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.

The spring is almost gone and summer is just around the corner, a perfect time for vacation. Greece is one of the most beautiful places in the world to visit for your vacation. Cities, villages, history, mountains, sea, islands, a civilization of over 4000 years and everything that pleases even the most discriminating visitor. So, I will start this new column with tidbits about Greece, places to visit, some frequently needed Greek words and phrases, and also list some of the best places to visit while vacationing in Greece. Are you planning a trip to Greece and you have questions about the food, or places to go, or things to do? You can email me (nabeels@nabeels.com) your questions and I will be more than happy to answer you.

Did you know that over the last 2-3 years, several Greek Birmingham residents had their weddings in Greece? Do you know where? In the most beautiful and romantic Greek island, Santorini . Santorini is located in the Aegean sea and it is part of the Cyclades islands.

Want to impress your Greek friends? Here are some common Greek words and phrases that you will find very helpful when you visit Greece. More coming next month.

*** Note: The ( ' ) indicates where the accent should be ***

Good morning - Kalime'ra Table - Trape'ze How are you- Ti' Ka'nis Good evening - Kalispe'ra Hot - Ze'sto Hello y'all -Yia'sas Pedia' Good night - Kalini'chta Cold - Kre'o Thank you- Efkaristo' Good bye - Anti'o (also Yia'sou) Bread - Pso'mi I would like - The'lo Let's go - Pa'me Cheers - Yia'sou I would like - The'lo

Beer - Bi'ra Taxi - Taxi' Wine - Krasse' Bus - Leo'fori'o Please - Parakalo' Fish - Psa'ri Boat - Kara'vi Tyri' -cheese Tyri' Fe'ta -Feta cheese Nero' - Water Sala'ta - Salad Kre'as -Meat Pena'o -I'm hungry Dipsa'o - I'm thirsty So'da -Soda Me'a Bi'ra Parakalo'- one beer, please Po'so Kani - How much does it cost? E'na Pote'ri Nero', Parakalo' - One glass of water, please

Useful telephone numbers when in Athens or other Greek cities:

Fire Dept	199
Ambulance	166
City Police (emergency)	100
Doctors (2pm-7am)	105
SOS 24-hour medical service	3310310
Automobile and Touring Club(ELPA)	779-1615
ELPA road assistance	104
Int'l Students & Youth Services	322-1267
TOURIST POLICE	171

(Tourist Police offers 24-hours information service in Greek, English, German, French) In all of Greece these telephone numbers are the same. You do not need to remember different numbers for different cities, which makes it very useful and very convenient!

The gateway to Peloponnese (Peloponnisos) Joins the mainland by the Corinth Canal ... one enters a world of orchards, vineyards, and of course history. Corinth (Korinthos) is a beautiful graphic city and ranks among Greece's most important cities and a major transportation hub. The church of Apostle Paul reminds us of the saints preaching and the saints letters to the Corinthians.

The ruins of ancient Corinth are spread out at the foot of the huge rock of Acrocorinth. According to legend, it was founded by Korinthos, the grandson of sun god Helios. Escavations indicate the existence of a settlement there in ancient times around 5000-3000 BC. The city flourished in 1000 BC.

Harboring both the Corinthian and Saronic gulfs it was well situated for trading, and by 650 BC, Corinth was the chief commercial center of Greece. Among the many and most important colonies founded by Corinth during this period were Corcyra ((today's Kerkira (Corfu)). Corinth became a great naval power and perfected the trireme (type of ship). The Corinthians were the first to think of the idea of cutting through the Isthmus but were unable to completed. They invented instead, and built a paved slipway, called the diolkos, to haul their ships over the Isthmus. 5th century BC was their most glorious period. In 146 BC the Romans completely destroyed the city, killed every male regardless of age, and sold all females as slaves.

In 46 BC Nero tried to dig through the Isthmus and got as far a big trench and works were abandoned after his death and not until 1891- 1893 the Canal became a reality. It is such a spectacle to stand on the bridge that connects Peloponnese and Attica and watch hundreds of feet bellow ships going through the canal.

In 1212 the Franks took over.In 1395 the Byzantines took over, then they sold Corinth to the Knights of Rhodes in 1400. Corinth with the rest of Peloponnese fell to the Turks in 1458, after the fall of Constantinople in 1453. In 1521 a strong earthquake razed the city. In 1612 Corinth became the property of the Knights of Malta, passed to the Venetians in 1687 and was recaptured by the Turks in 1715, and liberated in 1822, one year after the beginning of Greece's war of Independence.

In the USA there are 36 cities named after Corinth with 4 here in our own Alabama .

Christians all over the world celebrate Easter every year. This year (2002) the Orthodox Easter (celebrated by over 300,000,000 people around the world) was on May 5th. Why?

I gave a brief explanation in my radio program The Greek Hour on WYDE TALK 850 AM, on Western Easter Sunday, March 31, and on last months' Newsletter. Here are some more facts about EASTER:

What is the origin of Easter eggs?

The exchanging of eggs in the springtime is an ancient custom dating as far back as the Egyptians, who buried eggs in their tombs. The Greeks also placed eggs in their tombs. From ancient times, the egg has symbolized rebirth. So, when the Christian church began to celebrate the Resurrection in the second century, the egg was a natural symbol. In those days, wealthy people covered gift eggs in gold leaf, while peasants dyed theirs by boiling them with flowers and herbs. In Greek mythology, "the black-winged night" gave birth to an egg fro which sprang Eros. The Romans considered red eggs symbols of prosperity and happiness. A Phoenician myth has Aphrodite, being born from an egg and a Greek myth has Helen being born from an egg that fell from the moon.

In the Orthodox Easter, the eggs are colored red and its significance relates to the birth not of material life but to the spiritual experience enjoyed only in the life of Christ. The red color signifies the blood of Christ, its shell His three day entombment, and its breaking its Resurrection by which "the egg of life" brought forth a life, up to the unknown. Also the cracking of the egg among Orthodox symbolizes a mutual wish for breaking one's bonds of sin and misery and for entering the new life issuing from Christ's Resurrection. Eager to convert the Tutonic tribes north of Rome to Christianity, the Christian Church realized that interfering with the pagan tribes' customs would make it impossible to convert them. But, if quietly transformed pagan customs and harmonized them with Christian doctrines will convince these tribes to convert.

The name Eastre was eventually changed to its modern spelling, Easter. Another indication of the antiquity of Easter is the date that is celebrated . It is determined by the lunar calendar system, which places it on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or following the Vernal Spring Equinox. In the Orthodox Easter (Eastern Church) Easter always falls after the Jewish Passover. This practice dates back to many centuries.

I know it is confusing and sometimes difficult to follow or understand, but the information above that I have researched and talked about it in the Greek Hour Program and last months Newsletter should give the reader a pretty clear picture of why there are differences in the dates that the Orthodox and the Catholics Christians celebrate Easter at different times.

What is the origin of the Easter bunny and how did the Easter bunny get its start?

Back to the Saxons for the Easter bunny. They worshipped the goddess Eastre by the earthly symbol of a rabbit or hare. Eventually, in 18th-and 19th century German immigrants brought the custom of the Easter bunny to America. It was widely ignored by other Christians until after the Civil War.

Its official botanical name is Cynara Scolymus. Originally founded in the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean, in the Aegean, Syria, Lebanon and Israel. People eat artichokes for over 2000 years. Always connected with gastronomy and luxury. Greeks and Romans they conserved them in "oksimeli" a type of honey and Cumin. It became very popular in 1466 when the family of Strozzi introduced it in Naples, Italy. When Catherine de Medici moved from Florence to France she introduced the Artichoke in France. Did you know that in 1949, in Salinas Valley in California, the then unknown Marilyn Monroe was crowned the "Queen of Artichoke" ? So, the most beautiful girl in the United States became synonymous with the most elegant vegetable!

Why not take a look at our menu!

Have you ever noticed that your nose often runs when you eat spicy Mexican or Indian food? That's because spices help to clear the sinuses. If you're all plugged up, add horseradish, hot peppers, curry and chilies to your diet to help clear things up.

Garlic

Your nearest and dearest may not care for your breath, but garlic is more effective when eaten raw. It has antiviral, antiseptic, antibiotic properties. Cooking reduces its potency.

Eucalyptus

Whose Mom didn't use Vicks Vapo-Rub on your chest when you were a kid? You had a Eucalyptus treatment! Do not have Eucalyptus available? Just put few drops of eucalyptus oil into the water when you're preparing for a steam treatment.

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® ® through April 31st 2002

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 $3.59 per bottle!

You can savor the difference with Nabeel's® GLORIA Classic Greek Dressing.

GLORIA a household name for over 30 years was my father's business name in Patras, Greece. GLORIA™ Chocolatier. We use the GLORIA™ name, to honor my father, and also the person, my father, that gave this recipe to my wife, even before I got myself involved in the restaurant business and I was still in the corporate world. It came very handy we believe!

A Birmingham prominent artist, Suzan Oliver, designed the label which depicts freshness, simplicity, and taste. It is still made by hand, just like the first time, using only the finest and freshest ingredients. Just one taste and you will experience the difference. Excellent for salads and any type of grilling, whether it is meat, fish or chicken.

Try the recipe, which appears on the bottle, for the Peasant Greek Salad, dip the bread in the salad juices and enjoy a meal on its own that has been enjoyed for centuries in Greece, and is beautiful in its simplicity and wholesomeness! available at Nabeel's® Market and also at Western Supermarkets, Piggly Wiggly, and V.Richards Markets.

Click here to order now!

Visit the recipes section of our website for ideas!

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

Most of our recipes are recipes that we use at home, either from my family (Krontiras), or my wife's family (Mastropasqua) This one is from my wife's family, my mother-in-law cooks for us those time that she stays with us.

1 box(6-oz) quick-cooking brown rice (1 2/3 cups)
1 small onion chopped
3 Tbsp. TSITALIA® (*) extra virgin olive oil
1 can (14.5 oz) stewed tomatoes
1can (14.5oz) chicken broth
1 tsp. paprika
3 tsp. Greek oregano (*)
1 jar Bulgarian roasted peppers (*) (7.0 oz) drained and chopped
1 large skinless, boneless chicken breast about ¾ lb.) cut in 1-inch pieces
4 bay leaves (*)
1 cup fresh or frozen peas
Salt, to taste

* these items available at Nabeel's® International Market

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In 2-quart casserole, combine rice, onion, oil. Add tomatoes, broth, paprika, oregano, ground pepper, roasted peppers, and bay leaves. Stir, then cover and bake for 25 minutes. Stir in peas and continue to bake, uncovered, for an additional 25 minutes or until the broth is absorbed. Add salt remove bay leaves and serve.

Enjoy many other fine Nabeel's recipes here!