Cinnabon Glory// Ρολά Κανέλας για σκότωμα...

Cinnabon

(Για Ελληνικά κυλήστε απαλά και όμορφα το ποντίκι κάτω, πιο πολύ, κάτω απ'το χάρτη!)

                     

Imagine you're in the center of Athens. Its winter. And cold. Totally freeze-your-eyeballs-and-pop-them-out-of-their-sockets-cold in fact. It's the holidays or maybe even snowing, but hey, let's not get carried away here. Say it's just pouring with rain and you're wet and miserable to the bone. Odds are you've been here many times... Feeling like a pick-me-up? Sure you are. Something sweet? But you're passed that easily sated hot chocolate stage. You're in for the long run now, and you won't stop till you sink your teeth into something utterly decadent and sweetly satisfactory. Where to go though?

Pecanbon

On days like this, personally, there's only one solution for me. Cinnabon. Some of you from other countries are probably familiar with the chain. This little corner-shop in Stoa Korai makes the most amazing cinnamon rolls you've ever had. Trust me. You have this naughty warm dough that decided to get frisky with some cinnamon, and had a "roll-in-the-hay" with it, so to speak, then got covered in creamcheese and sprinkled on top with pecans. Other rolls decided to skip the cinnamon entirely and opt for chocolate spread, cream and syrup instead or simply didn't feel like pecans today. The result? True melt-in-your-mouth pieces of heaven. Small size, so you might not feel too guilty about them, or whopping great big size that has you tearing up at the thought of all those calories, but still not budging on your decision to eat it. Whoa mama... The warm dough tears away in your mouth leaving behind strands of sweet sin, coupled with cinnamon craziness. The creamcheese topping doesn't make it too over the top sweet, but in fact balances it out. Add the pecan nuts and you have my favourite winter treat. The store doesn't offer a big variety of tastes, yet, I don't really think it needs many more. Obviously, I'm a fan of the cinnamon, creamcheese and nuts variant called Pecanbon. You can also get the classic Cinnabon (same as Pecanbon, without the nuts) or my bf's favourite: Chocobon, with chocolate spread, creamcheese and chocolate syrup.

Pecanbon

Chocobon

Starbucks Green Tea

          The only complaint I have is that there's nowhere to sit. Well, there is if you call two tall flimsy bar-stool-tables adequate seating when there's a wind-tunnel effect reminiscent of hurricane Katrina going on in that particular place. I could always take a ready-made take-away packet home, I suppose, they're more economic too. But who am I kidding, I couldn't possibly wait long enough to get home! What I usually end up doing, and yes, I know it's not terribly morally approvable of, is curl up in a warm chair just across the way in Starbucks. Preferrably top floor, away from the assistants' eyes, prying at my Cinnabon box. Hey, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. To ease my conscience, though, I usually end up bying a vat of Green Tea with Mandarin, it really goes. Give it a try. Or the Earl Grey blend goes nicely too. Just don't buy a Starbucks coffee pleaaaaase! It's not that I have stock-shares in tea or anything, coffee will just overpower anything else you have with it, and it's so not worth missing any of that roll!

In a nutshell:

Is it worth it's money? Weeeeelll... It is a little expensive, with a small roll at 2.50euros and a big one at 4 (last time I checked), but, it's worth it, a mon opinion. Hell, you don't eat this stuff every day, and you needed a pick-me-up on a truly miserable winter's day, remember? So yes, I'd say worth it.
Is it worth going? Hellloooo?? Did you not read the article? If it's winter you should already be there, what you waiting for? In summer, meh, I don't really like it as much.
Will I go again? I'm so looking forward to it. If it's snowing by then, even better..! :)

P.S. For those of you who can't get to a Cinnabon store or simply can't be bothered to go, make these Cinnabon babies at home with this fab recipe!

See Cinnabon on a larger map
Δείτε το Cinnabon σε χάρτη μεγαλύτερου μεγέθους

Ελληνικά

Cinnabon

Σκηνικό: Kέντρο. Χειμώνας... Κρύο. Για την ακρίβεια ψοφόκρυο. Κατά προτίμηση γιορτές, με λίγο χιόνι (αλλά θα κάνουμε και παραχώρηση σ'αυτό). Ας πούμε ότι είναι μία απ'αυτές τις μέρες τώρα που ρίχνει της μη-πω τη βροχή και σταματημό δεν έχει. Εμένα προσωπικά η κατάσταση με καταθλίβει, δεν ξέρω για σας. Άσε, έρχεται και εξεταστική... Τι να λέω τώρα. Θέλω κάτι να μ'ανεβάσει. Έχω όρεξη για γλυκό, ζεστό, αλλά όχι ζεστή σοκολάτα, είμαι πέρα απ'αυτό το εύκολα ικανοποιήσιμο στάδιο, δυστυχώς. Κάτι φαγώσιμο, να το τρως και να σου δημιουργεί αμέσως ευχάριστες χειμωνιάτικες αναμνήσεις, να τις θυμάσαι στο μετέπειτα χαμογελώντας αμυδρά. Αλλά πού κατευθύνεται κανείς για κάτι τέτοιο;


Μία είναι η λύση: Cinnabon. Και πολύ άργησα...
Αυτή η μικρή γωνίτσα της Στοάς Κοραή, εκεί, απέναντι απ'το Starbucks, κάνει κάτι μικρά λαχταριστά θαύματα καθημερινά. Ζεστή ζύμη που είχε ορεξούλες και κυλίστηκε μαζί με μίγμα κανέλας και πασαλείφτηκε μετά με κρέμα (creamcheese, όπως λέγεται το συγκεκριμένο) και ξηρούς καρπούς. Άλλες ζύμες που προτίμησαν τη σοκολάτα και από πάνω κρέμα με σιρόπι σοκολάτας, ενώ άλλες πάλι

Pecanbon

που έκαναν μπάνιο στην κρέμα και απλά δεν ήθελαν ρε παιδί μου τους ξηρούς καρπούς. Το αποτέλεσμα; Απίστευτες λιχουδιές, μικρές, και συνεπώς λιγότερο ένοχες, ή τεράστιες, που τις σκέφτεσαι μετά για μέρες και μυξοκλαίς μεν για τις θερμίδες, μετάνοια δε καμία. Η μαλακή ζύμη τραβιέται αφήνοντας πίσω γλυκές ίνες και ιστούς και η ανάμειξη με την κατεξοχήν χειμωνιάτικη κανέλα είναι το κάτι άλλο. Η κρέμα αντί να δίνει περισσότερη γλύκα, ισορροπεί κάπως τα πράγματα, γιατί δεν είναι η καθημερινή σου ελληνική κρέμα. Βάλε τώρα και τους ξηρούς καρπούς (pecans) για δαγκωνιά και είσαι complet. Όπως καταλάβατε, φαντάζομαι, προτείνω ανεπιφύλαχτα το ρολό με κανέλα και pecans. Και τα άλλα όμως είναι εξίσου αμαρτωλά. Δεν έχει άλλες γεύσεις το Cinnabon να προσφέρει προς το παρόν, μόνο ρολό με κανέλα και κρέμα (Cinnabon), ρολό με κανέλα, κρέμα και pecans (Pecanbon) και το, αγαπημένο του φίλου μου, ρολό με κρέμα, σοκολάτα και σιρόπι σοκολάτα (Chocobon). H αλήθεια είναι, βέβαια, ότι δε μου φαίνεται πως τις χρειάζεται κιόλας. Το φοβερό, επίσης, με το στέκι αυτό, χαρακτηριστικό όλης της

Chocobon

αλυσίδας Cinnabon, είναι ότι ο πλαϊνός τοίχος, προς τη μεριά της πλατείας, καλύπτεται από ένα τεράστιο τζάμι, αφήνοντας τον κάθε περαστικό να δει πώς φτιάχνονται επιτόπου αυτά τα φοβερά ρολά και να σαλιαρίζει μέχρι να πάρει ένα και αυτός στο χέρι, στόμα και στομάχι του, με αυτή τη σειρά.

Pecanbon

Στάρμπουξ Πράσινο Τσάι

Το μόνο κακό που έχω να πω για το μέρος είναι ότι δεν έχει πουθενά της προκοπής να κάτσεις. Εντάξει, έχει δύο ψηλά, "μπαρόβια" τραπεζάκια, αλλά τι να το κάνεις αν είναι συνέχεια πιασμένα και φυσάει σε στυλ τυφώνα μες στην στοά; Θα μπορούσες, να μου πεις, να πάρεις πακέτο για το σπίτι, προσφέρονται άλλωστε και πιο οικονομικοί συνδυασμοί ρολών για take-away, ήδη έτοιμοι και πακεταρισμένοι. Αλλά ποιος περιμένει μέχρι το σπίτι τώρα! Αυτό που καταλήγω να κάνω εγώ, κι ας μην είναι, ομολογουμένως, τόσο ηθικά ορθό, είναι να παίρνω την ζεστή λιχουδιά μου και να κουρνιάζω στα Starbucks απέναντι, κατά προτίμηση στον πάνω όροφο, μακριά απ'τα ενοχοποιητικά μάτια των υπαλλήλων. Τι να κάνω κι εγώ η έρμη; Να παγώσω έξω; Άντε, παίρνω και κάνα τσάι απ΄τα Starbucks (πράσινο με πορτοκάλι και μανταρίνι, τα σπάει), που αλαφραίνει τη συνείδησή μου και ταιριάζει κιόλας με το ρολό κανέλας μου. Μόνο μην πάρετε καφέ. Σας παρακαλώ δηλαδή. Θα επικαλύψει όλη αυτή τη γεύση και είναι αμαρτία. Δοκιμάστε το τσάι που είπα (όχι, δεν έχω μετοχές σε τσάι), ή το Earl Grey. Δένουν πραγματικά τις γεύσεις...

Συνοπτικά

• Τα αξίζει τα λεφτά του; Είναι κομματάκι τσιμπημένα, αλήθεια, τα ρολά. 2,50ευρώ το μικρό ρολό και 4 το μεγάλο, τελευταία φορά που πήγα. Αλλά κατά τη γνώμη μου τα αξίζουν. Δεν το τρως δα και κάθε μέρα και όσο να'ναι είναι η μικρή ατασθαλία της μίζερης, χειμωνιάτικης μέρας σου...
• Αξίζει να πάει κανείς; Ε τι λέω τόση ώρα; Αν είναι χειμώνας ή κάνει κρύο έστω, τρεχάτε. Για καλοκαίρι δε μ'αρέσει τόσο.
• Θα ξαναπήγαινα; Μόλις επιστρέψω απ'τις διακοπές πάω με τα χίλια. Άντε, αν πέσει και λίγο χιονάκι, ακόμα καλύτερα...

 Υ.Γ. Για όσους από εσάς δεν έχετε κάποιο κατάστημα Cinnabon κοντά σας ή απλώς βαριέστε να τραβολογηθείτε ως εκεί, φτιάξτε τα ίδια ρολά στο σπίτι και μάλιστα με λιγότερα λεφτά, μ'αυτή την εύκολη συνταγή!

Read more »

Posted in: Centre of Athens,Cinnabon,Desserts

Pauuul? Wo ist der Paul?*

                           Last week, having been prompted by a specific TV show on some good places to visit in Athens, I decided to take my Mum (who is visiting me) and head to Paul, a little patisserie-boulangerie smack-bam in the centre of Athens, just across the road from Attica. To look at, it had said to me:  "Posh, expensivo, AVOID!", which is probably why I've subconsciously avoided it these past 3 years. Let me just say I've been kicking myself for missing out all this time!

                      



As I went in I was struck by how tiny this place was, yet how many people seemed to be working (and queuing there). It had an air of rusticity about it, like a little wooden French bakery in the middle of nowhere. That smell of wood immediately transported me back to England. So nostalgic! My mother (British, has been to France loads) was ecstatic and vowed to bring some other ex-pat friends of hers within the week. Baguettes upon baguettes were stacked on the wall and counter so high you could barely see the assistans' white hats. From the beige-y walls and wooden beams hung old-fashioned portraits and adverts, while a sign inside proclaimed "Pains Rustiques et de Fantaisie" (Rustic and Fantastic Breads). Indeed!

To the right as we walked in was a glass counter (ah yes, you know this is the good part!), in which could be found literally anything you could want from a French patisserie! Sandwiches (baguettes of course), with fillings ranging from salads to grilled chicken and sauce to salami, piled high one on top of the other, with a culmination of these amazing baked baguettes with chicken and mozzarella, caked in melted parmesan and bechamel, briochettes with savoury or sweet fillings, any kind of gorgeous quiche you could want, from the classic quiche loraine, to quiches with cream-sauce filling or vegetable stuffing. Salads, all sorts. Tartes with fruit toppings (although a friend said these weren't terribly good), cream, lemon or chocolate tourtes, colourful, chewy macarons, big and small, mini escargots aux raisins (=pastries with raisins baked in a swirl, like a snail, hence the name), pretzels, weird and wonderful dough shapes semi- or fully-covered in chocolate, biscuits, even mini syrupy dough balls that looked like upturned jelly moulds. And, of course, famous french pain au chocolat and any kind of crispy, lovely, classic aromatic croissant you'd expect (almond, plain, cream-filled, chocolate-filled etc.)! (Although, with regards to Croissants I think there is another, even better place in Athens, but that'll have to wait till another article. ;) )

                           Unfortunately, I am indecisive by nature. And amidst all those mouthwatering choices, smells and sights I was reduced to a babbling, quivering lump. I finally decided to get the Quiche aux Legumes (=Vegetable Quiche) (and had to shout it out 3 times before the assistant actually saw me over all the baguettes, let alone served me!) whereas my mother got a Salad Fermiere (=Farmer's Salad). The Quiche was aMAzing! It had soft potato, tomato, aubergine, courgettes, onion and basil, all in a delicious egg custard with a lovely thick crust. (Note: Ask to have it warmed up!) The Salad was equally tasty: normal iceberg lettuce, lollo rosso (red lettuce with a slightly nutty taste), batons of carrot and emmental cheese, topped with grilled chicken, walnuts, raisins and slices of apple. It came with a mini chunk of French Bread. Very interesting combinations!

Quiche aux Legumes

Salad fermiere

                                     We were quite impressed, especially by the fact that everything was made fresh on site (the smell "broke your nose" as the Greeks like to say!). No wonder there was a continuous line to the till. Although the customers (from business men on their lunchbreak, to ditsy "high-class" Kolonaki women complete with fried-died hair, teetering on ridiculously high heels) seemed to come in batches: one moment there was a row of 15 people that could barely fit through the door, the next we were alone. Weird!



                                     Anywho, to sum up, if you're in the area and fancy a spot of light lunch, this could very well be the choice for you! Definitely a change from your average Greek bakery.

In a nutshell:

Do you get your money's worth?: Well, the truth is it is a little pricey for a bakery. Expect to pay between 4-6 euros per person. But if you get a quiche or any of their "unusual" items, it is definitely worth it a mon opinion!
Is it worth it?: Sure, if you fancy that sort of thing and you're in the centre, there aren't very many other "light" options around really.
Will I go again?: You bet! I have my eye on that classic quiche lorraine...

See PAUL on larger map

*For anyone wondering what the hell I'm on about in the title, see: Youtube Advert about lucky octopus. I know it's silly, but everytime I hear the name Paul I've been brainwashed into saying "Wo ist der Paul??" or "Der Paul ist weg!!" Stupid, yes. Moving on.

Read more »

Posted in: Bakery,Centre of Athens,Desserts,French Food,Paul

Secret Garden

                                          When some friends first took me to this place, I was slightly reluctant to turn off my much travelled and beloved Ifaistou street (the "Athens Flea Market"), a road full of tightly crammed tourist shops, hawkers, bead stores and of course the famous clothes basements for the gothic-ly inclined. We were on our way to the usual cafes down in Thiseio, but my friends insisted we turn off down a narrow, dark little alley, dotted with drunkards. Proudly they stopped in front of an old, decrepit building.

 "taf" read the little sign on the left. "This had better be good", I thought. It certainly didn't look promising.
                            

                                   


I am glad to say it was more than good. The door opened to reveal a wonderful little courtyard just around the corner. In the centre a mixture of high and low coffee-tables, surrounded by a bar, tall trees and what looked like the remains of small, old-fashioned houses, complete with red-tiled rooves. Above us a canopy. You felt like you had just discovered your own secret garden in the heart of bustling Athens, just below Monastiraki square, just above Thiseio, yet perfectly quiet. What's more, at night (as I had to go back again soon) it reverts to a bar and the view is even more breathtaking: twinkly lights decorate the branches and balconies, hidden lights give the place a low, romantic glow, yet the music is as loud and good as it gets.

 As we sat down, I ordered my signature cup of tea (Jasmine) and realised I could actually see old-fashioned movies being shown on the walls inside the houses. I looked around and saw paintings, carvings, parts of works of art showing through the windows. The name of the place, i later found out, is "The Art Foundation" or "taf". So at any point visitors (and there were quite a few I might add) can walk around the ground and second floor and pretend to be a bit more cultural, going "ahh" and "mmmh" at things. Although I must say, most of the things I saw were kind of... eccentric. Coupled with the falling-apart-buildings.. you get my drift.

Anyhow, the tea arrived in one of those modern teapots you squish down on top to release all the goodness from the tea leaves. I'm extremely pleased to say it was fantastic! It had a caramel-like aroma and was faintly sweet-tasting. Definitely nothing like my usual Jasmine Tea. It was served with a hard, sugared cinnamon biscuit. Very tasty!
                                                     Also, the waiters were polite, smiling and prompt (as well as very stylish), unlike most places I visit around here. Douze points for quality and service!

                       

                                                     All in all, after a couple of hours relaxing and myself touring the art exhibits, I left feeling refreshed (not as cultured as I'd have liked), but definitely willing to go back soon.

In a nutshell:

Do you get your money's worth? Normal for Athens Standards. 3 euros for tea, 3,50 for coffee.

Was it worth the while? Are you kidding me? How many places like this do you think there are in Athens?

Will I go again? Absolutely.

P.S. For maximum wowing effect take your friends/girlfriends/boyfriends etc. after sundown. You won't be disappointed!




                               

Προβολή Taf σε χάρτη μεγαλύτερου μεγέθους

                                      

Read more »

Posted in: bar,Cafe,Centre of Athens,Garden,Monastiraki,taf