We arrived on Erikousa island on the first full day of our trip to Europe in July this year. We arrived by catamaran with another couple just after lunchtime. We set anchor just off the island and swam for a while in the beautiful blue waters of the Mediterranean. We then motored to the main harbour.
After mooring, the boys went ashore to look around. It was hot and it didn't take us long to realise that the nicest place to be was having a beer in the Erikousa Hotel. One became a few. After a while, we were joined by our wives. As the evening approached, we realised that this would be the right place for dinner, so we booked a table with one of the owners of the hotel, George, before going back to the boat.
That night, we arrived back at the hotel and were greeted by George. He told us that their fishermen had caught a very special fish that day. They had sold half of it to another table but he wanted to know whether we would be interested in having the other half. To help us make the decision, we were taken into the kitchen where we met George's mother. As we understood it, George and his mother own the hotel with Tony and his wife. We also met Tony's wife in the kitchen. The meal that they were proposing was explained to us. Basically, they would make a pasta from the fish. It sounded just fine to us.
That took care of the main course. As an entree, we ordered an octopus salad.
In short, the food was extraordinary. The octopus was the best any of us had ever tasted. George or Tony (by this stage, I wasn't being overly observant) explained to us how they prepare the octopus to be as tender and tasty as possible. It worked. It was absolutely delicious.
We didn't think it could get much better than that but we were wrong. The pasta that had been promised surpassed all expectations. We all agreed quite seriously that it was the best pasta that we had ever eaten. Pasta may seem like a strange thing to eat in Greece but there is a very strong Italian influence in the Ionian islands. In fact Tony and his wife are Italian.
Towards the end of the meal I commented on George's T-shirt, which was clearly a promotional T-shirt for Erikousa Island. He told us that it was a prototype and that the main order would be delivered shortly. But he said not to worry about that because I could have this one! I made all the right noises of objection, but George would have none of it. 10 minutes later, George walks back into the restaurant wearing a different shirt carrying the T-shirt in question folded up. He gave it to me with so much pleasure that I couldn't refuse it, even if I had wanted to.
George and Tony are very different people but they complement each other well. George is gregarious and outgoing. He kept us constantly amused with his frequent, but never intrusive, banter. Tony is more reserved, but we soon discovered his dry sense of humour and his genuine warmth and hospitality.
My only regret is that I have taken so long to write this review. George and Tony, I hope you read it and realise that our night in Erikousa was the best night of our five-week European holiday. You set a standard that was never exceeded.
I still wear the T-shirt with very fond memories. But when the T-shirt is long gone, I think I will still feel connected with Erikousa, that small island in the northern Ionian waters.
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