Thanopoulos (Θανόπουλος) is my favourite place in Greece - no fib. The food is easily what I run to first when I get off the plane. Since becoming a vegetarian and struggling vegan, I haven't visited Athens/Greece yet and I expect this to be only slightly more difficult once I do. Nevertheless, I'll take you through some of my favourite aspects of our supermarket in Kifisia (Κηφισιά), which is where I stay/grew up when I lived in Greece. Θανόπουλος is more bougie, but it's through and through a family business, which is what my father loves the most about it and in turn, has become one of my favourite things as well. This is the one I go to around the corner of my dad's flat, which is by the train station at the square. There's a whole story behind the architecture if you're curious to read here.
Ρετσίνα
We come to most everyone's favourite part: the alcohol. Greece makes a variety of very odd things - some things that are considered very cheap and rubbish like retsina though it's kind of having a comeback/honestly one of the best ways to get sloshed on a budget. It's very pungent and given its high alcohol volume due to the oxidation process which includes incorporating resin into the mix; it gets very "YEAH, SCIENCE!" to go into detail. For historical context, we used this against the Romans to leave us the fuck alone back in ancient times so that should give you an idea on its potency (it half-worked). The other thing of note here is the ouzo. We use it often as an aperitif - it's probably my favourite Greek-specific alcoholic beverage. I personally drink it as a shot with a bit of ice and cheese (OBSESSED with alpine cheddar at the mo', sorry vegan gods) when out with my dad. When I was younger, I used to just knock these back (we don't really have a legal drinking age) and one time, I went ill all over my grandmother's rug... Just be sure to mix it with a bit of water, loves.
Βιολογικά προϊόντα
I've yet to really explore the underbelly of Athens/Greece's vegan underbelly yet, but Θανόπουλος has introduced me to some of my favourite organic protein that's locally sourced. As one of my oldest friends back home calls this, it's "cannabis protein" which I've yet to really find the equivalent of in London or when I visited America these last few weeks. I think I saw it once in London? I usually only buy it back in Athens. All protein and faux meat I love marinating in Mediterranean spices and herbs for about 20 or so before cooking, and that's what I would recommend if you ever find this. I believe you can even order off the website here. They also have some other really cool things there like soaps, oils - everything locally sourced and supportive of our people/economy and cruelty free! As for vegan restaurants in Athens, I've my eye on this one to visit when I return.
Επικοινωνία
I always judge my markets and where I shop - whether in Greece or the UK or my sojourns in the States - by their produce and my local Θανόπουλος is abundant in produce they bring in daily. We're not too insanely far from the countryside; I even had a few mates I graduated with who had family plots in about a 50 km radius that are now being sadly subsidised by the government. More on that later. Nevertheless, produce section in Θανόπουλος is massive and come from many of these family plots.
παράγουμε
We also have a ready made section in Θανόπουλος where THESE CRISPS ARE THE BEST THING. I love Whole Foods a lot; Borough in London is absolutely amazing if you've never tried sorting through it, but Θανόπουλος hands down has my best experiences with store-ready food especially fresh snacks like these. They make them in house, and you can literally taste the difference. There's a website where you can buy them from too - but just go to Athens.
γαλακτομπούρεκο
I have a section just for my favourite dessert EVER and probably why I'll never be a lifelong vegan. I'm trying. I'm getting used to coconut milk substitutions so I'll see if I try a vegan version soon. Here is a really simple recipe to follow if you're more of a visual person. In my opinion, it's very important have a mixture of sheep's and cow's milk to get the perfect taste though I notice non-Greeks are just fine with the milk from a cow, I suppose. Poseurs. If you want my family recipe, I might tell you if you get me liquored enough (I also might stab you if I get that liquored so behave wisely.