Last week I made my way to Hove, for a photoshoot at a fine-dining style Greek restaurant, called Nostos. I hadn't been to the restaurant before but was really excited to meet the people involved. My partner is Greek-Cypriot so I knew exactly what to expect and sure enough the first thing I was greeted by was Kyriakos's big smile. There is a real sense of family in the restaurant, brought to life by pictures of his great grandmother and other family members on the wall.

Before we got started, their lovely general manager Filippa, made me a Greek style iced coffee. One thing us Scandinavians and Greeks have in common is a love for strong coffee.

Kyriakos introduced me to his business partner and the head chef, Alexander. I could tell straight away that these guys have great chemistry together. Both, Kyriakos and Alexander are originally from Greece and they have been friends for over twenty years. You could tell they had a lot of fun times together, while Alexander was running his own restaurant back in 2003. They worked together in Thessaloniki, a small town in Greece, creating a friendship and work relationship which made it possible for them to continue working together later on. 

Kyriakos was the first to move to Brighton and over the years there was always conversations with Alexander, about starting a business together. It wasn't until 2017 when Alexander felt like it was the right time to make the move. 

In the beginning it was really hard for him, as the kitchens and serving of food was very different from back home. When I asked him why it was, he explained that the hospitality in Greece was more relaxed and for example plating food was very different compared to the UK. It's a big part of their food culture to share and have lot of little dishes (meze) on a table instead of a starter, main and desert.

Nostos opened it's doors in 2019. Kyriakos expressed how he felt like there was a market gap for an authentic Greek restaurant in Brighton. I love the fact that Nostos is not only a name, but has a meaning from ancient Greek. The theme of Nostos is brought to life in Homer's The Odyssey, where the main hero Odysseus tries to return home after battling in the Trojan War. “The return isn't just about returning home physically but also about retaining certain statuses and retaining your identity upon arrival” When you arrive in Nostos, you get the sense of coming home.

Alexander took me down to the kitchen to see where all the food is being prepared. They wanted to highlight a dish of chicken leg ballotine, wrapped with smoked bacon, served with parsnip, carrot and potato purées and a red berries sauce. The flavours were divine!

I find it really interesting to see how different chefs work in their environment and it feels almost like being at someone's home, it feels personal. I could tell Alexander is a perfectionist when it comes to his cooking and to be honest this makes me even more excited to come back once the restaurant is open again.

We talked a lot about the lockdown and the challenges Nostos has faced this year. One of the biggest challenges for their chef was to learn to bake and become and pastry chef as well as handle the original menu. But it was also a leaning curve. The first two/three weeks felt really stressful for both of them, but now it almost feels like the norm.

Alexander commented “change is not easy, but it's necessary” and I agree with this so much. As much as doing something new is challenging and can be frustrating, it is so rewarding when you nail it. And even if you don't, it's ok because you have taken something from the experience. 

“What plans have you got for the future and 2020?”

“A kick ass new menu” Alexander laughs. The plan is to keep selling Mediterranean food supplies, provide take away food and hopefully to open their doors for everyone soon. Nostos's new menu is going to be full of meat, fish and vegan options. You can expect a brilliant dining experience with friends and family, enjoying great food and wine. Something for everyone in your family to enjoy.

Again, I wanted to hear about their favourite restaurant in Brighton and the reason behind it. Both Kyriakos and Alexander thought about it for few seconds and said it at the same time. Wild Flor in Hove. Exceptional service and ingredients put well together, giving you an experience to remember. Their food feels light and delicate. Wild Flor is part of the Michelin 2020 guide and is for sure one of the top restaurants to visit after the lockdown.

Both Kyriakos and Alexander have worked really hard to keep Nostos and their business running during the pandemic. They told me that Nostos has not shut down even for a day since the lockdown started. In the beginning when people were not able to find daily groceries from the supermarkets, they helped everyone with home deliveries and basic food supplies. The restaurant is currently is full of take away goods, as the guys have adjusted their business to sell food supplies and pastries to go alongside with their takeaway menu.

The food community and families in and around Brighton have been such a big part and help to Nostos during this pandemic and both of the guys were genuinely grateful. I'm so happy that I got to meet both of them in person and sure will return soon to the restaurant.

How to find Nostos? See their website for online deliveries https://www.nostos-hove.co.uk/ or their Instagram at @nostos__hove - Let's support our local businesses!

Copywright  - Helin Food Photography

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