What's On Cyprus

Vangelis said he had extensive training in Naples, not at collage but at an academy at a traditional pizzeria, with top pizza chefs.  The rewards; pizzas as authentic as you can get this side of Italy, the dough, 4 simple ingredients, hand made, but fermented for 48 Hours before use, a Neapolitan influence, which enhances the flavour, then topped with your favourite toppings and baked to perfection in a traditional stone fired revolving oven ... the result a thin base with a light fluffy crust ... I have to say they're delicious!

It was the name that first caught my attention, brilliant I thought! ... Then, this wonderful idea, equally brilliant!, a Boardgaming Cafe, nestled in the vibrant city of Larnaca, and I just had to get together with David, owner of 'Shakes and Lattes' to find out more ...

A place with a cool atmosphere, to enjoy good food, but with big portions, served fresh from the Charcoal Grill, hosting regular events and of course showing all the live sports on the 4 big screens.  The decor traditional taverna style, inside it's spacious, comfy, a lovely log burner for the chilly winter evenings and outside a covered courtyard for the balmy summer nights ... oh I'm loving the new extended bar with RGB lights, looks well cool ...

The setting is as good as on the beach, it's a traditional village house with alcoves and arches edging the shaded patio out front, overlooking the beautiful Mediterranean sea.  The ambience is relaxed outside and continues inside, with comfy lounge style sofas and 4 huge TV screens to watch all the live sports, there's a pool room with plenty of seating and two lovely open fires to keep your toes warm in the winter.

So, I asked George to tell me about his choice of beef ... and quite amazingly he told me; "We were the first to bring the burger scene to Larnaca.  We mated Black Angus steers with our cows at several local farms, which gave birth to more Angus beef and we're now in our 16th generation and naturally, we get our beef fresh from our associated local farms ... ah ha! that's why my burger tasted so good!

... from the intro to the end, the girls put on an funny and spectacularly electric show with such passion and sooo much energy !!!

Then step out back, the pièce de résistance, an absolutely enchanting courtyard, mature trees, plants, and foliage everywhere, a red trellis adorning a multitude of colours ... It's become a lively meeting spot for locals to unwind after a busy day.  The warm glow of twinkling fairy lights adds an enchanting touch to the already picturesque setting.

... These days he's got a crew of 30, most working as part of the family for years, and 'well oiled' is an understatement ... serving the best Cod and Haddock, and a nice bit of Plaice, imported from UK, Norway, Germany and France, deep fried in Lambros' crispy batter or breadcrumbs and served, of course, with chips made with Cyprus potatoes, pure heaven! ... opps, don't forget the mushy peas or maybe gravy, or curry sauce to dip your chips into and a few pickled onions and maybe a wally ... omg, old habits die hard oh, and almost forgot a good cuppa and a slice ... perfect!

If you are anywhere near Oroklini, this is an excellent choice, if you're not, it's definitely worth the drive, whether you fancy breakfast, lunch, or dinner, you can sit inside in traditional surroundings, or out front in the beer garden, or out back by the gorgeous pool, or maybe enjoy a fun-filled night with live entertainment, or just pop in for a quick pint and sit next to the huge tropical fish tank while enjoying a little Sushi!