Hospitality Awards 2021

www.lux-review.com Page 25 LUX 2021 Hospitality Awards Steeped in history and a reputation for the very best traditional Corfiot cuisine is the Porta Remounda, a tavern located in the port neighbourhood of the small Greek island of Corfu. Over twenty-five years after it was established, the tavern remains dedicated to its values of community, family and delicious food. It is this dedication that has earnt Porta Remounda success at the LUXlife Hospitality Awards 2021. Porta Remounda Best Traditional Restaurant 2021 - Corfu Jul21481 There are many reasons that the sunny island of Corfu is so beloved by vacationers across the world. From idyllic beaches and luscious forestry that makes for a paradisical escape, to the tantalising cuisine and welcoming locale, it is little wonder that this island gem, dropped in the middle of the Ionian sea, is such a favoured holiday destination. When combined with its rich history to boot, it becomes clear that Corfu really does have it all. Yet before the world’s holidaymakers arrived at its shores, Corfu was home to a myriad of communities like Mandouki, the neighbourhood surrounding the port of Corfu, an area that was once a walled city named Porta Remounda (Raymonda Gate) during the Venetian occupation. This was a community of fishermen, sailors, port workers and their families, who were all united by so much more than their day jobs. They dined together, celebrated together, shared their concerns and hopes with one another, and came together at the taverns dotted around the town. Today, the Porta Remounda continues to honour the tradition of conviviality and feasting for locals and tourists alike. The seafood tavern was established in October 1995 by Giannis Barbas, a young member of the Mandouki community who sought to capture the model of the family taverna that had been born in 50s Greece and utilise it to celebrate the very best of Corfiot produce in its ingredients and seafood selection. Just like the Porta Remounda of the Venetian period served as a gateway to the community, the Porta Remounda tavern of today was created to serve as a gateway to a world of flavour that could only ever exist on the shores of Corfu. With a menu inspired by the recipes of Giannis’ mother, Evangelia, Porta Remounda offers its hungry patrons everything from the classic Beef Pastitsada to codfish served just like the fishermen of Mandouki used to prepare it – with red peppers, oil, and enough spice to just make the eyes water! Over the years, some more modern additions have also been added to the menu, including favourites like fried squid or shrimp, Fisherman’s Pasta, Lobster, and even some baklava to finish with something sweet. However, it is not just the food that has become more innovative – it is the family behind the tavern’s approach to business too. The Barbas Project is the family’s business plan for the tavern. Still rooted in the traditions laid down by Giannis Barba, Porta Remounda aspires to be a model that others may follow in achieving a standard of service and food preparation in which they can be proud. This model centres around three principal points: to make the most of the island’s resources and utilise only the freshest, most local ingredients; to exemplify Homeric hospitality that ensures no patron is a stranger but an honoured and welcome guest; and finally, to acknowledge that the tavern does not belong to the Barbas family, but is a place of social gathering, where everyone is welcome. These pillars of the Barbas family’s vision for its tavern has ensured that Porta Remounda is about so much more than food (although this is certainly a key attraction and winning feature of the establishment!) It is about the values that Giannis held so dear when he set up the tavern: values of tradition, community, conviviality, sharing and love. And, although the restaurant is now recognised internationally as a hub of exquisite Corfiot cuisine with awards like Best Traditional Restaurant 2021 – Corfu to its name, it is clear that these values remain just as central to the success of this family tavern today as they did in 1995. Contact: Liana Barba Company: Porta Remounda Web Address: www.portaremounda.gr

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