A place where the monks used to repair their ships on Mount Athos, many call it Tarsanas.
A place that for decades created its own legend by decorating the seas of Halkidiki and the Peloponnese with unique wooden fishing boats.
I remember Barba Mitsos Kambouris who was the "chief cook", a formidable Karavomaragos, a leading figure who had George, one of his sons, as his chef and Yannis, the first cook, a "tireless tool" like the soldiers who took the flag in battle and the soldiers followed behind with impetus.
Great Brigata and who did not pass by Uncle Mitsu's Shipyard "Nikitas the Cannon, Polis Kassandrinos".
I remember them like yesterday hazing me and teaching me the first dirty words while I was cleaning saws "for pocket money" completely unaware of what was about to happen.
All day long, together with my brother George, now John Kambouris, we walked around from the waterfall to the ribbon, from the ribbon to the planer, from the planer to the lathe. I still have the smell of the puffed wood engraved somewhere in my brain as well as the non-stop sounds of the machinery that worked non-stop until 12:30 in the afternoon.
Pause. Time for the usual break for a snack "Europe speaking" bread olives tomato real bread, feta cheese, pickled peppers, some anchovies... in the cramped room and one, but one "so as not to cut a finger" glass of tsipouro to disinfect the sawdust they had been breathing all day.
Great peasants ulnus their... recital at the break and what you didn't hear, from gossip to the best jokes.
Usually spicy because it was a very macho scene so it was mostly about chicks. Although it was a male-dominated scene, the most iconic figure was Aunt Mary.
Specializing in underwater (the ones with ice water and vanilla) and Greek coffee. She prepared the midday snack for the Chief Cook and her 2 children and lifted the workers when they got a little forgetful. Aunt Maria was a half-grandmother, but she was a bit of an upside-down sneak...
I remember the feasts after a loukoullou meal and plenty of tsipouro and then wine every time a boat was launched. Music, dancing there at the entrance to the shipyard by the Old Willow where I would hang out and do Tarzan while watching them. There at the entrance to the Shipyard of what is now Arsana eating, drinking and partying late into the night without being disturbed but not bothered by anyone either.
You see, tourism hadn't made its appearance yet so the noisy shipyard could roar on until about 1992 when the main switch was thrown for good... Tourism... Game Over... Change of course and Arsana's Restaurant happened in 1996.
So somehow I was assigned to continue the legendary story of Uncle Mitsos and his sons but a bit more delicious...
So come on after the prologue to the main topic and let's go sailing in flavors inspired by travels and loves ...
To listen to beautiful music that will bring back memories and tears, to watch beautiful sunsets, to relax and let ourselves be entertained, because above all, the restaurant is entertainment.
I close with a quote from the Greatest of the Greatest, my Master Tasos Kerameas, who if it weren't for him I wouldn't be Arsana.
"It's harder to eat than to cook."
Michael Delethanasis
