Sunday 4 June 2017

Mosaic Monday # 43 - Touring Agreco Farm & dining alfresco


Our recent visit to Agreco Farm in Rythymno, a privately owned replica of a 17th century estate, was a marvellous experience.
On Sundays in May they offer guided tours of the farm followed by a gargantuan feast of Cretan dishes served alfresco on the taverna's beautiful shaded terrace.


As far as the eye can see there are olive trees; fruit trees and vegetables being cultivated.


A delightful hotchpotch of buildings house items of age-old traditional farm equipment, there's an olive press; flour mill; raki distillery; bee hives; wine press and close by a very large vat where they tread the grapes!




There's also a small zoo you can visit, home to sheep; hens; peacocks; kri kri (Cretan goats) and a donkey.


Surrounding the small village square are an artists studio; the Farm shop; the open air taverna and the Chapel of St Nicolas Kourtalious.


In the square you can watch, and even take part in, demonstrations of traditional cooking methods, cheese making and sheep shearing.

This lady is demonstrating how to make feta cheese, the men in the background are shearing a sheep! 
Once the demonstrations were over we sat and rested in the cool shade of the terrace and enjoyed a long (2 hour) leisurely lunch whilst admiring the beautiful scenery, chatting to other diners and discussing the wonderful authentic Cretan food which just kept on coming.
I hope you enjoyed the visit to Agreco Farm.......
........oh! almost forgot to show you the amazing food served during the 9 course lunch, this was just for two people!
In the first mosaic from top left: savoury cheese pies; omelette; stuffed vine leaves, tomatoes, aubergines, courgettes and green peppers; feta cheese sprinkled with oregano; slow roasted lamb with artichokes; a dish of feta, tomatoes, cucumber, olives and hard boiled eggs; a bowl of fresh fruit.


In the mosaic below a dessert of Cretan rice prepared by the Agreco chef who also demonstrated how to make Cretan sweet cheese pies.



until next time
μέχρι την επόμενη φορά



20 comments:

  1. Wow- what an adventure - so much going on. Love all the different activities.

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  2. What a great place to see much of the life on Crete. The meal looks amazing, and I can almost feel that warm sunshine. We're craving warmth here. Happy MM. Thank you for hosting!

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  3. Oh my what a wonderful place. Your images are gorgeous. It is a wonder one can walk after all that food. It sure looks good.
    MB

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  4. What a fabulous culinary experience this must have been. Love that alfresco dining setting and all your photos! My mouth is watering...

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  5. That terrace looks so inviting and all the delicious dishes tasted like heaven I'm sure! Lovely photos - happy MM Maggie!

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  6. Hello Maggie
    What a beautiful setting to dine in and what delicious looking Cretan cuisine. My father-in-law used a wine press that was imported from Italy, and looked similar to the one you showed, to make his own wine. It was wonderful. It's nice when customs are preserved like this!

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  7. Wow, Maggie! The feast looks so wonderful! I'm glad you guys had such a lovely time and thank you for sharing with us! That's a LOVELY photo of you, friend!

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  8. What a wonderful place to visit and EAT! Look at that beautiful food! And you look quite beautiful too! Happy MM! Hugs!

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  9. Oh Maggie -- this is something I would just adore. I'd love to see them make feta, one of my favorite cheeses. And it's all fascinating. The dinner looks amazing and oh my! What a beautiful spot to sit and dine. This would be high on my travel list, I think.

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  10. Lots of interesting traditional aspects; for sure a very lovely place to visit and to observe culinary traditions. Those foods must be yummy and delicious; they look so wonderful in all pictures. Many thanks for a great tour and so many things shared.
    Have a nice and sunny new week ahead! Lovely June, as well!

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  11. A beautiful series of photos, Maggie. It looks like you enjoyed your trip thoroughly.
    Thanks for hosting.

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  12. Maggie, what a gorgeous experience! I would love to dine alfresco on that beautiful terrace. You two do the most interesting things, and I appreciate that you take us along with your posts. Merci!

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  13. That was truly a lovely tour! And that food mosaic, mmmm.... yum-yum....wow! Thanks for taking us there!

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  14. Hi Maggie, what a wonderful visit to the Agreco Farm - thank you for sharing so many great details. Thank you too for your 43rd Mosaic Monday, I look forward to visiting you every Monday.
    Joy

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  15. Maggie, You take us on such interesting trips. Thanks for sharing. Sylvia D.

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  16. Maggie, thanks for taking us to Agreco Farm. And, the food! Wow! Happy Monday!

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  17. Hi Maggie...thank you for taking us along on your trip! What a fabulous place to visit and the food looked AMAZING! Thanks for hosting Mosaic Monday and may your b=week be beyond blessed!

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  18. History and fun and food! Looks like a great place.

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  19. A beautiful collection of memories that will serve you well (the food!) this coming winter. That terrace, with the pale patinas in the background, canopied by all the Mediterranean landscaping, must have been appetizing in itself! Thanks for sharing, Maggie.

    Have a lovely Thursday!
    Poppy

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  20. I always enjoy reading about those who travel far and wide. We don't travel much here, so your posts are a treat, Maggie. Thank you for sharing.

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Thanks for stopping by, your visit just made my day!