The Anthropology of Food & Customs

 
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Grilled Octopus
 
Trachana Soup
 
Pastroumali
 
Capon
 
 

Restaurant Review

 

Agnanti Meze with two locations (Queens and Brooklyn, NY) features traditional Greek Cuisine, with culinary dishes reminiscent of eateries on the Aegean and Ionian Islands and the mainland, including a selection on the menu named “Tastes of Constantinople ”, or “Politiki Cuisine”.  Agnanti Meze in Astoria is a quaint and charismatic Greek Taverna, nestled near the Queens side of the East river on Ditmars Boulevard. Manager Maria Stauropoulou and head chef Spiros Sidorakis are the charming co-owners of Agnanti.  Here you will find first time visitors alongside a plethora of regular patrons, addicted as they may to the ambiance created by Maria’s initiatives and the pleasures of Spiros’ traditional Hellenic culinary tidbits and dish preparations.  There is a rich selection of first class wines and beers from Greece and beyond to accompany Spyros’ gourmet dishes.  Guests receive personal attention and respect, and the service is reflective of the nature and philosophy of Agnanti and the niche it has created both in Astoria and in Brooklyn.

Agnanti, with its cozy and romantic ambiance combined with the delicious menu options is a place you will desire.  There is an array of appetizers, both hot and cold. You will find yourself ordering several before your main dish, wanting to revisit and sample more.  All items are reasonably priced, and a complimentary  platter of delicious deserts are offered after every meal.  Chef Spiros offers his catering services, within the Metropolitan area for up to 50 people, featuring Agnanti specialties.  Agnanti Meze is Zagat rated as the best restaurant at Astoria for a consecutive 3 year period. As a note, Chef Spyros Sidorakis has accepted an invitation to teach seminars sometime in the near future on Hellenic gastronomy at the Continuing. Education. Program of the City University at LaGuardia Community College.

*Don’t forget to mention to Chef Spiro & Maria you saw Agnanti Meze featured on our website.

 

 

Samples of Agnanti Meze Recipes:

 

Trachana Soup

● Vegetable broth

Boil vegetables (carrots, celery, fresh tomatoes in water with extra virgin olive)

● Add trahana to vegetable broth and boil for about 10 minutes

● Garnish with fine shreds of kasseri (aged yellow cheese) to acquire an Agnanti flavor and serve hot

 

Pastroumali appetizer

● Homemade filo dough (or puff pastry)

● Kasseri (aged yellow cheese)

● Sliced fresh tomato

● Pastroumas, Capocollo, or pastrami ( variety)

● Bake in oven for 20’ at 220º F

●Serve hot

In pie dish brushed with olive oil layer one sheet of  pastry. Add layer of kasseri followed by layer of pastroumali and sliced tomatoes. Top with pastry and bake.

 

Capon Specialty

● Saute quartered capon in large sauté pan with olive oil

● Sauté onions in olive oil 

● Add salt, pepper and other spices

    Add dry white wine

    Add tomato

● Bake in over for 1.5 hours at 250º F

● 15’ before end of cooking time (1.5 hours) add chylopites or flat pasta and bring to boil with the rest of the preparation

● Serve with a dry red wine

 
 
 

Chef Spiros Sidorakis preparing one of his classic dishes
 
 

 Ambelonas, 2006

© Argie Agelarakis

© Anthropology of Food & Customs, 2008