Bring Cyprus to London

Last Thursday we, the Food Editors, decided to paint the town red! We hit the “Cyrus Hospitality” event, organised by the Imperial College London Cypriot society.

Yiango invited us along and, being food lovers, it was a great excuse for Carol and I to try something new. Being students we obviously took up her offer as the entrance was free and it was open to everyone.

The guests had an opportunity to try traditional Cypriot sweets like loukoumia (Cyprus delights), siousioukos (a dessert made from grape juice and stuffed with nuts) and halouvas (asemolina and rosewater dessert). There was also pitta bread, fried halloumi (Cyprus cheese), taramosalata and black olives.

I’m not going to lie to you, the beverages were not for the faint hearted. The drinks on offer were zivania and commandaria, and they were very popoular. They were deceptively sweet – masking the large alcohol content.

We loved it, so why not cook something inpsired by Cyprus in your kitchen? Or head out to somewhere where they’ll cook it for you?

Cypriot restaurants in London

Don’t feel like cooking? Why not try a Cypriot restaurant in London?

The Kolossi Grill

56 - 60 Rosebery Avenue, EC1R 4RR 020 7278 5758

Opening times: 12am-2:30pm Mon- Fri, 5:30pm-ww11pm Sat A cosy Cypriot restaurant where you can sample lots of different dishes in one sitting.

Yia Mas 40 Upper Richmond Road, SW15 2RX 02088714671 Opening times: 6pm - 11pm Tue-Sun This is reviewed as a ‘terrific’ Cypriot restaurant – the photos look pretty good too!

Yia Mas 73 Myddleton Road, N22 8LZ 020 8889 8760 Opening times: 12am-11:30pm Mon-Sat, 12am-9pm Sun For a lively atmosphere and superior taverna grub head to Yia Mas where, amongst other things, they have kebabs, pasticho or moussaka.

Cyprus Meze Bar & Restaurant 524-526 Lea Bridge Road, E10 7DT 020 8556 5866 Opening times: 7pm-1am Tue-Thur, 7pm-2am Fri, 7pm-12.30pm Sat Like to pick? Here they have a wide selection of small Meze dishes that can be chosen to make a meal.

Aphrodite Taverna

15 Hereford Road, W2 4AB 020 7229 2206 Opening times: 12am-11:45pm Mon-Sat Make sure you book first for this restaruant. The menu mainly contains Cypriot food with a few international influences.