May has been quite the month. Over the span of 3 weeks, I got a new job, completed my MBA program, took a trip to Greece, and got engaged to my favorite person in the world. In the words of Justin Timberlake, “it’s gonna be May.” Greece was spectacular and quite possibly the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. We visited Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini, and ate all the tzatziki and fresh seafood that Greece had to offer. Seriously, by the end of the trip, I was eating tzatziki by the spoonful.
All the tzatziki in Greece.
We (and by we I mean I) also drank large quantities of champagne. Because, why not?
Poolside champs? Don’t mind if I do.
Athens was a great way to ease our way into the trip. We hiked up mountains and saw the Parthenon.
$20 selfie stick = best purchase I’ve ever made
Mykonos was even better. We lounged by the pool with the most delicious vodka-champagne-muddled strawberry concoctions that our bartender could whip up.
Poolside in Mykonos
Deliciously refreshing
Then we rented a 4-wheeler and drove around the entire island, stopping at each and every beach.
Despite my smile, I was actually terrified of Chad’s 4-wheeler driving
Super Paradise Beach
We celebrated our six year anniversary with a sunset view on the water at a restaurant called Kastro’s.
We started with the Mykonos salad, with feta, green grapes, grilled sardines, and a light and sweet honey vinaigrette. It was tasty.
Mykonos salad
The grilled octopus was insanely delicious. It was perfectly grilled, seasoned, and drizzled with olive oil. It was served with a side of fava bean puree, which was hummus-esq in texture and a really nice complement to the octopus.
Grilled octopus perfection
The sea bream was flaky and fresh, although slightly overcooked and undersalted. I loved, though, the crunch of the toasty almonds that sat atop the fish.
Fresh catch
The seafood risotto was the winner of the night. The dish was served with prawns, mussels, and clams, and the risotto was just the right texture.
Risotto for days
Next came Santorini, also known as the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. We ate dinner at a wonderful and hidden restaurant called Ambrosia. Per our server’s recommendation, we started with the Ambrosia tarts and the sautéed shrimp.
The tarts were stuffed with feta, and topped with a tomato, a slice of brie (because just feta wasn’t enough), and a dollop of pesto. The tarts were deliciously savory and flaky enough to melt in your mouth.
All the feta
The shrimp was my favorite dish of the night. It was sautéed and served over a bed of sliced avocados with the most buttery and delicious mastic sauce I’ve ever tasted. Seriously, I wanted to lick the plate.
Shrimp on fleek
The entrees were just as good as the appetizers. The red snapper was perfectly seared, and drenched in a lemon-butter-caper sauce. Again, plate-licking worthy.
More fresh catch
Chad’s beef fillet was mouthwatering, and it wasn’t even cooked close to rare. The beef was cooked in the most delicious Vinsanto wine and truffle reduction, and served with a side of mushroom risotto.
That truffle reduction, though.
Everything about the dinner was perfect, I practically needed a wheelbarrow to get me back to the hotel.
During the rest of the Santorini trip, we ate lots of gyros, more tzatziki, and visited a few local wineries.
Gyro stuffed with french fries? Sure.
Like I said, all the tzatziki.
Only a 12 wine tasting flight.
All the wine.
The best meal of all was at Dimitri’s on Amoudi Bay. We sat right on the water, watched the sun set, and picked out our fish from what they had caught that day.
Fresh catch…again.
The calamari was honestly the best I’ve ever tasted. So fresh, slightly breaded, and fried to perfection.
The best calamari. Ever.
There was greek salad with feta, Kalamata olives, and capers. Lots of feta.
The real Greek salad
Did I mention the sunset yet?
#SantoriniSunset
My rock lobster was the freshest I’ve ever tasted. And more buttery than ever.
Lobsta
I was cold, so they gave me a blanket
Despite being a tad overcooked, Chad’s red snapper was almost as delicious as the lobster.
More fresh catch.
We ended the night with the most delicious chocolate soufflé in all of Greece. It was chocolaty perfection, and I could have eaten 10 of them.
All the chocolate.
The best part of the trip, though, wasn’t the food or the wine (although they were a close second and third). During a 3 hour hike from Fira to Oia, I said yes to a very important question at the most beautiful spot on the island. Needless to say, Greece was a trip to remember!
The best day.
What a view
Tagged: Athens, Greece, grilled octopus, Mykonos, Santorini, seafood, wine
