Having welcomed the 1st guests of the season at Pitsimenti Center 4 Peace, we decided to (finally) treat ourselves to an evening that almost felt like a whole vacation. Since time is limited and April-October specific opportunities abound it was the perfect way to literally taste some of the fruits of our land and work. So we rented a car specifically for the occasion and took a few friends to meet Panagiotis Tsilimigras, wine connoiseur, old classmate, friend and son from a lovely family my mother knows since the olden days when they were creating the beautiful backdrop to our event.
Daphnes villas in Vasilikos are build in a traditional style with some input from our favorite local architect, Nikos Lykouresis. Stepping onto the property I was instantly jealous of the people who found this gem and were enjoying their holidays, each in a private cottage with plenty of space, privacy and most importantly.. silence. We arrived and met our host at the reception feeling a bit guilty and late due to a sudden cat multiplication/ birth and almost forgetting our dog at one stop along the way. His chill presence and calm hug immediately relaxed and reminded us that there is a reason “Greek time” exists and it is a beautiful one. – Good plans leave room for life’s unexpected events and if you’re going to stress about relaxing correctly you’re kinda defeating the purpose. Within reason of course, but the serendipity continued as we arrived at the table and found 2 more good friends attending the same tasting and luckily everyone had been waiting just the right amount of time.
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There’s something mystical, magical and luxurious about a table set in the middle of an olive grove, featuring a beautiful bottle of aromatic liquid gold (oil) collected from the very trees you’re sitting under. I have to give a shoutout to Daphnes olive oil, although not the protagonist of the night it was so rich and tasty that I’ll be looking to get my hands on some and incorporate it into other dining experiences.
Another detail I loved was the mini treehouse/ platform at the edge of the table and a swing that the youngest member of our party took full advantage of. Meanwhile Delilah stood guard, occasionally weaving between legs for a sneaky scrap of salami.
Everything on the table was local, handmade and divine. Found myself loading my plate like it’s a buffet and then holding back on my companions plate which has earned my a lifetime of teasing about the amount of olive oil I spread on my bread compared to what I drizzled on theirs.
April October x Chilly August
Experiential Dining in NatureWe bring the cameras to the table for those that require professional content creation or want to capture the memory without being on their phone – “Tsili” brings the wine, curation, knowledge and everything else. Whether you chose one of their gorgeous scheduled settings or a private tasting on our private waterfront, we are happy to make the connection. With themes including ancient Greek, organic + female winemakers, we are also happy to scout unique remote locations and supplies for custom experiential dining. The stranger the better..
At this 1st tasting of the season we learned some of the history & secrets of Zakynthian, Kefalonian whites and specifically Robola. I am happy to say ny tastebuds are operating at a higher level than I expected and I felt proud + annoying like I did in school when I preempted the teachers next point with a question. I can’t say more here.. you’ll have to find out for yourself. I am also happy to report that we had a wine convert. One member of our party who does not drink any alcohol except the occasional beer was won over by the smooth and refreshing Kefalonian Robola and plans to keep a crate of the specific label we tried for gifts + special occasions. See you there!
💗 Here’s what my mom had to say on social media:
