909 Prospect Street  | 858-352-6588 | spiroscuisine.com

by Robby Robinson

Twenty-three blue hues of waves lap up to pure white sand.  White buildings edge up to the sand and clear blue skies intersect with the sea.  Colorful fishing boats sit upon the Adriatic as seagulls flap around and pelicans parade around.  Aromas of grilled beef fill the air as well as whiffs of honeyed pastry.  Lively Greek music plays all over town. Oooh – sorry – I was just having a Mykonos moment.  But if you can’t have all of that while you are enjoying a Greek meal – we have a beautiful alternative.

Spiro’s Cuisine opened in the heart of La Jolla Village and offers a dining experience you will not forget.  The stark white building is decorated with colorful bright blue awnings – aaah Santorini -similar.

The menu: extensive, superb, and delicious. One can’t go wrong with the gyros and grilled kabob sandwiches or platters.  Lamb specialties are popular as are the authentic generous sized authentic family-style meals.  Love calamari?  The ones here are de-lish! Don’t miss the tasty sides (spanakopita, tzatziki, dolmas, and falafel).  Pita bread melt in your mouth.  Even though you will be quite full after dinner, chow down the yummy baklava.  You will be back – and it will be sooner rather than later. Oh, and this restaurant caters!

The service: cheerful and efficient waitstaff bring your platters to outside patio tables.

The view:  snazzy cars and snappy dressers flock by.  You’re in the center of the village!

Restaurant owner Nancy Chacones enjoyed quite a life experience highlight.  Ready for a stunning wedding fairytale?  Ms. Spiro carried her wedding dress through O’Hare Airport and boarded the aircraft for the couple’s 14-hour flight to Athens.  They then flew to Corfu with the best man, Panos, and the rest of the wedding party.  The gorgeous bride was brought to the cathedral in a horse-drawn carriage.  It gets better.  The Greek Orthodox church is over 500 years old and contains elaborate candelabras and a historic tomb of St. Spryridon – the warrior attributed to the protection of the island from invasion.  Sigh.  Romance plus.  The beauty pageant winner married her knight in shining armor.  A legendary story.  Chills.

As one cannot imagine a Mediterranean meal without olives or olive oil, I thought some fun facts would be entertaining:

• Olive oil itself is naturally cholesterol, sodium, and carbohydrate-free.
• On average, an olive tree can live between 300-600 years.
• All olives start out green and then turn black or dark purple as they ripen.
• On average, the world consumes approximately 2.25 million tons of olive oil each year.
• Baked goods will last longer when you substitute olive oil for butter.  It is the vitamin E and polyphenols that cause this longer shelf life.
• The annual consumption of olive oil in the United States is 70 million gallons.
• There are three towns and one city in the U.S. that are named Olive Branch.
• California produces 99% of all olive oil in the U.S.
• 11 pounds of olives need to be pressed in order to produce one quart of Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
• And, for the grand finale of olive oil facts- what is the most expensive olive oil ever sold? Here goes – E-La-Won Luxury Edition. $729 per bottle.  And why?  This olive oil contains flakes of 24-carat gold.  And the history!  Olive oil has a tradition that goes back more than 3,500 years.  It’s been called nature’s secret in a bottle and hails from marvelous Mykonos.

Come see Spiro’s Mediterranean Cuisine.  You’ll leave having felt a slice (no pun) of your favorite spot in Greece.