In recent years it has been the fashion for local yiortes to avoid the traditional multi-course meal, and charge only a small entrance fee, leaving visitors to purchase their own food choices from a buffet. This has been appreciated by many who did not feel inclined to consume large quantities of meat and carbohydrate on a hot summer’s evening, accompanied by traditional Cretan music played at deafening volume. The disadvantage for the organisers was uncertainty about the quantities of food which might be needed, with many people restricting themselves to downing large quantities of beer and wine.
Petros Maroulis and his group will be providing the music for this year’s Honey Festival in Afrata, the third year they have performed at the event.
This year the Cultural Association of Afrata (“Peninsula of Peace”) has decided to revert to the traditional model for the village’s annual Honey Festival (Yiorti tou meliou), offering a full menu included in the €20.00 entrance ticket, although we are told that people who do not want the food can trade it for a specified amount of wine from the bar.
The Honey Festival will take place on Friday 25th July, at the usual venue of the Old School House on the road to Astratigos, officially starting at 9.00 pm. Music, as last year, will be provided by Petros Maroulis and his group and there will no doubt be the usual display of Cretan dancing.
The menu, provided by the kitchens of the Kali Kardia taverna, is not overly heavy and can be expected to be of good quality. It will comprise starters of honey with walnuts, kalitsounia and pasteli (Greek honey sesame bars), followed by salad, loukanika sausages, pork with peppers (bekri meze), and traditional pilafi with boiled meat, all accompanied by yogurt, rakomelo, water and wine with watermelon to close. Extra wine, beer and soft drinks will no doubt be available at the bar.
Judging by past couple of years, the Honey Festival will be well attended, and those wishing to reserve a table for their group should do so on 6946 466 122.