Fifteen years ago, on just my second day at university, I met Rory – my now husband & my best mate. Quite honestly, we’ve been inseparable ever since.
A year into our relationship, eager for adventure but limited in funds, we scraped together £400 for our very first holiday together – a two-week, self-catering trip to Halkidiki, Greece. It was as basic as you could imagine, but to us, it was absolute bliss. We had sunshine, freedom, and each other – that was all we needed.
One evening, in search of a special meal, we stumbled upon a charming little restaurant called Restaurant Bistrot. We ordered wild boar, feeling giddy at the thought of indulging in something so extravagant (back when Greece was gloriously affordable!). That meal became a defining memory of our trip – rich in both flavour and sentiment. Over the years, we found ourselves reminiscing about that night, about the happiness and simplicity of that time in our lives.
Fast forward 13 years, and my parents casually announced their upcoming holiday – to Halkidiki. Without hesitation, we (perhaps a little too eagerly) invited ourselves along, thrilled at the prospect of reliving old memories – this time with built-in childcare!
We hadn’t thought about Restaurant Bistrot in years, but as we drove past, a wave of nostalgia hit us. Without question, we had to go back. When we arrived, something truly magical happened – the owner recognised us. She cried when she met our daughter, overwhelmed that we had returned after all these years. As a token of her joy, she showered us with little gifts, a gesture so heartfelt it made the moment even more special.
And then, of course, there was the food. Just as exquisite as we remembered. A sweet and savoury start with a honey & feta pastry, blue cheese gnocchi served with the most tender, slow-cooked beef. Bruschetta topped with vibrant, sun-ripened tomatoes, fragrant pesto, and freshly torn mozzarella. And finally, a sticky toffee dessert so decadently sweet and rich, it was the perfect ending to a perfect meal.
Sitting there, surrounded by our growing family, sharing a meal in the very place where we once celebrated our first taste of adventure together, we were reminded of the incredible way food connects us – not just to flavour’s and places, but to memories, to love, and to the moments that shape our lives.