Celebrate 2011 With Zizikis

Still haven’t decided what to do for New Year’s Eve yet???

Ziziki’s is offering a special three course New Year’s Eve Dinner on Friday, December 31st along with our award-winning wine list. Also, on Saturday, January 1st Ziziki’s will offer our flavorful WFAA-List “Best of Dallas” champagne buffet brunch.

In case you need to see it again - here's a run-down of the New Year festivities!


NEW YEAR'S EVE:
The three course New Year’s Eve dinner is $49 per person (tax and tip not included).
Reservations accepted for any size party at three seatings: 6PM, 8PM and 10PM.
APPETIZER PLATTER
A sampling of our chef’s favorite appetizers
SALAD
Your choice of Greek Salad, Mediterranean Salad or Caprese Salad
ENTRÉE
Your choice from your favorite Ziziki’s specialities including: Greek Paella, Grilled Rack of Lamb and Mediterranean Lamb Shank

NEW YEAR'S DAY:
Ziziki’s will feature our flavorful WFAA-List “Best of Dallas” nominated brunch buffet (a champagne brunch) for $21.95 per person until 3PM and then the dinner menu after 4PM.


HAVING YOUR OWN PARTY?

Celebrate with Mediterranean cuisine catered to your special event! And not just any old 'Greek food - it's Dallas' best Greek food. Choose from our exclusive Catering Menu. You can plan your special event, holiday gathering or corporate lunch and have it delivered - hot and fresh! Impress your friends and family, eat well and be happy!


Call any of our three locations for reservations:
Ziziki’s Travis Walk: 214) 521-2233
Ziziki’s Preston Forest: 469) 232-9922
Ziziki’s Plano: 972) 943-8090

OPA!

Ring In The New Year - Greek Style

Like all things - New Year celebrations COULD just be the invention of the (you guessed it) GREEKS!  While celebrating the New Year is very important - the Greeks also celebrate something else.... it's a double OPA in Greece!

The start of the year has historically been important in Greece because January 1st is also St. Basil's Day. One the forefathers of the Greek Orthodox Church, St. Basil is is remembered for his kind spirit and help and support of those less fortunate. In Greece - they honor St. Basil on New Year's Day - so it's a day of double meaning.

Here in Dallas, of course we honor St. Basil, but we're focused more on celebrating the New Year by offering a one-of-a-kind New Year's Eve Dinner (3 seatings at 6pm, 8pm and 10pm) and a champagne brunch on New Year's Day. We're accepting reservations - and hope to see you there. Here's the details.

NEW YEAR'S EVE:

$49 per person (tax and tip not included).


APPETIZER PLATTER
A sampling of our chef’s favorite appetizers
SALAD
Your choice of Greek Salad, Mediterranean Salad or Caprese Salad
ENTRÉE
Your choice from your favorite Ziziki’s specialities including: Greek Paella, Grilled Rack of Lamb and Mediterranean Lamb Shank


NEW YEAR'S DAY:

Ziziki’s will feature our flavorful “Best of Dallas” champagne brunch buffet for $21.95 per person until 3PM.

Call any of our three locations for reservations:

Ziziki’s Travis Walk: 214) 521-2233

Ziziki’s Preston Forest: 469) 232-9922

Ziziki’s Plano: 972) 943-8090

For more information, contact Mary Arabatzis at 214) 521-2233 or 972) 567-5052

Wishing You A Greek Christmas

In Greece, there are many Christmas customs that are similar to ours in the U.S., but most slightly differ from traditions of the West.

Starting on Christmas Eve, children travel from house to house singing 'kalanda', (Christmas carols), using small metal triangles and little clay drums. Afterwards, the children are usually given sweets or coins in appreciation for their musical talents.


In Greek Christmas, the GREEK FEAST becomes the main attraction by both adults and children alike. OPA! Lamb and pork are roasted in ovens and open spits, and on almost every table are loaves of 'christopsomo' ('Christ bread'). This bread is usually made in large sweet loaves of various shapes and the crusts are engraved and decorated in some way that reflects the family's profession. Of course, melomacarona cookies (traditional greek Christmas cookies soaked in honey syrup) are sure to be every home.

During Christmas in Greece, remember that the season is in full swing by December 6, Feast of St. Nicholas, when presents are exchanged, and will last through January 6th, the Feast of Epiphany. In Greek homes, Christmas trees are not commonly used, but recently have become more popular. In almost every house, though, the main symbol of the season is a shallow wooden bowl with a piece of wire is suspended across the rim; from that hangs a sprig of basil wrapped around a wooden cross. A small amount of water is kept in the bowl to keep the basil alive and fresh. Once a day, a family member, usually the mother, dips the cross and basil into some holy water and uses it to sprinkle water in each room of the house. This ritual is believed to keep the bad spirits away.

Gifts are finally exchanged on St. Basil's Day (January 1). On this day the "renewal of waters" also takes place, a ritual in which all water jugs in the house are emptied and refilled with new "St. Basil's Water." The ceremony is often accompanied by offerings to the 'naiads', spirits of springs and fountains.

In general, don't expect Christmas in Greece to feature quite the quantity of displays, Christmas lights, or other “Western’ decorations, except of course in the windows of businesses and the increasing number of Greeks who have adopted Western customs. Christmas in Greece is still a relative oasis of non-commercialism when it comes to Christmas.

But, you don’t have to travel all the way to Greece to have an authentic Greek Feast, drop by Ziziki’s Dallas Restaurants for an authentic Greek dining experience.

Greek Art - The Language Of Statues

Can statues really talk? Don’t answer too quickly. They do talk, only not in the way we think of verbal communication. Like a lot of art, the reason for its existence focused on providing representations of the Greek gods and goddesses.

Like so many elements of modern culture (including art, Mediterranean food, politics and more), the Greeks moved art forward by a quantum leap with their sculpture during the Archaic Period (8th to early 5th century BC). Their influence provided the foundation for the later Classical and Hellenistic Greek ages and later for the Romans. Broad, well-laid foundations last. This one did right into the western sculpture we know today.

It didn’t happen over night. And like those who came after them, the anonymous Archaic Greek sculptors built on the work of the Egyptians. Perhaps because of this, the early Greek statues depicted rigid, unnatural forms similar to today’s mannequin—feet together and a blank stare on their faces. But even this was a tremendous advance because the Greeks of the Archaic Period were the first to create free-standing statues. The Greeks eventually did away with colorful adornment via paints and dyes. They paid more attention to the details of facial feature and the anatomical construction.

Look a little closer and you’ll hear better. The sculpture Kritios Boy (c. 480 BC) depicts a young man standing at rest. His body language tells us he’s on his way to somewhere—the position of his legs for the implied weight shift of walking and the subtle motion of the hips. The Greeks captured the fluidity of movement in most of their statuary.

The high point of Greek sculpture came during the Hellenistic Period (late 4th—1st Century BC). The ideas and techniques of the previous centuries blossomed to true greatness when the emphasis went onto the dynamic and extreme poses. The epitome of Hellenistic art shines in Nike of Samothrace—you can hear the wind blowing the folds of her clothing and through the feathers of the extended wings.

Perhaps the most talkative of the statues is named Laocoön, which shows the tormented Trojan priest Laocoön and his two sons in a battle to the death with sea serpents intent on strangling them. This was heavy penalty for offending Apollo or Poseidon (the history isn’t clear) by warning Troy about a wooden horse. Just looking at their faces and the strain of their bodies shouts to us.

But you won’t need to shout when you take a break from the culturally rich world of Greek statuary at Ziziki’s. Our Dallas Greek restaurants provide plenty of culinary communication. Just peruse a Greek art book—after you examine our delicious Greek menu and enjoy a scrumptious meal.

Join Ziziki's Plano For A Holiday Happy Hour At Lakeside Market!

Ziziki's Plano invites you to the Lakeside Market Annual Tree Lighting Event!

Join us at Ziziki's Plano (Lakeside Market at Spring Valley and Preston) for Happy Hour (2pm - 7pm) this Saturday, December 4th. All activities will be FREE, as always - and it's a festive holiday event that's suitable for the whole family! There will be live music, face painting, giveaways and MORE - the party starts at 2pm.

Join Ziziki’s in Supporting Homeless Families with Children

We at Ziziki's are proud to partner with a wonderful charity this holiday season - Family Gateway!

For well over 20 years, Family Gateway has helped over 7,600 homeless families - the children and their parents - recover from crisis and make positive choices for their future.  These families have found themselves homeless, and this can be devastating - especially for children.

This holiday, we are partnering with this wonderful organization to support these families during the Holiday season. Please bring an unwrapped toy, game, book or gift card by any Ziziki's location - or Ziziki's Taverna -  and we will make sure it goes to provide happy holiday memories for a homeless child at Family Gateway.

WHEN: November 29 - December 12 
Click here to download flyer.

Now That You’re in Greece, Stroll Through the Plaka - Travel Series Part II

Continuing your trip to Greece, let’s pick up after you’re rested and you’re ready to venture out to go exploring.

One of the biggest decisions you’ll have is what to see first. How about a city within the city—the Plaka? It’s a microcosm of Greece spanning the remnants of the Ancients to tastes of the present day. Located under the Acropolis, two main streets intersect and run through the Plaka: Kdatheneon Street and Andrianou Street. Both are loaded with entertainment, stores, Greek restaurants, and eye candy regardless of your interests.

If you’re interested in flea markets, go down Andrianou Street to where it starts. You’ll be in the Monastiraki flea market. Wind through it and it’ll disappear at the Roman Agora. But don’t give up. You’ll find more of it behind the wall of Hadrian's Arch and Plaka Square. It’s always interesting to see what other cultures value and experience the thrill of bartering.

The Plaka is a plethora of sights, sounds and aromas. Strolling the marble streets with it's hundreds of shops, vendors and eateries is a divine experience - because from many places, looking up to the sky - one can see the ancient Acropolis looming over the Plaka.

The shops have tons of merchandise, including great tees for the kids, beautiful embroidered tablecloths, Ouzo and other aperitifs, deep orange and black colored urns, and TONS of jewelry. Our two boys have asked for worry beads - or Kombolói - which are a niche tradition used by the Greeks as a 'stress reliever' and thus, a way to relax in our busy world and lead a healthier lifestyle. Worry beads are similar to Prayer beads, although not religious in nature. A popular item and symbol of Greek pride and heritage - Greek worry beads have been used for everything from stopping smoking, to relieving anxiety.

Later back at the hotel - we sat poolside and enjoyed a Mythos beer.  Baba has a shot of ouzo, a really special brand called Plumeri.  I have a sip…wow is it good.  So are the beers. I wish we could get Mythos beer in Dallas. Hmmm...... we'll have to check on it when we return.