Two events stand out which I would like to share this evening. Grab a cup of tea, get comfortable and let’s share our week.
Good, my favourite tea - Blossoms of Spring - from Distinctly Tea in Waterloo - yes, right here in Nicosia!
Wednesday evening was the PTA (parent/teacher association) meeting which I am duty bound to attend. Some things, one just has to endure. As a spectator I watch how meetings are run with little opportunity to have input and so agonize over the Middle Eastern way in which such things develop - every one has an opinion on every topic and feels that their idea needs to be heard and so like some market hawker, they are all speaking (shouting?!) at the same time and think that they are being heard!
It was an opportunity for me to meet parents and I enjoy doing that so the evening was not a total loss. Since we had eaten around 4 pm after I got home from school, by 9:30 some hunger pangs were starting to suggest that more food was needed. After parking the car, I was walking toward the apartment and could not resist the pull of the small taverna across the street. The smell of barbequing chicken and lamb are too much for me to resist - I will surprise Marian!
I walk in, now recognized by the owner due to our three previous visits, and ordered a chicken souvlaki for take out and sat down to wait its preparation.
This is a small restaurant by Canadian standards with square tables covered in brown and white checkerboard cloths adorned with brown serviettes stuck into a glass to prevent them from littering the neighbourhood! The width of this restaurant is no more than 12 feet and its length, well where do you measure to - the edge of the building, the edge of the road - since at various times it seems to creep out of its confines and on to the sidewalk and to the edge of the road. Let’s say it’s about 18 feet long. You get the idea of the compact size, crowded with tables to seat about 60 people if they were all filled.
There is a set of stairs which leads to a mezzanine where people can congregate during the cooler months of the year, or if they want a really intimate spot away from most of the traffic both in and out of the restaurant. Back under the stairs is a door leading to the cleanup area and also the place where they make the most delicious village salads. If you are eating in the restaurant, when the salad arrives, there is ritual to conduct before eating it - sprinkle with salt, squeeze some fresh lemon juice from the three green lemons on the small tray at the center of the table - then toss the salad mixing the greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, feta cheese and olives. Heavenly!
But I am waiting for my souvlaki to cook in the very small area which is set aside to prepare the hot foods - no more than 8 feet long and in total five feet wide. This is the evening residence for the two cooks who man their various stations. One oversees the glowing red briquettes which fill a trough about 3 feet long and 10 inches wide. My two chicken souvlaki on bamboo skewers are turned frequently as they brown and absorb the unique flavour of the smokey briquettes. As orders arrive from the two waiters, new offerings are added to this altar of smoke and heat - two smallish Cypriot sausage are pierced by two flat skewers to prevent them from rolling away from the heat, a flat basket similar to the old fashioned wire toasters which were held over an open flame or open stove port is filled with lamb liver pieces which have been ceremonially anointed with liberal amounts of lemon juice and salt prior to their baptism of heat.
How’s your tea? May I pour another cup?
The second cook, like an airliners co-pilot has his own share of duties - man the french fry cooker, keep the seemingly endless supply of Cypriot pita bread warm and fresh for patrons to dip into various mixtures such as hummus, a spicy feta dip or tzatziki. The pace in this small culinary cave is astounding and increases in speed as the night progresses. What had appeared as a partly filled restaurant when I arrived is now filling up as the Cypriots are late diners. This taverna is known for excellent food and reasonable prices.
Above the hood over the cooking surfaces is a world war II vintage bicycle and as I look at it my mind wanders. I know men who probably used such vehicles for transportation in the wars where they fought for right and good. I wonder what stories that cycle could tell? I can only imagine because most of those who participated in the hell which we call war seem reluctant to share the images with which they lived - some things are so horrible that we do not want to relive them. Truth is always purchased at great price and we owe a debt to those whose passion for truth allowed them to sacrifice for the cause which is greater than any of us.
As my gaze goes around the room, I notice small blackboard type signs with Greek inscriptions - what do they say? I can only guess since my knowledge of Greek is almost nil. Aha, but there is something I do recognize, a single word, but alas it is too little to tell me whether I am gazing at the writings of some ancient philosopher or some saying whose meaning is cloaked in mystery. Until I learn or ask, it will remain just that.
A large tinfoil container with some village salad rests on the counter waiting to receive its tempting order. Is it mine, or has some phone call ordered a pickup. In go two deliciously browned skewers of chicken and then the first cook passes it to the second who adds his blessing of french fries, adds a top, places it in a bag along with a pita wrapped in paper, joins the two parts of the bag and motions that this is for me. At last the tempting offering is nearing - as I open the door to the flat, Marian exclaims with a cookie in her hand, “Not five minutes ago I though you would come home with some food!”
We retire to the balcony overlooking the taverna and share of our evenings while thankful that we are able to enjoy this culinary treat! … Now off to bed because 5:15 am comes too soon and then we are back at school for another day of serving!
Would you like some more tea … ?
David
PS. The seond idea will come later!
posted by David & Marian Sloss @ 10:18 AM
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