photograph courtesy of Kaymaria Daskarolis

If you have ever attended a Greek cultural festival, you have probably tasted loukoumades. And if they were prepared at all like the divine ones served up every May during the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension’s annual Greek Festival in Oakland, California, you probably wished you could eat them every day.

A little piece of heaven, that’s what loukoumades are. They’re small balls of fried dough, usually topped with honey and walnuts.

In central Athens, stop by Krinos (Aiolou 87, tel: 210-321-6852) to devour some luscious loukoumades. The selection at Krinos is always hot and fresh; the quick turnover is a byproduct of the patisserie’s popularity with locals. Krinos is open from 7.15 a.m. onwards Monday through Saturday, and is closed on Sunday. Prepare to pay €2.70 for an order of seven loukoumades when you eat them in, just €2.30 when you take them with you.

The one drawback—or perhaps saving grace—of loukoumades is their filling sweetness. Downing an entire serving of five or six by yourself can be a challenge. We recommend sharing an order with a friend, or asking the servers at Krinos Café to limit your order to three or four pieces.

Just don’t expect a reduction in price for your diminished serving.

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