When it opened up on the historic Athonos sq. walkway last year, it caused
a revolution in the culinary world, as it was introduced as the only vegetarian-vegan restaurant in the city, causing a surprise as it would be expected!
A year later, its three inspirer friends have been rewarded with success for
having surpassed the old, traditional ideas in terms of tasty satisfaction
and they keep on serving this vegetarian-vegan philosophy loyally. The area
is unpretentious, with mix & match decoration and industrial elements,
and it is fully incorporated into the street market atmosphere in the heart of
the city. At the same time the menu –the creation of which this year, along
with chef Elena Gatsiou, has also the contribution of the exceptional green
chef Nikos Gaitanos– is a value for money one, with fine options, which is
updated according to season! Everything is fresh and handmade of high
nutritional value, proving that vegetarian-vegan food except being healthy
can be delicious as well. From pastitsio, pasta Bolognese and giros (yes,
that’s right!) in a vegan version, up to healthy salads and handmade sauces,
as well as exceptional sweets, rOOTS does not take pride for its menu accidentally. It respects the vegetarian-vegan customers but at the same time addresses those who want to adapt a healthier nutrition way. In this quiet, cult
corner of the city, we can come for coffee, aromatic tea, mixed fruit juices in
the morning, for a tsipouro or a cold beer (try Ali, a local label), with accompanying tapas at noon, while at night it is ideal for a relaxed drink, under
the sounds of selected music. Highlight: Stay tuned on fb for the successful
events dedicated to vegan cuisines of the world by the green chef Nikos Gaitanos! The dishes of the day as well as the wonderful soups are among the
plus points! Daily 10:00-as late as it gets (kitchen 13:00-01:00).
Info:
ΜΠΑΛΑΝΟΥ 4-6, ΠΛΑΤΕΊΑ ΑΘΩΝΟΣ,
Τ. 2310 268063 / 4-6 BALANOU STR.,
ATHONOS SQ., Τ. 2310 268063
Who?
O ταλαντούχος chef ταυτίζεται με τη
vegan φιλοσοφία της κουζίνας, όχι
επειδή αποτελεί τάση της εποχής
αλλά εκ πεποιθήσεως. Ήταν 17
χρονών όταν, με αφορμή ένα βιβλίο του Γκάντι, αποφάσισε
να γίνει vegeterian, για μια δεκαετία. Όμως, στα 27 του,
έπειτα από αρκετή έρευνα, έγινε φανατικός pescetarian
(ψαροφάγος), μέχρι που τελικά υιοθέτησε τη vegan διατροφή, απαλλαγμένη όχι μόνο από κρέας αλλά και από
προϊόντα ζωικής προέλευσης, από γαλακτοκομικά και
τυροκομικά μέχρι ακόμα και το μέλι. Το μεγάλο ατού στη
μαγειρική του είναι ότι «προσομοιώνει» το κρέας με πιάτα
πολύ ανώτερα τόσο σε νοστιμιά όσο και σε διατροφική
αξία. Τον Νοέμβριο ανέλαβε αποκλειστικά την κουζίνα του
rOOTS, παράλληλα διδάσκει σε σεμινάρια vegan μαγειρικής στο Cooking Workshop Consulting, ενώ είναι επίσης ο
δημιουργός του site nikosgaitanos.com.
This gifted chef is closely associated with vegan cuisine not
because it is a modern-day craze, but because he believes in it.
He was only 17 years old when, after reading a book by Gandhi,
he decided to turn vegetarian for a decade. At the age of 27, and
following a lot of research, he became a die-hard pescetarian
(fish eater), until he finally adopted a vegan diet free not only
of meat but of products of animal origin, dairy products even
honey. The greatest asset in his cooking is that it “simulates” meat
with dishes much better in taste and nutritional value alike. In
November he took charge of rOOTS cuisine, while it teaches in
vegan cuisine seminars at the Cooking Workshop Consulting.
Finally, we can find him on the Internet, on nikosgaitanos.com.
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