Experience Amorgos island

This year during the Gastronomy week we will explore and experience the culture of the monastic food and cuisine of Amorgos. The unprecedented simplicity and authenticity. They say you can’t understand the monastic culture without understanding the monastic food. Cooking and eating are in a sense spiritual matters and are both a work of love and a substantive offering. The best ingredient that puts flavor in the monastic cuisine is the love monks put into their cooking every day of the year and especially during the religion fests.
The diet of the monks is governed by the fasting rules of the Eastern Orthodox Church. The goods produced by farming are used to feed not only the monks themselves but also pilgrims visiting the monasteries. With the culinary skills, imagination and generous “portion” of love, the cook is obliged to lift the weight and relieve the aggravation of the fasting that must be observed by the monks.

This year Gastronomy Week will be dedicated to monastic food. We will have the honor of visiting for lunch AGIA PARASKEVI MONASTERY, CHOZOVIOTISSA MONASTERY and PANOCHORIANI MONASTERY. The monks will cook for us and they will have the chance to present a mix of their everyday cuisine and the fest’s meals. We will taste traditional plates like Patatato, kofto, xydato and many other “divine” local tastes.

Alongside with the monastery cuisine, we will have the honor to host the famous chef Alexandros Papandreou who will cook for us and of course, we’ll organize for a 3rd year in a row the wine fest with the participation of wineries from all over Greece. What not to be missed are also the highlight of the Gastronomy Week, the dinner in the abandoned village of Asfondylitis where everything is prepared in the wood oven and additionally the authentic Amorgian breakfast where everything is “salted” by the Big Blue Sea.

Southern Aegean Region, as a Gastronomic Region of Europe 2019, carries out several activities and events throughout the year, which are the culmination of an effort that began two years ago in January 2017. Among them is “Amorgos Gastronomy Week”.

PROGRAM

FRIDAY 27/9

14:00 Lunch at the Monastery of Agia Paraskevi.
The famous chef of the island Vangelis Mendrinos will do the cooking with the help of the volunteers of Kato Meria and the Monastery.
(ONLY FOR JOURNALISTS AND OFFICIALS)

20:00
Dinner at Agios Ioannis outside Tholaria.
(ONLY FOR JOURNALISTS AND OFFICIALS)

SATURDAY 28/9

13:00
Lunch at the Monastery of Hozoviotissa supported by the Cyclades Chamber and Aegean Cuisine.
(ONLY FOR JOURNALISTS AND OFFICIALS)

18:00
Demonstration of Amorgian Traditional Recipes at Nissi Restaurant by Amorgos Gastronomy Club
Athletes, the Authentic Big Blue support team, the organizing committee, officials, co-organizers, supporters as well as journalists are welcome.

20:00
The closing ceremony is held at AMORGOS DIVING CENTER (in collaboration with ASKAS restaurant team.)

SUNDAY 29/9
12.00
Brunch only for the officials in Katapola at ΕΛΙΧΡΥΣΟΝ creperie and at the same time at ΠΕΡΑΣΜΑ ΚΑΣΤΕΛΟΠΕΤΡΑ only for athletes, safety divers, judges, EDOK, doctors, photographers and the support team of the Organization.

Tuesday 24/9 ASKAS restaurant will feature a meal for athletes and all organizers.
This event will be attended by Anna Arzanova, President of the CMAS World Federation and representatives of the Municipality of Amorgos.
(CLOSED EVENT)

In autumn of 2017 we “revived” the legendary film “LE GRAND BLEU” ( “THE BIG BLUE” ) by organizing, in Amorgos, a unique event; an international free-diving tournament, the Authentic Big Blue; at the location where the most memorable scenes of the film were shot, scenes that created and created unique feelings.

The 3rd Authentic Big Blue tournament will be held on September 22-28, 2019 and will be an anniversary event since 30 years have passed since the official release of the film. A love story about the sea, two unique athletes, an endless competition, the main theme of ​​the film that became a benchmark for the free diving community worldwide.

Inspired by the magical blue, with the aura of the island and the unique awe-inspiring landscape on our side; this year we create a special, sporting and tourist experience.

Hold your breath, dive into the big blue, emerge into a unique experience of hospitality…

The competition will take place about half a mile off the beach of Agia Anna, where the depth reaches 150 meters.