We sincerely hope you enjoy it!

If you have a suggestion, an idea or a request, you can ask me, John Krontiras, by simply replying to this email. Periodically we will have a drawing from the email addresses in our system and we will offer various gifts, i.e. free dinner, items from Nabeel's® Market, and from our new Café Capri.

Note: In most cases we have not kept the actual name/address of an individual to mail the winning Gift Certificate and as a result we mail the winner, the Certificate to their e-mail address. When you receive the e-mail, it will have a subject: Nabeel's Gift Certificate You need to open the file and save it in Microsoft Word under "My Documents". Print the document, tear the Gift Certificate out, and bring to Nabeel's to redeem it. If you live outside of the Birmingham area, please forward this e-mail (gift certificate) to nabeels@nabeels.com and a gift will be mailed to you.

Patras is located in North-West of the Peloponnese and has a population of over 250,000 people.

PATRAS IS MY HOMETOWN!

I was born and raised there. A little history about Patras (most people call it like this). Its history can be traced back to prehistoric times to the second millennium BC It is the capital of the prefecture of Achaia, which is named after the historically oldest people in Greece, the Achaians.

The city took its name from Patreus or Patreas who was the leader of the Achaians in the 13th century BC. In the 3rd century BC, the Achaians formed the famous Achaian League, which the first form of representative government found in Greece.

In the 1st century,68 AD, Jesus' apostle Andreas came to Patras to live and preach. It was here that he was martyred and crucified upside down in a cross resembling the letter X.

St. Andreas (Andrew) is the patron saint of Patras. During the Greek struggle for independence from the Ottoman empire it was in the suburbs of Patras (Kalavryta) that the flag of independence was raised in 1821.

Patras, my town, is a beautiful city, it is the regional capital of Western Greece, it functions as the main gateway for Greece towards Italy and Western Europe. Over 50 ferries sail every week from Patras to Italy and approximately 50% of Greece's trade with Europe comes through Patras.

The coasts of Achaia are a delightful concoction of picturesque villages, indented shores, gardens and shady trees and orange and lemon orchards. While the heart of Achaia may be its mountains, one can not fail to hear the murmur of the sea. Some times a flock of sheep, in the suburbs, may block your passage and you will hear the growl of the sheepdog, but the friendly nod of the shepherd will put you at ease.

Patras offers a variety of cultural opportunities and events. One of the largest attractions of Patras is the Carnival Festival The Carnival is held every year in February-March. The Carnival of Patras it is one of the most famous in the world and comes third after the Rio de Janeiro and Venice. I still remember today, when I was young, and my father was in the candy and chocolate manufacturing business, how fun it was the throwing of the chocolates (thousands if not millions) at the Carnival parade. We called it "sokolatopolemos" meaning "the war of the chocolates" where people will throw chocolates by the dozens at each other and the Carnival floats.

Did you know that in the village of Pagrati, outside of Patras, there is the famous "vine branch" of Pausanias? It dates back to thousands of years!

This month, we feature, Ernie Pyle - A Hoosier Childhood

This is a modest novel with a big heart. Bob Bales spins a tale with a sense of history - a book for readers interested in the forces that created a great American journalist."

The following excerpts from this magnificent book are mentioned with the approval and permission of the author Bob Bales.

"….little has been written about the life of Ernie Pyle. Bob Bales the author, grew up just down the road from the Pyle family."

"Ernie Pyle , the noted World War II journalist, was a writer who voiced his opinions objectively and fairly. He served his country by describing the everyday living conditions of the U.S. soldiers overseas"

Bob Bales and wife Peggy

"But the one thing…that hits me most forcibly is a short sentence… where you announce yourself as a …one man army, going full out to tell the truth about the infantry combat soldier… I get so fighting mad because of the general lack of appreciation of real heroism which is the uncomplaining acceptance of unendurable conditions. Thanks again." FROM SUPREME HEADQUARTERS ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, DWIGT D. EISENHOWER, TO ERNIE PYLE, DECEMBER 14, 1944.

I am not a book critique, but I have read the book and it is excellent! You should read it; you will enjoy it.

A curried dish reflects a tradition that has as much to do with England as with India. The word curry is an Anglicization of the Tamil word kari which means spiced sauce. When the British colonized southern India in the 17th century, they were seduced by the cuisine but could not quite understand the subtleties of the spice mixtures Indians made at home. In 1780, factories in Mandras were producing tumeric heavy blends and exporting them throughout the British Empire.

We use curry, at Nabeel's®, in various forms fresh or dry, and as part of aromatic herbs in cooking fish, meats, lamb fricassee and other specialty recipes.

Why not take a look at our menu!

Over a hundred years ago, the Tsantali family began making wines and distilling Ouzo and Tsipouro (Greek Grappa), in eastern Thrace. The tradition and spirit of a proud winemaking were passed down to the third generation that continues to build on the family's heritage. Today, the third generation of the Tsantali family, shows the same attachment to the values that governed the founder. The family continues to create exceptional wines and spirits, and take pride in maintaining the high quality without compromise! Tsantali Cava (Red), plumy with luscious versatile fruit aromas balanced acidity and warm finish. A superb versatile drinking wine especially for grilled steaks, smoked hams and meats, pasta dishes with meat sauce and full flavored cheeses. You do not have to memorize dozens of vintages and labels. You need: quality producers, whose wines are reliably available and good and affordable. The Tsantali wineries gives you all of that.

Tsantali Cava is available ONLY at Nabeel's MARKET for $19.95, and served at Nabeel's Café and Nabeel's Café Capri.

Many studies have confirmed that grapeseed extract is rich in naturally occurring antioxidant compounds that may help fight disease. Expect to see ActiVin brand grapeseed extract in energy bars, iced teas,fruit juices and cereals.

Tea Time

Tea is derived from leaves that are rich in those antioxidants often found In fruits and vegetables. A recent review by the University of North Carolina suggests that drinking 3 cups of black tea a day can reduce your risk of heart disease by 11%. And here are more news about black tea to make you smile. Black tea can fight cavities! Volunteers at the University of Illinois at Chicago who rinsed with tea for a minute 10 times a day accumulated less plaque.

Slow-cooker smarts

* Don't lift the lid while the food is cooking; Every time you do you add 20 minutes to the cooking time

* Contrary to what you think, vegetables cook slower than meats. To make sure vegetables and meat are done at the same time, finely mince the vegetables and place them at the bottom of the cooker.

* Unlike when you cook on the stovetop, liquids do not evaporate in a slow cooker, so use ½ the amount of the liquid.

Greeks consume more olive oil per person than anyone else on earth.

The Crete and Peloponnese are not only the largest oil producers but also produce the best olive oil in the world! That is where TSITALIA extra virgin olive oil comes from. From the olive tree groves of the island of Crete. Consumers, particularly those of us in the U.S.A, are in difficult position, in selecting the correct extra virgin olive oil. What you want is an oil that gives you pleasure, that you can use with abandon, instead of an expensive luxury that you are afraid to dispense each drop.

Olive oil is a commodity meant to be generously pour over salads, cooking meats, fish, poultry, etc. Therefore you need an oil that is reasonably priced and that is excellent in taste and aroma. TSITALIA® Oil gives you all of that; the aroma, the taste and a price that you can't beat.

For the next three months we are offering this exclusive Extra Virgin Olive Oil, TSITALIA, for $16.95* a 3 litter tin container. It is a product you can trust because it is brought to you by George Sarris of the Fish Market Restaurant and is available at Nabeel's International Market.

* This offer is only good at Nabeel's®

George Sarris imports this oil directly from Greece and specifically from the island of Crete, where the first olive tree was planted some 4,500 years ago. George named the oil TSITALIA to honor his birthplace, a town in the eastern part of Peloponnese.

Only $2.99 per jar!

An excellent spread (dip) to be served as an appetizer. This is a product of Bulgaria and it comes in 19.3oz jars. It is available mild or hot and it is produced from all natural ingredients, which are peppers, eggplant, garlic, spices an salt, and has 0g cholesterol.

Visit the recipes section of our website for ideas!

If you'd prefer that we do the cooking, take a look at our menu.

The best-known type of gnocchi are those from Northern Italy made with potatoes and little flour.

Preparation

To make 4 servings peel 1 ¼ lb potatoes and boil until very tender. Drain and mash until very smooth, then mix 1 egg and season with salt and pepper. Add 3 ½ -4 oz flour a little at a time, stirring well (with a wooden spoon) until you have a smooth sticky dough that forms a ball on the spoon. Turn out the dough onto a floured surface and knead for about 3 minutes, until soft and smooth. Cut the dough into 6 equal pieces and with floured hands rolled these into sausage shapes about ¾ inches in diameter. Slice the dough into ¾ inch discs. Hold a fork in your left hand and press the discs against the tines just hard enough to make ridges, then flip them downward off the fork so that they curl up into elongated shell shapes.

Cooking Gnocchi

Gnocchi should be poached in a sauce pan of lightly salted, barely simmering water. Drop the gnocchi into the water in batches and cook for about 5 minutes; they will rise to the surface when they are done. Scoop out the cooked gnocchi with a slotted spoon and transfer to a plate.

How to use

Gnocchi can be served like any pasta as a first course, or a side dish of a main course. Any pasta sauce is suitable for serving with gnocchi. My personal preference is with a creamy Gorgonzola sauce and a glass of Tsantali Cava red wine. If you do not want to go through the trouble to make them yourself you can buy an excellent quality of gnocchi at Nabeel's Market.

Enjoy many other fine Nabeel's recipes here!