GERMANY-GREEK CRISIS MENU A Grexit for all tastes is served up at a Berlin restaurant

Record ID: 145411

  • Title: GERMANY-GREEK CRISIS MENU A Grexit for all tastes is served up at a Berlin restaurant
  • Date: 31st July 2015
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (JULY 30, 2015) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF GREEK RESTAURANT "RESTAURANT Z" BLACKBOARD OUTSIDE RESTAURANT WITH NEW MENU "HELLENIC - EUROPEAN DRAMA" SHOWING DISHES "TSIPRAS' DARLING", "GREXIT PLATE", "TROIKAMINATOR III", SCHAEUBLE EXIT PLATE", "VAROUFAKIS PLATE" AND "SWEET ANGIE" RESTAURANT OWNER GEORGIOS CHRISSIDIS TAKING ORDER FROM GUEST "TROIKAMINATOR III" ON M
  • Embargoed: 15th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVACCYE5U2TXYZQVGTHNIFRM2WKS
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The never-ending twists and turns of Greece's financial tragedy may not be to everyone's taste but one restaurant owner in Berlin is hoping to get his guests' tastebuds going with his latest crisis-related creations.
    Georgios Chrissidis moved to Germany from Greece in 1984 and since 1987 has been running his own Greek restaurant in the capital.
    And this summer, instead of dwelling on the uncertainties in his home country as Greece grapples with financial turmoil, he is trying to see the lighter side of the crisis by offering guests a "Hellenic-European Drama" menu in his "Restaurant Z".
    "It was the current subject everywhere, every day in television and radio: the Greek crisis, another chance and another last chance," Chrissidis told Reuters TV on Thursday (July 30).
    "Then one morning over coffee my wife said "do you know what, the especial menu, we should name it after this drama, this Greek-European drama."
    Up for tasting are delicious dishes based on the main protagonists of the ongoing Greek story.
    The "Schaeuble Grexit plate", named after German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble consists of lamb steak with parmesan and vegetables while the "Varoufakis Plate", which costs almost 20 euros and dedicated to the controversial former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, is something with a bit more spice to it, as Chrissidis explains.
    "The Varoufakis plate consists of a young bull steak. And I thought that is the best thing for Mr. Varoufakis taking into consideration how he behaves. It also has feta cheese and a little bit of chilli on the meat so that the meat has a bit of a kick to it, just like Mr. Varoufakis," he said.
    The two countries' leaders also play a role in the special menu.
    For those who can't quite make up their minds, there is the cheaper "Tsipras Darling" starter, for 5.90 euros, named after Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. Its main ingredient is a cheese called Manouri, which is neither hard nor soft - a play on Tsipras' indecisive behaviour during the debt negotiations with Greece's international creditors.
    And those who still have a bit of room can enjoy the "Sweet Angie" dessert, dedicated to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
    A sweet tart with walnuts and vanilla ice cream that has gone down well with guests, says Chrissidis.
    "What I thought is that Mrs. Merkel is the Iron Lady but she was able to very sweetly bring an end to the Greek crisis, the Greek tragedy. And as a reward I thought about a nice desert which is also very popular. And the guests like it," said 53-year-old Chrissidis.
    Those visiting his restaurant for lunch on Thursday were impressed with what was on offer as part of the Hellenic-European Drama menu.
    "The idea is great, super. We came here by change and I think it's great. I would of course have liked to have had a plate between Schaueble Exit and Varoufakis but that is no longer possible," said Christian Heep, who went on to joke:
    "We sorted it out. We can pay here with Euro still, so everything is fine."
    While the Greek tragedy looks set to play out for some time yet, Chrissidis is hoping to keep guests full and happy with his own take on the crisis throughout the whole of August.
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