While it`s not exactly called brunch, but rather "Weekends at Winter Garden," perhaps because it doesn`t resemble or compare to any other similar menu in Athens. However, it is brunch, and since it made its debut at the Winter Garden in 2018, if my memory serves me correctly, it has been a resounding success.
Over the years, the structure has remained largely the same, with small variations that serve as refreshing touches. However, this year, there is an invisible thread connecting this brunch to the splendid menu celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Grande Bretagne Hotel, and it is this very element that makes this brunch even more significant. Koustoudis is truly in a league of his own! The work he has done at the Grande Bretagne since taking on the role of executive chef has been so remarkable and multifaceted that it deserves to be documented in a manual for future generations. It’s no coincidence that his contributions have been recognised twice by the FNL Guide and the FNL Best Restaurant Awards.
This year’s "Weekends at Winter Garden" begins with delightful treats crafted by Alexandros Koufas from the hotel’s in-house bakery and patisserie. As soon as you’re served your coffee or tea, a specially designed trolley filled with various baked goods arrives at your table. While I can never resist a good pain au chocolat, this time I was captivated by the savoury cheese and pastrami croissant. Everything on offer is exceptional! Among the main dishes, the Florentine eggs with fresh spinach, herbs, and a delightful béchamel made with Naxos gruyère are outstanding. However, I was particularly fond of the candele al gratin, which are pasta stuffed with mushrooms and truffles, elevated by a fantastic gorgonzola cream. But the dish that struck a chord with me was the beef Stroganoff, served alongside a delicate potato purée and soufflé potatoes in the hotel`s vintage crockery. I would go back again and again just for that dish!
To finish, Alexandros Koufas once again impressed with a tart tatin, beautifully caramelised during baking and flavoured with cardamom, olive oil, and served with vanilla ice cream. You won’t want it to end!
Info: Hotel Grande Bretagne, Weekends 11.00am - 14.00pm, Reservations Number: (+30) 2103330748
Over the years, the structure has remained largely the same, with small variations that serve as refreshing touches. However, this year, there is an invisible thread connecting this brunch to the splendid menu celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Grande Bretagne Hotel, and it is this very element that makes this brunch even more significant. Koustoudis is truly in a league of his own! The work he has done at the Grande Bretagne since taking on the role of executive chef has been so remarkable and multifaceted that it deserves to be documented in a manual for future generations. It’s no coincidence that his contributions have been recognised twice by the FNL Guide and the FNL Best Restaurant Awards.
This year’s "Weekends at Winter Garden" begins with delightful treats crafted by Alexandros Koufas from the hotel’s in-house bakery and patisserie. As soon as you’re served your coffee or tea, a specially designed trolley filled with various baked goods arrives at your table. While I can never resist a good pain au chocolat, this time I was captivated by the savoury cheese and pastrami croissant. Everything on offer is exceptional! Among the main dishes, the Florentine eggs with fresh spinach, herbs, and a delightful béchamel made with Naxos gruyère are outstanding. However, I was particularly fond of the candele al gratin, which are pasta stuffed with mushrooms and truffles, elevated by a fantastic gorgonzola cream. But the dish that struck a chord with me was the beef Stroganoff, served alongside a delicate potato purée and soufflé potatoes in the hotel`s vintage crockery. I would go back again and again just for that dish!
To finish, Alexandros Koufas once again impressed with a tart tatin, beautifully caramelised during baking and flavoured with cardamom, olive oil, and served with vanilla ice cream. You won’t want it to end!
Info: Hotel Grande Bretagne, Weekends 11.00am - 14.00pm, Reservations Number: (+30) 2103330748
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