A TASTY EVENT IN THE
PUBLIC GARDENS OF LIMASSOL
FOOD FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD
I had the pleasure of attending this year’s Seaside Street Food Festival and as a food lover and critic, I was excited to explore the various vendors selling samples of their street food from around the world and enjoying the delicious street food that was on offer. The Seaside Street Food Festival was a three-day annual event held in the Public Gardens of Limassol and it featured traditional as well as new street food concepts from all around the world. I was pleased to see that the range of foods on offer was diverse and wide-reaching and this year’s event included representations from the Americas, as well as Europe, Africa and Asia. The Seaside Street Food Festival also had entertainment, along with delicious food, by the way of guest DJs and live bands performing into the evenings, providing a fun day out for the whole family.Â
THE BUS INTO LIMASSOL
I took the intercity bus into Limassol from Nicosia. I could have taken the bus 30 for the short distance to the public gardens, but I decided to walk taking in some lovely views of the Molos Promenade. As I approached the public gardens I could not help, but notice the hive of activity at the gates. This indeed had become a popular festival and there seemed to be people constantly arriving for this event. Â
AROMA OF GRILLED MEATS
As I entered the festival grounds, I was immediately greeted by the sizzling sounds and enticing aromas of grilled meats, fresh spices, and freshly baked pastries. The atmosphere was lively and vibrant, with music playing in the background and I could see people milling about, sampling the different dishes on offer. I decided that I would try as many different foods from around the world as possible, starting of course with the Cyprus stand. Â
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
A TASTE OF CYPRUS
One of the first stands that caught my eye was the souvlaki stand. The skewers of marinated meat were sizzling on the grill, and the smell was just irresistible. I ordered a single stick of souvlaki and just loved dipping each piece of meat into the cool refreshing homemade tzatziki sauce. The flavour was tantalising and I savoured every bite.
A TASTE OF THE MIDDLE-EAST
The next stand I visited was selling falafel. The falafel balls were prepared exactly how falafel should be, crispy on the outside, soft and moist on the inside and the homemade hummus was extra light and creamy. I dipped the falafel in the hummus and enjoyed the delicious combination of both texture and taste.
A TASTE OF THE FAR EAST
The next stand I visited was from the Far East selling a wide variety of sushi. The Japanese national dish was freshly prepared and I looked on as the sushi chef skillfully packed the raw fish into little delicate parcels of rice. I dipped my portion of sushi into the various sauces, which included soy, and chilli oil which enhanced the flavour even more.Â
A TASTE OF THE AMERICAS
The elaborately decorated Mexican stand was offering a number of different tacos and quesadillas. I chose to go vegetarian and within minutes, I was enjoying my spicy taco, which was prepared with care. All of the ingredients were fresh and the taco went down well with an ice-cold glass of water. Â
A TASTE OF EUROPE
I had to make a choice next as I was getting full by this time, so I decided to skip the burger and the hot dog and I went for a nice slice of pizza. There was a huge choice, but I again chose the vegetarian option. The pizza dough was nice and crispy and the ingredients were fresh. I was full by this time, but I still had an appetite for dessert and I again had a decision to make.
A SWEET TASTE
All the sweets, pastries and cakes you would expect to see were there, but I decided I would try a cool refreshing ice cream. I came across a stall selling refreshing desserts. The ice cream was an absolute delight after all of that food and was both creamy and smooth and the natural light sweetness was a perfect ending to my various snacks throughout the day.
A BEER & SOME SHISHA
All being good, I now needed to relax a little and of course, that is when I saw the Keo stand. I took my ice-cold brew to the Shisha stand and took time to relax with my beer and shisha, waiting for the live band to start.
THE LIVE BAND
The band was lively from start to finish, entertaining the crowd brilliantly and they provided the perfect ending to a lovely day out. The Seaside Street Food Festival was a memorable experience that had a large variety of dishes on offer. The atmosphere was lively and welcoming, with friendly vendors eager to share their culinary creations with me. I left the festival feeling satisfied and content, with a newfound appreciation for the diverse and delicious street food that Cyprus has to offer. I cannot wait to attend next year’s festival and continue exploring the culinary delights of this fantastic little island that I call home.