NYN ESTI, an artistic concept restaurant nestled within the National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST) in Athens, is celebrating the Summer Solstice with the unveiling of a new seasonal menu. Led by visionary Head Chef Stamatios Misomikes, the restaurant offers a unique culinary journey through Greek heritage, merging gastronomy with visual arts and technology.
As part of the esteemed Nice n Easy Group, known for its pioneering approach to healthy-gourmet gastronomy in Greece since 2008, NYN ESTI upholds the Group’s farm-to-table philosophy. The restaurant embraces a chic ambiance where good food meets a healthy lifestyle, showcasing seasonal menus with fresh, organic ingredients sourced from local Greek producers. This commitment to responsible sourcing and ethical farming practices ensures traditional recipes are reimagined with a modern twist, striking a balance between the familiar and the innovative.
Introducing the ‘Biotope’ Spring/Summer Menu, the restaurant pays homage to Greece’s diverse topography, celebrating the country’s biodiversity, flora, and fauna. This menu, curated to deliver more than just a meal, is a passage through time, crafted to awaken the senses to the changing seasons with every course. Available as a tasting menu or a selection of individual dishes, the ‘Biotope’ menu is refreshed twice a year to reflect the transition from Spring/Summer to Autumn/Winter.
Capturing the transition from Winter to Summer, the new menu showcases dishes infused with vibrant frozen and spicy elements, a poetic homage to the natural shift. Inspired by the contrasting forces of ice and fire, these components create a culinary dichotomy reflecting the current state of the planet, translating into a fascinating and flavorful immersive experience.
Each dish on the new menu is a sensory delight, engaging all five senses with a vibrant tapestry of flavors, aromas, and visual allure that epitomizes Greek gastronomy. Featured dishes include ‘Tacos,’ a Rhodian bread creation adorned with smoked cashew cream and frozen herbs, tempura-fried zucchini with sea buckthorn vinaigrette, chamomile sorbet, and a fiery loquat-infused sauce. The menu also introduces a refined version of Rhodian honeyed cheese, enhanced with acacia, beeswax, and apricot. Ingredients like tender lamb, fresh asparagus, broad beans, loquats, and fragrant orange blossoms take the spotlight, showcasing the freshest flavors of the season.
Beyond the culinary journey, Mixologist Thanos Mousoulis elevates the dining experience with his ‘Liquid Gallery,’ a cocktail selection celebrating iconic artists and artistic movements. This collection includes handcrafted cocktails like ‘Chilli Strings by Ishii Kakuko,’ a bold fusion of tequila and chili, and ‘Composition by Pierre Mondrian,’ an intricate blend of gin, parmesan, tomato water, and char. Each cocktail harmonizes with the vibrant flavors of the Summer ‘Biotope’ menu, offering a refined counterpart to the restaurant’s extensive wine list.
Sustainability is at the core of NYN ESTI, embodying the Nice n Easy group’s commitment to ethical and responsible practices. The restaurant ensures patrons savor the freshest locally sourced ingredients while supporting ethical farming practices. Robust waste management strategies include recycling programs and partnerships with local food waste management companies. Eco-friendly materials like potato-based film wrap and reusable utensils are also used, minimizing environmental impact. The result is a culinary odyssey where every dish celebrates sustainable gastronomy, blending sophistication with sustainability to deliver an exquisite dining experience deeply respectful of the planet.
Meet the Chef, Stamatios Misomikes, a luminary in gastronomy who marries Greek culinary traditions with avant-garde techniques. His dedication to sustainability and culinary mastery transforms basic ingredients into exceptional dishes that honor Greece’s rich gastronomic legacy. His restaurant’s philosophy offers a transformative culinary experience, illuminating the history, artistry, and sustainable ethos intrinsic to Greek culture.
