Latest news with #MediterraneanFood
Irish Times
03-08-2025
- Irish Times
Which wines should I serve with Mediterranean food?
I love serving mixed Mediterranean food at dinner parties in the summer – mezze-style plates of food – but I never know what wine to serve with it. Help, please. There are few things more inviting than a table groaning with plate after plate of spicy, herby Mediterranean food, especially if the weather is good. This includes a wide variety of dishes, usually plenty of salads, grilled meat, hot or cold fish, along with various spreads, dips and olives. This makes for a huge range of strong flavours that can seem challenging to match with wines. Think first of the Mediterranean countries: Greece, Italy, the south of France, Spain and Lebanon all produce characterful wines that should do nicely. Sicily, for instance, makes very good inexpensive white and red wines. Greek wines are great but tend to be quite expensive. Another possibility is rosé, which goes well with most dishes and can seem the perfect match if the sun is shining. Serve well chilled and go for a medium-bodied wine with some fruit – it will go very nicely with meat dishes as well as salads and fish. READ MORE Another more daring idea is orange wine . It seems to be having a moment this summer and can stand up to most powerful herby and spicy flavours. But then again it might depend on how adventurous your guests are. [ How long can I keep a bottle of wine after opening it? Opens in new window ] I would probably go for either an albariño from Rías Baixas in Spain or a verdicchio from Italy for a white wine. For a red a Beaujolais or Valpolicella could be good, but why not go for a lighter southern or Sicilian Italian red such as Rosso Conero, Montepulcino d'Abruzzo, Frappato or Perricone? Alternatively, and to make life easy, for a Mediterranean lunch or dinner, you could serve just one wine, a rosé either from the Languedoc or somewhere in Italy. Cerasuolo from the Abruzzo is good if you can find it. Just make sure you serve it chilled, along with plenty of iced water and alcohol-free options.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cava Gains as KeyBanc Sees Chipotle-Like Growth Potential
Cava shares rose Wednesday after KeyBanc analysts initiated their coverage of the restaurant chain at "overweight." The analysts said Cava "has the potential to define the category" of fast casual Mediterranean food in the coming years. The chain's brand awareness has risen in the last two years and should continue to improve, the analysts of Cava Group (CAVA) ticked higher Wednesday after KeyBanc analysts launched their coverage of the fast casual chain's stock at "overweight." KeyBanc Capital Markets analyst Christopher Carril put a $100 price target on Cava's stock, and said the company "has the potential to define the category" of fast casual Mediterranean food, like Chipotle (CMG) did with its rapid expansion of fast casual Mexican food. "Our proprietary consumer survey suggests Mediterranean food is not yet top of mind for most consumers, but we view this as an opportunity for CAVA, whose brand awareness has increased steadily" over the last two years, Carril wrote. The growing chain went public in June 2023, and has received bullish comments from analysts at JPMorgan and Bank of America, among others, so far this year. Ten analysts tracked by Visible Alpha cover Cava, with six calling it a "buy" and four rating it as a "hold," with an average price target of $111.67. The KeyBanc analysts said they "believe emerging brands like CAVA can drive share gains with menu innovation, increasing brand awareness, and maintaining their value proposition vs. fast food/casual dining peers." In Cava's latest quarterly report in May, the restaurant operator topped first-quarter estimates but gave a more conservative outlook than analysts had expected. Cava shares were up more than 2% in recent trading. They are down about 25% since the start of the year. Read the original article on Investopedia
The National
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Elaia Dubai review: Mediterranean dishes with a fun twist, from burrata to baklava
Mediterranean food has long been synonymous with comforting dishes and fresh ingredients brimming with flavour. At Elaia, which opened in Dubai Marina in May, dishes come from all around the Mediterranean region, featuring classics with a subtle twist to create a delicious blend of familiar and novel flavours. The setting Finding the restaurant can be tricky if you are unfamiliar with the Pier 7 entrance, which is right past Dubai Marina Mall. You can hand over your car to the valet at the get-off point on the buzzing roundabout or park in the mall and walk over from level one instead. From Pier 7, take a second lift up to the fourth floor and, almost instantly, the atmosphere changes to a dimly lit but lively setting. Hit songs from the 2000s play in the background, while Greek mythology-inspired ornaments set the mood. The restaurant has an expansive view of the twinkling Dubai Marina. As the sun sets over the horizon, the water changes colour and the glimmering buildings melt into the skyline, morphing into something reminiscent of a painting. In the dining room, an air of intimacy is palpable thanks to the low-hanging chandeliers, plus warm lamps placed on every table. The vibe Elaia is Greek for olive tree, an integral element of the Mediterranean region, which is also known for its fresh flavours and sharing-style plates. 'We wanted the menu to reflect the sharing concept because Elaia is a social venue; you come here to share,' says Aleix Garcia, founder of Infini Concepts. 'We wanted to create something that was not just a restaurant, but more of a bistro with quality produce and good service,' he says. Strongly influenced by Greek culture and mythology, the restaurant's interior is replete with large painted murals and golden ornaments. 'We wanted to respect Greek mythology with a bit of creativity and a modern touch,' says Garcia, alluding to the murals hand-painted by Maria Kova, who specialises in abstract art. The food, meanwhile, represents the Spanish, Italian and Greek people working at the restaurant. 'We drew a lot of inspiration from what they actually grew up with,' says head chef Etienne Mieny, 42, who adds that he sources fish, olive oil and a range of other produce straight from the Mediterranean region. 'We just looking to create a homey, family-style environment where people can be themselves and spend time with those they love,' he adds. The menu My dining companion and I start our meal with tzatziki (Dh38), a cold yogurt-based dip that comes with cucumber, dill and a drizzle of Italian olive oil, plus warm pita bread on the side. It's well-balanced but, having tried tzatziki in the Aegean, I found this version lacking the anticipated flavour punch of garlic. Fortunately, the prawns saganaki (Dh62) starter meets expectations. The prawns are laid in a tangy, herby tomato sauce with cheese cubes, and are rich in flavour. If, like me, your spice tolerance is high, you might need to add more chilli to this dish. The Italian-inspired Sorrento salad (Dh78) takes the form of a ball of burrata served on a bed of marinated zucchini ribbons drizzled in balsamic vinegar and topped with mustard seeds. The smooth cheese is cut open and garnished with salt and pepper before being served with basil leaves for a melt-in-the-mouth experience. For the mains, the cornfed baby chicken (Dh155) is a highlight. The chicken is grilled and tender to the bite, marinated in a peppery-umami sauce with caramelised mushrooms, all reduced in non-alcoholic red wine. The beautifully plated grilled octopus tentacle (Dh175) is another winner, sitting on a smooth spread of harissa romesco paste, with crispy roasted potatoes and onions and garnished with salsa. The meat is far from chewy, making for a satisfying experience complimented by the creamy but smoky romesco. It's desserts that take the cake. We have light-as-air tiramisu with a coffee-soaked sponge layer (Dh85), creamy Basque cheesecake with tart berry compote (Dh60) and 'modern baklava', with pistachio-cardamom ice cream coated in white chocolate and sandwiched between crunchy honey filo layers (Dh65). Contact information Elaia is open daily from noon to 2am. Reservations can be made by calling 058 978 1000.
Telegraph
11-06-2025
- Telegraph
The 19 best restaurants in Cyprus
Cyprus is often referred to as being at the crossroads of three continents – Europe, Asia and Africa – and as such their time-served influences can be seen on the menus of countless tavernas across the island. But, don't go thinking Cyprus is set in its ways. In fact, this forward-thinking island has embraced grand gastronomy from around the world, cutting-edge fusion cuisines and trendy plant-based dishes, which complement the more traditional Mediterranean fare of slow-cooked meat, lemon-drenched fish, olives and olive oil, vegetables, fruit picked fresh from the tree and nuts, perfectly. Of course, it is all accompanied by some fine Cypriot wines. All our recommendations below have been hand selected and tested by our resident destination expert to help you discover the best restaurants in Cyprus. Find out more below or for further Cyprus inspiration, see our guides devoted to the island's best hotels, things to do and beaches. Best all rounders To Pantopoleio Kali Orexi With its quirky interior of abstract panels, edgy lighting, blond wood furnishings and a wall of perfectly aligned wine bottles from almost floor to ceiling, plus a menu of classic Cypriot dishes given an inspired twist, To Pantopoleio Kali Orexi has become one of the trendiest places to dine in Nicosia. Psefdokeftedes are meatballs, which here are enhanced with feta cheese and oregano. Try this, followed by the local tenderloin pork marinated in aged whiskey and served with pitta. Round off the meal with the restaurant's famous Trigona Panoramatos, which are beautifully presented phyllo cones filled to bursting with fresh cream.
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Cava's sales soar after growing in middle-class suburban areas
Cava is bucking the trend by continuing to attract customers as other food chains struggle. The Mediterranean fast casual restaurant has seen footfall soar thanks in part to its decision to grow in middle-class suburban areas. Research firm predicted Cava will have a more successful first quarter of 2025 compared to other restaurant chains. So far this year, all major chains, including McDonald's, Burger King and Pizza Hut have seen sales drop. Even Cava rival Sweetgreen has struggled. Cava's customer numbers increased by nearly 20 percent in the first three months of this year, while rival chains overall saw visits fall 0.1 percent, Restaurant Business reported. Analysts say the key is Cava's push into America's middle-class suburbs, where it's found new fans without alienating its core base. 'Between 2022 and 2025, Cava steadily broadened its reach among working and middle-class "blue collar suburbs" and "suburban boomers" consumer segments,' the report said. It comes as Cava, known as the Mediterranean Chipotle, confirmed it would open between 62 and 66 new US locations. The chain finished 2024 with $954.3 million in revenue, representing a 35.1 percent increase compared to 2023. The chain is expecting to keep growing, and has projected its same-store sales will grow between 6 and 8 percent this year. If results go according to plan, Cava will finish its first quarter of 2025 with $1.19 billion in revenue. revealed that Cava's competitor Sweetgreen is also showing promise by drawing 'suburban style' visitors. Sweetgreen's customer numbers increased by more than 11 percent in the first quarter of this year, despite a 3.1 percent decline in same-store sales. But other restaurant chains weren't so lucky. Wingstop took a massive hit due to factors such as growing inflation and the LA wildfires . Chipotle also reported a downturn in revenue last month for the first time in five years. The Mexican-inspired fast food chain had been on a sales tear since 2020, steadily increasing its profits. But in April the company reported that sales fell a surprising 0.4 percent in the first quarter of 2025 when investors were expecting around 1.4 percent growth. Chipotle reported 5.4 percent growth in the previous quarter. 'The first quarter wasn't a good one for Chipotle with sales coming in below expectations and same-restaurant sales falling for the first time in many years,' Neil Saunders, a retail expert at GlobalData, told But these numbers are nothing compared to the decline in sit-down restaurants like Hooters and TGI Fridays, both of which have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and are in the process of closing restaurants . Cava is scheduled to release its first quarter earnings report later today.
