There was a small ship once… in a bright green, fragrant yard of the old port that served the most avant-guard dishes that the Greek creative cuisine can offer. It is not a fairytale but the creative restaurant of Antonis Psaltis.
- Born and bred or naturalized citizen of Tinos?
I was born in Tinos, worked to prestigious restaurants of Athens and after 10 years, I came back.
- Favorite haunts of the island?
Unfortunately, the nature of our job is of this kind that we cannot make haunts easily. Even in winter when the pace of life is more relaxed, I prefer making up for lost time in the province of Tinos with walks, fishing etc.
- Favorite Tinian products
I love all wild products that Tinos has, those which in order to find, you have to walk and wander in the mountains, ravines and coasts.
- The ideal savory 24hour in the island includes…
In the morning you enjoy a cup of coffee together with doughnuts at the alleys of Chora, swimming and raki with seafood near noon at some coastal village and later in the night a glass of good wine and dinner at our restaurant.
- If Tinos was a dish of your menu, which would it be?
The land of the island would provide us with the Alifonoi (wild spiny chicories) and caper. This time of the year sepias are also abundant in our sea. The result… Grilled sepias with casserole spiny chicories and caper sauce.
- How did the name “There was a little ship once” come up?
The idea of the name was for another, smaller restaurant of only 5 tables. In the end, the restaurant became larger but we kept the name because we really liked it.
- What new should we expect from you this summer?
New dishes, beers originated from small Greek breweries, wines from the vineyard of the Aegean. Artists’ exhibitions, cheese and wine tasting and courses of cooking.
- Why should someone choose your restaurant for his meal or dinner?
For the uniqueness of its dishes, for the atmosphere and the quietness, despite the fact that it is located in the bustling Chora of Tinos.
- A secret that we don’t know about Tinos?
Come in winter, walk around and its beauties will be unfolded to you at every step you make.
- Tinos within a phrase…
I will borrow a phrase already said; a humble paradise.