With its pristine sandy beaches, shimmering waters and picturesque setting, Naxos, one of Greece's most underrated islands and the largest in the Cyclades, is definitely worth a visit.
Water activities and sightseeing aside, the island prides itself on using fresh, local ingredients in traditional recipes that waft out of cafes to tantalize the senses of all who pass by.
The melodic-sounding impossible to resist Melimilon Café goes one step further. In addition to its delectable breakfasts which include the special pancakes with “Naxos mizithra", and omelettes with deli cheeses and red pepper marmalade, it offers an assortment of homemade jams straight from the saucepan, spoon sweets and liqueurs.
And we can’t resist mentioning the pan-seared bread served with feta and Myzithra cream cheese, caramalised cured meats and vegetables, and Melimilon green pepper preserve, and you can’t leave before at least having a spoon full of the homemade rice pudding fragrant with vanilla!
Behind these mouth-watering dishes and delicacies is local Evangelia Lianopoulou, whose passion is to introduce authentic Naxian flavours and aromas to people from all over the world.
“We love giving people a true and authentic Naxian experience. I try and use as many local products and Cycladic flavours for our customers to try,” says Evangelia.
“I think it’s a great way to allow tourists to try our flavours, aromas and tastes of Greece and more specifically from Naxos,” she adds.
Evangelia reveals it was her grandmother's cooking that inspired her to start making jams and to open the popular café, as her grandparents’ garden was full of amazing fruits, vegetables, and herbs, all organic and fresh, “with the most wonderful taste. I had to do something special with all this great produce.”
Evangelia says her idea was to create “something beautiful and original, genuine and authentic, that I would share with others and that would show the world how wonderful Naxian land is and how much beauty our country produces.”
Harking back to a more simple time, when life had a slower pace, the jams purposefully evoke the comforting traditional recipes Evagelia’s grandmother in the village used to lovingly make for all her family and friends to enjoy.
The café takes its moniker from “melimilon honey" essentially meaning to an apple and honey jam in ancient times, with the honey used to sweeten and preserve the jam.
At Melimilon you will be pleasantly surprised with the flavours Evangelia creates, including her lotus marmalade, prickly pear jam, and sweet potato jam. Learn which gourmet vegetable jams to pair with Naxian cheeses as you sample fresh produce.
And make sure to stop by with an empty stomach and an open mind and fill yourself with all the colours and flavours of Naxos!
A: Melimilon, Chora Naxos, Greece, +30 6942446062
*Images by Greek City Times (Copyright)
