Almost four years ago, restaurateurs Gus Leontarakis and Sophia Mylona brought the island of Thasos to South Florida serving Mediterranean cuisine at its finest. On Tuesday, March 15, 2016 Thasos had the pleasure of hosting Chef Athinagoras Kostakos for the Island Gems of Greece lunch. Kostakos traveled all the way from the island of Mykonos, Greece where he has worked for the past eight years as the executive chef of Bill & Coo Suites and Lounge.During the four course lunch, guests were able to get a taste for his passion sharing authentic Greek food with a twist. For starters, guests enjoyed a cup of Aegean Sea Breeze, a light sea bass soup with mussels. Next, Kostakos served what he called, “a simple salad” made with goat cheese, cherry tomatoes, capers, thyme and olive oil. The main course consisted of herb crusted lamb chop with lamb baklava cooked slowly and presented inside a flaky pastry with yogurt cumin sauce. For dessert, the chef sweetened the meal with a strawberry and mastiha soup topped with almond meringue. Guests were impressed by the combination of flavors in each course as well as the attention to detail conveyed through each item.
Kostakos’s dishes represent a new breed of Greek cooking that is influenced by old world styles, which has evolved into a hybrid that merges tradition and ingenuity. His culinary creations make food look like an art form. Kostakos prides himself on using only the best ingredients, “The most important thing are the ingredients. They come together to create pleasure in your mouth.”
FOS Mastiha is a clear liqueur made from the Mastiha tree from the island of Chios, Greece. Served chilled in a shot or mixed in many signature drinks, the sweet and smooth taste of FOS makes it a crowd favorite. FOS is only available in South Florida. Thasos’ mixologists serve up FOS concoctions in drinks like Detox made with FOS, crisp cucumber, a fresh sprig of thyme, lime and ginger ale. Try the Mastiha Naturale made with FOS, green apple liqueur, basil and lime juice.
Even if you never have the chance to visit the islands of Greece, experience the art of eating well at Thasos Restaurant.
