From the Kitchen of the Poseidonion Grand Hotel, Spetses
The Poseidonion Grand Hotel was first built in 1914 and reopened its doors after an extensive five year renovation in 2009. From illustrations the hotel looks stunning and if its cookery book Sweets and Treats is anything to go by it is.
Everything about the book oozes class, from its silky smooth tactile cover to the superb quality paper used for its beautifully laid out pages and recipes to the amazing photography illustrating the hotel and the recipes. This book deserves to be left on every coffee table to be admired. But this is not just a coffee table book.
It has to be said that the recipes look pretty good too. Or to be more accurate, absolutely delicious! How about chocolate chip cookies, flourless chocolate hazelnut cake, clementine cake, baked quinces with cardamom cream or some of the Greek specialities like loukoumadews or boughatsa? Also included in the book are some useful tips on alternative ways with, eggs, chocolate, fruit and traditional Greek sweets.
Part of the proceeds from its sale are donated to the traditional Shipbuilding Association of the island of Spetses, dedicated to preserving this local marine tradition.
Interestingly the hotel has established its own organic garden so as to supply the kitchens with fresh vegetables, fruit and herbs and have also introduced some chickens to supply the breakfast eggs.
If we have a problem with the book it is that it is so beautiful in its own right we don’t want to take it into the kitchen and start getting our greasy thumb prints on those elegant, pristine pages!
Sweets and Treats – from the Kitchen of the Poseidonion Grand Hotel, Spetses. ISBN: 978-969-933792-2. €25. Available at all major Greek bookstores (including the Eleytheroudakis bookstore at El. Venizelos Athens International Airport) as well as from the Concierge of the Poseidonion Grand Hotel. Alternatively, the book can be mailed anywhere in the world (plus shipping costs) by emailing poseidonion@clab.gr