Elizabeth L
Google
While Kea is lovely in itself, Aristaios made it all the more so. Aristaios was our first stop on the island where we met the extraordinary Kiki and her family, who have created a shop that is not simply a place to gather delicious foods, but to gain insight on the products and the island. The family has its own olive trees and sells their delicate, flavorful olives along with cheeses, and spectacular homemade "pies" made with vegetables, cakes (the orange cake is a treat), galatopita (like bougatsa without a top crust), wonderful homemade bread made with a fragrant flour that yields a beautiful crumb as well as cheeses and wines, local cured meats, and and an array of surprises. Kiki has enormous patience and will explain the origin of the products. She even put aside our purchases for us to pick up later in the day, after hiking and visiting the places she had shown us on the map. All of her suggestions were perfect. Our villa was on a treacherous dirt road that made us inclined to dine at home on the terrace overlooking the sea. With Kiki's beautiful offerings, we enjoyed a private 5-star feast. As we have now returned home, I think of Kea and its magic made first by nature and second by the hard-working people who are proper stewards of the island's precious resources and heritage. For me, the highlight of our visit was finding Aristaios and enjoying the fruits of the land and meeting the inimitable Kiki.
