It’s 10 years since Victoria Hislop’s extraordinary debut novel, The Island, was first published. Since then it has gone on to sell millions of copies in 24 languages around the world.
To celebrate we would like to invite Victoria’s fans to join her on Wednesday 16th September for a exclusive event, which will include the only UK screening of the first episode of Το Νησί the hugely successful Greek TV adaptation of the novel.
The £25 ticket price includes a special limited edition hardback of The Island (RRP £30) and a bespoke goody bag.
Full itinerary:
The roof terrace at Carmelite House
6pm drinks and popcorn on arrival at Carmelite House
6.30pm only UK screening of the first episode of the smash-hit Greek TV series of THE ISLAND introduced by Victoria herself
8pm Q & A with Victoria accompanied by Greek drinks and nibbles in our stunning rooftop cafe and roof terrace overlooking the Thames with panoramic views of London
For me the essential flavours of Greece are feta, lemon, olive oil and fresh figs – here are some of my favourite dishes that make use of these ingredients.
FAVA
this is very popular dip – specially in Crete – and is extremely simple to make. Everyone in Greece has their own way of making it. This recipe was scribbled down one night in a rebetika bar in Thessaloniki by my lovely Greek publisher, Costas Papadopoulos. It is very simple but works perfectly.
Serves 6
175 g of yellow split peas
2 roughly chopped onions
1 large lemon
2 whole cloves of garlic
4 fl oz of Greek olive oil (use no other!)
Bring the peas to the boil and remove the foam. Add salt, garlic and half the onions then continue to simmer for approximately 40 minutes. Remove from the heat and mash/sieve when cool. Stir in the lemon juice and olive oil, caramelise the remaining onions and serve – with vegetable sticks or bread.
CUCUMBER SOUP
– this is a perfect chilled soup for warm evenings (and best of all requires no cooking)
Serves 6
3 big cucumbers
12 big leaves of mint (plus 6 pretty ones for garnishing)
Mild feta
Salt & pepper
Peel cucumbers and roughly chop. Put in food processor and whiz for a few seconds (not too long as you still want some texture). Finely chop the mint (by hand) and add to the cucumber then add salt and pepper to taste. Crumble the feta and put a spoonful in the bottom of each soup bowl. Pour on the cucumber, then sprinkle a little more feta on top, along with a single mint leaf.
CHICKEN WITH OLIVES
Serves 6
100 ml of olive oil
12 chicken thighs
6 chopped shallots
3 chopped celery sticks
3 sliced carrots
1 lemon
Plenty of pitted black olives (I like at least six per person)
150 ml of water
150 ml of white wine
Salt & pepper
Brown the chicken thighs in a pan with the olive oil and seasoning and put in an over proof dish. Saute the shallots, celery, carrots until they are just softening then add water, wine and lemon juice. Simmer for ten or fifteen minutes, then pour over the chicken. Cover the dish and put in oven at around 190 degrees c for an hour. Add the olives and put in for a further 30 minutes. To garnish, sprinkle with a handful of chopped coriander.
Serve with thick golden fingers of potato tossed in olive oil and roasted in the oven, and a green salad.
FIGS IN FILO PASTRY
Serves 6
Filo pastry
10 figs (cut into quarters, wedge shaped)
80 g of flour
80 g of granulated sugar
4 eggs
350 ml milk
1 tsp of almond essence
Line a dish with the filo pastry and place in the figs, fleshy side up. Mix flour and sugar and beat in the eggs, milk and almond essence. Pour this on top of the figs and bake in the oven for 50 minutes at 180 degrees c (put a piece of aluminium foil over the tart to prevent the filo pastry burning). Remove from oven and serve warm, dusted with icing sugar and with thick Greek yogurt.
Καλή όρεξη! (BON APETIT!)
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