A month or so has passed since we all celebrated Lemnian Earth and its fruits together, and our memories return there again. In Lemnos, where we shared its delicious food, its unique wine, got to know each other better, we feasted, sang, danced, exchanged ideas and visions for the future of our island.
On 14 and 15 September 2024 we prepared a special celebration for all of us, a celebration that stopped time for a while to remember and celebrate our joint efforts to promote the Lemnian agrifood identity – it gave us food for thought and motivation for new, bigger goals. At the same time, the two-day event was the perfect occasion to celebrate the recent inscription of the “Vine Tradition of Lemnos” in the Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Greece.
On the Saturday night of September 14th, the heart of Myrina was filled with the smells of Malama Banavos’ zygouri with mashed beans from the restaurant “Flomari”, the mushrooms and “pseftopeteinos” (pseudo-rooster) of Michalitsa Kangi from the restaurant “Stis Michalitsas”. Nikoletta Preka took the baton in the open cooking sessions with the “aftoudia” (local pasta), which she combined with sautéed vegetables and must, while we served the delicious afkos of Giota Zounga from the restaurant “Metaxy mas”. There was not a bite left of the amazing “Kaspak’no” (cooked goat delicacy) of Ilias Kelemenis, while we were surprised by the refreshing salad of Yannis Kavouras – both associates of the School of Advanced Vocational Training (SAEK) of Lemnos. We were sweetened again and again by the traditional “kourkouta” (pudding) of Sophie Chapsi, author of the cookbook “Evochia of Lemnos” and we tasted the handmade “kavourmas” (salted meat) of the Palaistros family. And all this, accompanied by the unique aromas and the rich taste of Muscat of Alexandria, a PDO variety of the Lemnian vineyard, and the historical variety “Kalambaki” or “Limnio”, which we had the opportunity to taste through the excellent wines offered by the wineries Garalis, Koukoulithras, Chatzigeorgiou and Lemnos Agricultural Winery Cooperative “I Enosi”.
All dishes were based on local raw materials offered directly from the producers/traders of the island: zygouri from the Arvanitis butchery, mushrooms from George Chatzipavlidis and Christos Kangis (Mushrooms of Lemnos), potatoes and vegetables from Ioannis Mavroudis, flour, wheat and “flomaria” (local pasta) from the Poriazis Family, legumes from Salamousas Agrifood, lentils from Georgia Chatzoglou, “petimezi” (must) from Sophie Chapsi, and cheeses from Hrysafi Traditional Lemnos Products. The evening ended with the “Lykeio of Ellinidon” who not only danced and performed local dances, but made us sing and join hands, following familiar steps and tunes.
On the morning of September 15th, we met again and toured the productive hinterland of Lemnos, saw the traditional wine cellars, the underground pits where must maturation takes place and visited the Garalis and Chatzigeorgiou wineries. The winemakers took us on a tour of the winemaking and tasting rooms, shared valuable experiences, took us on a journey to their personal professional stories and brought us closer to the island’s vine tradition and the local grape varieties that grow and flourish only on Lemnos. We had the pleasure of being accompanied on these routes by the Deputy Mayor of Education, Lifelong Learning, Culture and Sports of Lemnos and Director of the SAEK of Lemnos, Ms. Ioulia Lygda.
The “Lemnian Earth Celebrations” could not have been implemented without the auspices and the valuable cooperation of the Municipality of Lemnos, which provided the venue for the event and offered the logistical infrastructure, as well as the people who actively supported the actions.
The local media of Lemnos supported the entire effort, inviting the local community from all over the island. In addition, special thanks go to the radio stations Limnos FM 100 and MEAS – Radio Limnos 97.9 who sponsored sound spots promoting the events.
As the first cycle of the Project comes to an end, we look to the future with optimism. The power of local production and tradition, through gastronomy, unites people. This weekend was not just a celebration, but also an event dedicated to the richness of the Lemnian Earth and all those who care for it. We envision a Celebration that will be a meeting point and a springboard for local synergies, promoting the island’s living agrifood heritage.
The festive weekend and the entire “Terra Graeca: Small Farm to Market” project is implemented by MedINA with the support of the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation.