Eat like a Greek God at Ethos
THE FOOD OF THE GODS
Immortal flavours that won't last forever.
You already know that Ethos at The Monro serves food that is fit for a king. Or a queen, for that matter.
I believe that our fresh, authentic Greek cuisine is the best in the North West.
But I want to take it one step further. My goal is to create dishes that even the gods would devour!
As always, my muse is Greek culture. So the latest inspiration for our ever-evolving specials menu is The Food of the Gods from Greek Mythology.
We'll regularly update our Ethos specials to reflect the themes of a Greek god or deity, allowing us to push the boundaries of experimental Greek cuisine. Whilst remaining authentic, of course.
Our Food of The Gods menus enable you to enjoy new and exciting Greek food every time you visit Ethos in Liverpool.
In this first blog of my Food of the Gods series, we'll look at the food and drink that made those Greek gods laugh, cry and go a tiny bit mad.
Let's start with the most famous of them all...
AMBROSIA & NECTAR
Ambrosia and Nectar are considered the Food of the Gods in Greek mythology.
In modern times, we understand that Ambrosia is food and Nectar is a drink, but the two are interchangeable.
Thick, sweet and runny, Ambrosia and Nectar are honey-like in appearance and texture.
Delivered to the twelve Olympians by white doves each morning, legend has it that the consumption of Ambrosia and Nectar maintained their immortality.
Not only delicious and pleasurable, they also turned the blood of the gods into ichor, a divine substance that gave the deities eternal life.
Indeed Nectar (Nektar, in Greek) means "overcoming death", whilst Ambrosia translates to "immortality".
Nowadays, we use Ambrosia to describe things that taste or smell delicious. But certainly not tinned custard!
Nectar, meanwhile, is often a label given to a delicious drink. It always makes me think of 'the amber nectar', beer.
(I quite fancy a pint now, actually) .
MORE GOD LIKE GOODNESS
Ambrosia and Nectar may well be the life force of the gods, but there are other foods associated with Greek Mythology.
Figs
Figs are traditionally associated with Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and drunkenness. (A god after my own heart, if ever there was one.)
Also linked to Priapus, a minor fertility god - figs also mythically represent copulation. That's sex to you and me.
I'll not elaborate further on this for fear of putting you off your food!
A role for figs
Genuinely, when we were a gastropub, we used to serve figs with scallops. Even back then scallops were expensive.
If they were almost a fiver each back then, I guarantee they're unaffordable now. Unlike a Jacob's fig roll, of course.
We now use figs in one of our caramelized dressings, but I can't tell you which one! Suffice to say the sticky, sweetness of fig is an ultra modern accompaniment.
Whilst I can't tell you our recipe, I personally recommend this one here, it's quick and easy to make, and has only 3 ingredients. My mum loved it!
Apples
In Greek mythology, apples from the Garden of Hespirides granted immortality to those who ate them.
Hercules almost got himself a cosmic ankle tag attempting to steal these fruits to share with us mortals. (Awfully good of him, don't you think?)
It was a golden apple that sparked the Trojan War, too. Ooer. Who knew apples were so dangerous?
Apple surprise!
The humble, yet bountiful, apple harvest is so under rated. Here I share my favourite way of using apples and it will surprise you. That's because I use it as a dip! In the restaurant we make a ton of home made tzatziki, but this apple alternative is what I make at home.
All you need to do is grate fresh apple, add a little cinnamon and sugar to your favourite Greek yoghurt. Suddenly you have a magical dip that even Athena would have been proud of!
Dip your crudité and pizza slices (!) as well as cheese, wraps and more.
Pomegranates
One of our favourite ingredients here at Ethos, pomegranates are associated with top-dog Greek god Demeter and her daughter, Persephone.
Apparently, Hades (you know, the one who was regurgitated by his Dad) kidnapped Persephone to the underworld so they could marry. It's not a technique I'd recommend, TBH. I'm more of a get-down-on-one-knee type of guy.
When he got a bollocking from the mighty Zeus and ordered to return his prisoner, he gave Persephone six pomegranate seeds.
Pomegranate seeds are referred to in the myth as "the fruit of the dead", so she became stranded between two worlds for eternity.
A bit like waiting for the last bus home from town on Saturday night.
Her back and forth is how the ancient Greeks explained the changing seasons.
Perfect Pomegranate
We share the love of Persephone, who as Greek god loved pomegranate seed. We use it exclusively in our homemade falafel dish. With the addition of a little tahini, we end up with the elixir of the gods!
Wine
I've saved the best 'til last! Enjoyed by mortals and gods alike, wine is also linked to our old friend Dionysus.
Ancient Greeks often enjoyed wine without food at drinking banquets known as symposia.
(NB - symposia translates as co-drinking and is my new favourite word)
Drink enough wine, and you can approach the gods. So the stories go, anyway. I've tried a few times and only seem to wake up on the bathroom floor with a stinking hangover.
If you attempt this yourself, beware! Too much wine can mean that Dionysus, the Muses and Eros will possess you. Linda Blair, eat your heart out.
(Read more about our Eros-inspired specials here)
The way to use wine
Obviously I recommend wine for drinking! BUT, unlike the Greeks, we sadly don't use it enough in cooking. Have you made a sauce recently? Maybe, maybe not. It may even be out of a jar. That doesn't matter, but the addition of wine is transformative. And you only need a tiny amount!
Add half a glass of wine into a pan and simmer for a couple of minutes. In less time than it takes a Greek footballer to the ground in the 10 yard box, you will have an amazing and flavoursome sauce!
DO YOU WANT TO EAT LIKE A GREEK GOD? BOOK A TABLE AT ETHOS NOW
Thanks to the following resources:
https://www.tavernamag.com/history/food-of-the-gods/
https://classicalwisdom.com/mythology/ambrosia-and-nectar-the-food-and-drink-of-the-gods/