Greek Cuisine Program Kicks Off at the University of Nevada

Greek cuisine was recently introduced as a standalone program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) which announced the establishment of the National Hellenic Society Culinary Legacy Fund to promote Hellenic heritage, culture, and cuisine to culinary arts students.

The initiative for the program belongs to The National Hellenic Society (NHS), a non-profit organization dedicated to perpetuating, celebrating, and passing on Hellenic heritage.

The program will run as part of the Food and Beverage Program within the UNLV’s world-renowned William F. Harrah College of Hospitality.

​Stowe Shoemaker, dean of the College, and his team hosted a reception for NHS members and guests attending the annual NHS Heritage Weekend event in celebration of the launch of the Fund.

NHS Guests included Her Excellency, Ambassador Alexandra Papadopoulou, Greece’s Ambassador to the U.S., David Horner, President of the American College of Greece, Alexander Zagoreos, Chair of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, Nancy Papaioannou, President of Atlantic Bank, George Marcus, John Calamos, and Drake Behrakis, NHS Co-Founders, and NHS members from all over the U.S.

Master Chef Diane Kochilas launches Greek cuisine classes

The Fund’s initial program is the NEWS Program (NHS Epicurean Workshop Series) with Master Chef Diane Kochilas, star of My Greek Table, to kick off the NEWS Program. Chef Kochilas was thrilled to have the opportunity to teach the College’s hospitality students about wellness and other benefits associated with the Greek Mediterranean diet in several classes held over two days at the College.

The NHS will help bring other chefs, culinarians, and experts that will impart their insights into the Greek Mediterranean diet, culture, traditions, and lifestyle to students.

NHS Chair, Drake Behrakis emphasized NHS focus on its effort to pass on this important aspect of our Hellenic heritage and culinary legacy with students enrolled in the nation’s leading academic centers of hospitality.

“The kouzina plays an important role in our lives, where family, friends, and colleagues gather to engage in dialogue, reflect, laugh, and enjoy a wonderful meal in the spirit of parea/kinship. We look forward to collaborating to promote wellness and all the benefits of the Greek Mediterranean diet and to share Hellenic philoxenia/hospitality with the College’s students in hopes they will bring that spirit to others as they advance in their career paths throughout the U.S. and beyond,” Behrakis said.

​“We are grateful to be working on such a unique project with such amazing partners,”  Dean Shoemaker noted..

“Collaborating with the NHS means we’re able to give students a rich understanding of Greek culture and cuisine—exposure that helps these young people not only grow as hospitality professionals but also citizens of the world.”

Countries rush to buy Merck, Pfizer’s experimental Covid-19 pills

Merck & Co Inc has signed nine deals to sell more than about 3 million courses in total of its experimental Covid-19 pill molnupiravir to governments around the world as nations scramble to tame the pandemic.

Unvaccinated Teachers Must Show Negative Tests to Enter Schools in Greece

the development of wine tourism

Greece Extends Covid 19 Rules

 

Travel rules for international arrivals

The HCAA’s update for its Covid-19 aviation directives extends travel rules for passengers and restrictions for all international flights until Monday, June 21, at 6 am.

Who is allowed entry to Greece

People traveling for essential reasons and travelers from the following countries* are allowed to enter Greece – provided they have the required documentation – without the requirement for subsequent self-isolation: EU & Schengen Area countries, Australia, Northern Macedonia, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, Belarus, Bahrain, New Zealand, South Korea, Qatar, China, Kuwait, Ukraine, Rwanda, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Thailand, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro.

* Regulations concerning countries on the admission list are subject to change by the Greek authorities, when renewed assessments are made based on epidemiological data from country of origin.

Entry requirements

Greece will allow entrance to travelers that have filled out the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) one day before travel. The PLF is mandatory and must be filled out by all travelers, regardless of their nationality.

Passengers from abroad must also have one of the following:

1. a vaccination certificate, stating that 14 days have passed since full vaccination for Covid-19. Vaccination certificates must be issued by a public authority and in one of the following languages: Greek, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian. The name on the vaccination certificate must match the name on the passport and also include, the type of vaccine administered, the number of doses and the dates they were administered.

2. a negative PCR or rapid antigen test (in Greek, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian) performed less than 72 hours. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)

 

3. a recovery certificate (in Greek, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian) stating that one has recovered from the coronavirus in the past 9 months. This can be proven through a certificate of recovery issued by a public authority or a certified laboratory. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)

4. a Digital COVID Certificate in digital or print form which will contain information on whether passengers have been vaccinated against Covid-19 or have a negative PCR/rapid test result or have recovered from the virus.

Important for travelers from Montenegro

Permanent residents from Montenegro are allowed to enter Greece with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate and a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before travel.

Non-EU citizens are strongly advised to choose direct flights to Greece. In any other case, travelers should abide by the stop-over country requirements.

 

Rapid testing on arrival

Every traveler who arrives in Greece, regardless of the certificate in their possession, may undergo a random health screening (depending on the data provided on the PLF forms). If a passenger is selected for a rapid test and is positive for the coronavirus then he/she must quarantine for a total of:

– 7 days, if he/she has been vaccinated against Covid-19
– 10 days, if he/she has not been vaccinated.

In both cases, passengers will have to take a PCR test on the last day of their quarantine. If the test is negative the mandatory quarantine ends.

 

Rules for domestic air travel to the Greek islands

 

According to the HCAA’s updated aviation directive (NOTAM), people in Greece (residents and foreign visitors) are allowed to travel to the Greek islands by airplane only if they have one of the following:

– a vaccination certificate stating that 14 days have passed since full vaccination for Covid-19.
Greeks can issue their vaccination certificates here.
Foreigners are obliged to have a vaccination certificate in one of the following languages: Greek, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Russia. The vaccination certificate must be issued by a public authority, include the travelers’ name, the type of vaccine administered and the number of doses.

– a negative PCR test performed less than three days (72 hours) prior to the scheduled travel date. Foreigners must have a negative test in one of the following languages: Greek, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Russian. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)
Negative PCR test results can be in print or electronic form.

– a negative rapid antigen test taken 24 hours prior to travel. Foreigners must have a negative test in one of the following languages: Greek, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Russian.  (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)
Negative rapid test results can be in print or electronic form.

– a negative self-test taken 24 hours prior to travel.
The self-test declaration form to certify a negative result is available in Greek and English here. Travelers must print it out and present it when requested at the airport. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)

– a recovery certificate stating that one has recovered from the coronavirus in the past 9 months. This can be proven through a certificate of recovery issued by a public authority or a certified laboratory. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)

According to the HCAA, tests (PCR and rapid) that have been carried out abroad and are valid at the time of boarding a domestic flight in Greece will be accepted under the same conditions under which they were accepted to allow entrance to Greece.

The staff of airline companies are responsible to check that passengers are carrying the required documentation during boarding.

The updated aviation directive concerning the rules to fly domestic to the Greek islands will be in force until Monday, June 21, at 6am.

Greece’s aviation directives are part of the Greek government’s efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) in the country.

Travelers in need of information regarding specific details on the travel rules for passengers of international and domestic flights are recommended to contact their embassy, airline or the General Secretariat for Civil Protection.

 

Greece Extends Covid-19 Rules

 

Travel rules for international arrivals

The HCAA’s update for its Covid-19 aviation directives extends travel rules for passengers and restrictions for all international flights until Monday, June 21, at 6 am.

Who is allowed entry to Greece

People traveling for essential reasons and travelers from the following countries* are allowed to enter Greece – provided they have the required documentation – without the requirement for subsequent self-isolation: EU & Schengen Area countries, Australia, Northern Macedonia, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, Belarus, Bahrain, New Zealand, South Korea, Qatar, China, Kuwait, Ukraine, Rwanda, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Thailand, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro.

* Regulations concerning countries on the admission list are subject to change by the Greek authorities, when renewed assessments are made based on epidemiological data from country of origin.

Entry requirements

Greece will allow entrance to travelers that have filled out the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) one day before travel. The PLF is mandatory and must be filled out by all travelers, regardless of their nationality.

Passengers from abroad must also have one of the following:

1. a vaccination certificate, stating that 14 days have passed since full vaccination for Covid-19. Vaccination certificates must be issued by a public authority and in one of the following languages: Greek, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian. The name on the vaccination certificate must match the name on the passport and also include, the type of vaccine administered, the number of doses and the dates they were administered.

2. a negative PCR or rapid antigen test (in Greek, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian) performed less than 72 hours. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)

 

3. a recovery certificate (in Greek, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian) stating that one has recovered from the coronavirus in the past 9 months. This can be proven through a certificate of recovery issued by a public authority or a certified laboratory. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)

4. a Digital COVID Certificate in digital or print form which will contain information on whether passengers have been vaccinated against Covid-19 or have a negative PCR/rapid test result or have recovered from the virus.

Important for travelers from Montenegro

Permanent residents from Montenegro are allowed to enter Greece with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate and a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before travel.

Non-EU citizens are strongly advised to choose direct flights to Greece. In any other case, travelers should abide by the stop-over country requirements.

 

Rapid testing on arrival

Every traveler who arrives in Greece, regardless of the certificate in their possession, may undergo a random health screening (depending on the data provided on the PLF forms). If a passenger is selected for a rapid test and is positive for the coronavirus then he/she must quarantine for a total of:

– 7 days, if he/she has been vaccinated against Covid-19
– 10 days, if he/she has not been vaccinated.

In both cases, passengers will have to take a PCR test on the last day of their quarantine. If the test is negative the mandatory quarantine ends.

 

Rules for domestic air travel to the Greek islands

 

According to the HCAA’s updated aviation directive (NOTAM), people in Greece (residents and foreign visitors) are allowed to travel to the Greek islands by airplane only if they have one of the following:

– a vaccination certificate stating that 14 days have passed since full vaccination for Covid-19.
Greeks can issue their vaccination certificates here.
Foreigners are obliged to have a vaccination certificate in one of the following languages: Greek, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Russia. The vaccination certificate must be issued by a public authority, include the travelers’ name, the type of vaccine administered and the number of doses.

– a negative PCR test performed less than three days (72 hours) prior to the scheduled travel date. Foreigners must have a negative test in one of the following languages: Greek, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Russian. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)
Negative PCR test results can be in print or electronic form.

– a negative rapid antigen test taken 24 hours prior to travel. Foreigners must have a negative test in one of the following languages: Greek, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Russian.  (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)
Negative rapid test results can be in print or electronic form.

– a negative self-test taken 24 hours prior to travel.
The self-test declaration form to certify a negative result is available in Greek and English here. Travelers must print it out and present it when requested at the airport. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)

– a recovery certificate stating that one has recovered from the coronavirus in the past 9 months. This can be proven through a certificate of recovery issued by a public authority or a certified laboratory. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)

According to the HCAA, tests (PCR and rapid) that have been carried out abroad and are valid at the time of boarding a domestic flight in Greece will be accepted under the same conditions under which they were accepted to allow entrance to Greece.

The staff of airline companies are responsible to check that passengers are carrying the required documentation during boarding.

The updated aviation directive concerning the rules to fly domestic to the Greek islands will be in force until Monday, June 21, at 6am.

Greece’s aviation directives are part of the Greek government’s efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) in the country.

Travelers in need of information regarding specific details on the travel rules for passengers of international and domestic flights are recommended to contact their embassy, airline or the General Secretariat for Civil Protection.

 

Greece Extends Covid-19 Rules for International and Domestic Travelers

 

Travel rules for international arrivals

The HCAA’s update for its Covid-19 aviation directives extends travel rules for passengers and restrictions for all international flights until Monday, June 21, at 6 am.

Who is allowed entry to Greece

People traveling for essential reasons and travelers from the following countries* are allowed to enter Greece – provided they have the required documentation – without the requirement for subsequent self-isolation: EU & Schengen Area countries, Australia, Northern Macedonia, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, Belarus, Bahrain, New Zealand, South Korea, Qatar, China, Kuwait, Ukraine, Rwanda, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Thailand, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro.

* Regulations concerning countries on the admission list are subject to change by the Greek authorities, when renewed assessments are made based on epidemiological data from country of origin.

Entry requirements

Greece will allow entrance to travelers that have filled out the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) one day before travel. The PLF is mandatory and must be filled out by all travelers, regardless of their nationality.

Passengers from abroad must also have one of the following:

1. a vaccination certificate, stating that 14 days have passed since full vaccination for Covid-19. Vaccination certificates must be issued by a public authority and in one of the following languages: Greek, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian. The name on the vaccination certificate must match the name on the passport and also include, the type of vaccine administered, the number of doses and the dates they were administered.

2. a negative PCR or rapid antigen test (in Greek, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian) performed less than 72 hours. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)

 

3. a recovery certificate (in Greek, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Russian) stating that one has recovered from the coronavirus in the past 9 months. This can be proven through a certificate of recovery issued by a public authority or a certified laboratory. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)

4. a Digital COVID Certificate in digital or print form which will contain information on whether passengers have been vaccinated against Covid-19 or have a negative PCR/rapid test result or have recovered from the virus.

Important for travelers from Montenegro

Permanent residents from Montenegro are allowed to enter Greece with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate and a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before travel.

Non-EU citizens are strongly advised to choose direct flights to Greece. In any other case, travelers should abide by the stop-over country requirements.

 

Rapid testing on arrival

Every traveler who arrives in Greece, regardless of the certificate in their possession, may undergo a random health screening (depending on the data provided on the PLF forms). If a passenger is selected for a rapid test and is positive for the coronavirus then he/she must quarantine for a total of:

– 7 days, if he/she has been vaccinated against Covid-19
– 10 days, if he/she has not been vaccinated.

In both cases, passengers will have to take a PCR test on the last day of their quarantine. If the test is negative the mandatory quarantine ends.

 

Rules for domestic air travel to the Greek islands

 

According to the HCAA’s updated aviation directive (NOTAM), people in Greece (residents and foreign visitors) are allowed to travel to the Greek islands by airplane only if they have one of the following:

– a vaccination certificate stating that 14 days have passed since full vaccination for Covid-19.
Greeks can issue their vaccination certificates here.
Foreigners are obliged to have a vaccination certificate in one of the following languages: Greek, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Russia. The vaccination certificate must be issued by a public authority, include the travelers’ name, the type of vaccine administered and the number of doses.

– a negative PCR test performed less than three days (72 hours) prior to the scheduled travel date. Foreigners must have a negative test in one of the following languages: Greek, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Russian. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)
Negative PCR test results can be in print or electronic form.

– a negative rapid antigen test taken 24 hours prior to travel. Foreigners must have a negative test in one of the following languages: Greek, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian or Russian.  (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)
Negative rapid test results can be in print or electronic form.

– a negative self-test taken 24 hours prior to travel.
The self-test declaration form to certify a negative result is available in Greek and English here. Travelers must print it out and present it when requested at the airport. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)

– a recovery certificate stating that one has recovered from the coronavirus in the past 9 months. This can be proven through a certificate of recovery issued by a public authority or a certified laboratory. (The rule is in force for children over the age of 6.)

According to the HCAA, tests (PCR and rapid) that have been carried out abroad and are valid at the time of boarding a domestic flight in Greece will be accepted under the same conditions under which they were accepted to allow entrance to Greece.

The staff of airline companies are responsible to check that passengers are carrying the required documentation during boarding.

The updated aviation directive concerning the rules to fly domestic to the Greek islands will be in force until Monday, June 21, at 6am.

Greece’s aviation directives are part of the Greek government’s efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) in the country.

Travelers in need of information regarding specific details on the travel rules for passengers of international and domestic flights are recommended to contact their embassy, airline or the General Secretariat for Civil Protection.

 

Thessaloniki Documentary Festival kicks off

The 23rd Thessaloniki Documentary Festival kicks off on Thursday (June 24) and will be held until July 4 at nine open-air cinemas in Thessaloniki, two pop-up screens at the city’s port, and also online.

This so-called ‘hybrid’ festival offers cinema goers a total of 92 films, while home viewers can access 142 films from the festival’s catalogue online. This year’s festival presents 151 documentaries from across the world, including 78 Greek productions of which 8 will enter an international competition, also to be held during the festival.

Opening the festival, and screened at the port, is a musical documentary titled “Tina” by Dan Lindsay and T. J. Martin, which explores the life and work of megastar singer Tina Turner.

The Thessaloniki Documentary Festival (TDF) is the first in Europe introducing a new section devoted to the presentation of podcasts, exploring relations of this contemporary audio genre with the art of cinema. A podcasts competition will be held too, including 23 Greek-language and English-language podcasts, an off-competition section with 13 Greek-language podcasts, and a special podcasting section with two podcasts from the US and Denmark. Special podcasts created during the festival will also be presented.

TDF is supported by the Ministry of Culture & Sports, the Central Macedonia Region and the municipality of Thessaloniki, among several other public and private entities.

Why Olive Oil is called

Olive oil is always ‘seated’ at the Greek family table.

Not to mention it also has the power to take a dish to the next level. It’s a Mediterranean-diet staple, and the best olive oil can make any recipe taste better.

It is also important to note that olive oil has been an important part of Greek culture since antiquity.

Greece registers under 300 new coronavirus cases

Greece is seeing a drop in coronavirus cases with 297 new cases of infection registered in the last 24 hours, with 2 of these identified at entry points to the country, as reported by the National Public Health Organization (EODY) on Sunday.