to turn the island of Spinalonga, close to Crete, into a modern work of art. Spinalonga was chosen for his artistic creation, and the island  used to be Greece’s leper colony.

The international famous artist says he wants to provide people “with redemption and joy of life and not misery by means of the Art.”

During the past few days, Tsoklis prepared his artistic exhibition, titled “You, the Last Leper,” which is expected to attract thousands of Greeks and foreign visitors.

The inauguration ceremony will take place on June 2 at 6pm. Prefecture of Crete, Municipality of Saint Nicolaos, Museum of Kostas Tsoklis and the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Tourism, as well as the hoteliers of the area, have all cooperated and contributed to this exhibition.

The first part of the artistic construction as well as “live” paintings are already visible, both inside and outside of Spinalonga. There is a big white cross at the entrance of the island, while many mirrors and paintings hang inside desolated houses and the surrounding area. Every part of this exhibition reflects blood, tears, but also hope for life!

Prefect of Crete Stavros Arnaoutakis visited Spinalonga yesterday, along with many other officials of the island, to tour around the exhibition done by the famous Greek artist.

Source: greekreporter.com