Cyprus-Forum.com

[Paphitis]

Was up in Queensland recently once again for a couple of days. But rather than stay in Brisbane which is a fine city, this time I went a little further than Gold Beach, Marcoola, and Sunshine Coast. I stayed for 3 days in a place called Noosa.

Now Noosa was a most incredible place. I wish I could just stay there and do nothing but trek through the National Parks and just be an out and out beach bum vegetable. But my son and daughter were up, so I took them to Warner Bros Movie World and Seaworld on the Gold Coast. Bloody expensive but the twins really had a ball, and so did I aside from the exhaustion which was taking its toll.

Anyway, last night, I was driving around the Gold Coast, around Mermaid Beach looking for a restaurant to eat out and came across a fine Turkish Restaurant. Being an inquisitive type of person, I look up their website and read their menu and notice that they have a number of Cypriot Dishes. So I do a U Turn and back I go to the restaurant.

Turns out that the owners were Cypriots (TCs) from Limniti. I order meals for myself and the children - a Banquet Meze and a nice Australian Wine.

Began some chats with the owner and eventually invited him over to my table and we broke bread together and drank some more wine.

Really nice family and the food was fantastic, especially the Sheftali and Grilled Halloumi was divine. The food just kept coming.

The highlight was the Paklava and Cream Kataifi with candles to celebrate my twins birthday. So glad I managed to be with them on their 4th.

This evening, the twins were on a QANTAS flight back to Adelaide. Yes they do travel on their own (they are only 4) and they are clocking the frequent flyer miles.

I did my bit for peace and reconciliation. But seriously, the restaurant was FANTASTIC, food was very CYPRIOT, GREEK and TURKISH, and the nice TC family (parents and son) were very classy and distinguished people as far as I was concerned and we had a great little parea going.

Love Turkish food.

[repulsewarrior]

...reminds me when I am in Park Extension, in the neighbourhood mostly filled with Greek shops, there are some Turkish. it seems the clientele in Montreal is more discerning to the quality of goods, rather than if it is "theirs" or "ours". the best cheese pie is from "Effis", and she makes a mean soujuc, as well.

[MR-from-NG]

Was up in Queensland recently once again for a couple of days. But rather than stay in Brisbane which is a fine city, this time I went a little further than Gold Beach, Marcoola, and Sunshine Coast. I stayed for 3 days in a place called Noosa.

Now Noosa was a most incredible place. I wish I could just stay there and do nothing but trek through the National Parks and just be an out and out beach bum vegetable. But my son and daughter were up, so I took them to Warner Bros Movie World and Seaworld on the Gold Coast. Bloody expensive but the twins really had a ball, and so did I aside from the exhaustion which was taking its toll.

Anyway, last night, I was driving around the Gold Coast, around Mermaid Beach looking for a restaurant to eat out and came across a fine Turkish Restaurant. Being an inquisitive type of person, I look up their website and read their menu and notice that they have a number of Cypriot Dishes. So I do a U Turn and back I go to the restaurant.

Turns out that the owners were Cypriots (TCs) from Limniti. I order meals for myself and the children - a Banquet Meze and a nice Australian Wine.

Began some chats with the owner and eventually invited him over to my table and we broke bread together and drank some more wine.

Really nice family and the food was fantastic, especially the Sheftali and Grilled Halloumi was divine. The food just kept coming.

The highlight was the Paklava and Cream Kataifi with candles to celebrate my twins birthday. So glad I managed to be with them on their 4th.

This evening, the twins were on a QANTAS flight back to Adelaide. Yes they do travel on their own (they are only 4) and they are clocking the frequent flyer miles.

I did my bit for peace and reconciliation. But seriously, the restaurant was FANTASTIC, food was very CYPRIOT, GREEK and TURKISH, and the nice TC family (parents and son) were very classy and distinguished people as far as I was concerned and we had a great little parea going.

Love Turkish food.

Bags and bags of respect to you for your honest feedback on your experience Paphitis. Most GC's wouldn't even step a foot into a place that is TC/Turkish owned. Well done mate.

[Pyrpolizer]

It is well known that TCs are experts in cooking meat, and GCs in cooking fish.
I eat TC made sheftalia one bite each
The secret is they either make them with lamb meat (contrary to the GCs who made them with pork) or mixture of pork and lamb.

On a side note
a) People from both sides do have social and friendly contacts in Cyprus.Yet no solution on the horizon.
b)And after drinking all that wine you drove the car with the kids in ???
c)Limnitis is at the Erenkoys-Kokkina in Tylliria Most backwards, uneducated, extremely poor and fanatic villagers there in the 60s both GCs and TCs. Yet today they are both number #1 "brothers and sisters" to the other community.

[miltiades]

I usually dine at Bar 61 in Streatham, old mates of mine going back more than 30 years.
I never refer to it as "Turkish owned" but Cypriot owned. Mehmed, the old boy now in his early 80s still working assisted by his 3 sons.
There I first met Mitch for a drink or two.

Years back when Greece won the world cup, I was dining at the restaurant when Greece was playing ,France I think. As Greece scored there were shouts of excitement from the family, what you doing I asked, celebrating the goal they replied, why I asked, because we support the team that you support right now they replied. ....

Mehmed speaks very good and old fashion Cypriot Greek, its a joy to converse with him, such dated words that I had not heard for years !!

[CBBB]

Years back when Greece won the world cup

They didn't Milti, you must be talking about the EUFA Euro Cup which they won in 2004.

[Paphitis]

Well, one of the highlights for me, aside from the twins of course, was definitely the delightful meal and company I had at this Restaurant, which did call itself Turkish, but was most certainly more Cypriot than anything. When I told the owner that I was Cypriot, it was as if the old man's eyes lit up. He even knew some broken Greek when I was testing the waters. I wasn't sure if they were sympathetic to Cypriots or GCs initially, but once the ice was broken we all realized that there is absolutely nothing that separates us.

His wife knew very little English, no Greek, fluent Turkish. Her husband was fluent in Turkish, English and knew some Greek. Their son, who actually owned the business was very young and kind of like the boy next door. Very politely spoken and well mannered young man. His parents were helping him out in the restaurant. Running a business in hospitality is not very easy in Australia. It's a competitive market and good to see this young man giving it a go. The food and hospitality was excellent.

I am pretty sure they all went way beyond the call of duty, and it was really not necessary. I was deeply touched and enjoying the hospitality, excellent Cypriot company and meeting new and interesting people.

This is one Restaurant that has won my patronage. I highly recommend it to any Cypriot passing through the Gold Coast.

[miltiades]

Years back when Greece won the world cup

They didn't Milti, you must be talking about the EUFA Euro Cup which they won in 2004.

Not being a football follower I don't understand the difference, however thanks for the correction.

[Pyrpolizer]

One thing I admit the Tcs are superior is their kindness and open heart and real true friendships.
Damn, they enslave you with that.

[MR-from-NG]

One thing I admit the Tcs are superior is their kindness and open heart and real true friendships.
Damn, they enslave you with that.

That is really true Pyro and you could say it is our weakness in a sense. I could write a book about this subject based on my experiences alone .