There is nothing better, for me at least, then to dine at a restaurant which has good food and wine and a friendly atmosphere. It is a simple act yet one which has been embraced more emphatically by Cypriots on the island. Cypriots have always enjoyed food, wine and company in their own homes, now they like to enjoy it out with friends. If a restaurant has good quality food at reasonable prices it will fill up with eager eaters and drinkers. There are numerous restaurants on the island which are an example of this. Together with the food there must be an atmosphere which makes dining comfortable and desirable, whether it be warm and cosy or more upmarket and stylish. I think it is safe to say that the island's eateries now have the ability to cater for all tastes, whether that be a craving for steak and chips or sushi. A good steak or a good sushi for that matter must be accompanied by a good wine, the mingling of the tastes being quite magical. There are now a good collection of quality Cypriot wines which are consumed with delight by restaurant goers. The Cypriot wine tradition and industry goes back many years and local wine is now bottled and labelled to suit a more demanding clientale. I like to enjoy my wine at the theatre too, during the intermission with a light discussion on the performance or anything else that comes to mind.
The theatre. The cultural development on the island does not stop at gastronomy. There is now a growing appreciation of a good performance whether it be a play, or a classical or jazz concert. The Cyprus Theatre Organistation (THOC) recently celebrated actors and actresses who have contributed to theatre in Cyprus. There is a lot of talent out there and theatre has given that talent an opportunity to shine. There has evolved an appreciation for this talent and this has made all the hard work of these budding actors and actresses worthwhile.
In truth cultural events are flourishing at the moment all over the island with towns like Limassol, Paphos and Nicosia all competing to be Cultural Capital of Europe in 2017. It's exciting times really. Cultural appreciation creates new ideas and opens up minds to something new and different. Whether it's dining out or catching the latest performance at the theatre or listening to a little jazz with a fine wine, this can only lead to an awareness of better things.
No comments:
Post a Comment