GASTRONOMY
FLAVOURS OF
THE PAST
At the heart of Santa Irini Retreat stands a traditional wood-fired oven, a symbol of the island's culinary heritage and a gathering place for generations. Long before modern kitchens, families in Therasia prepared their daily meals over wood-fired flames, transforming simple local ingredients into dishes rich in flavour and tradition.It was built with local volcanic stones left on the quiet greek island of Therasia, after the enormous explosion of the volcano in 1613 B.C. Every morning, we light our wood oven with touchwood from dry branches of our local wine plants, following the same way of lighting that the local island inhabitants used, almost four millenniums ago. As soon as the fire in the wood oven is weakening, we bake our homemade bread, pies, and traditional Aegean food. Your delicious, tasty journey has just started inside our heritage resort!
Today, this timeless ritual continues. Seasonal vegetables, local recipes and authentic Cycladic ingredients are slowly cooked using traditional techniques that honour the island's gastronomic heritage. More than a way of cooking, the wood-fired oven represents a slower rhythm of life, where meals are shared, stories are exchanged and meaningful moments are created around the table. Surrounded by the beauty of Therasia and the caldera, guests are invited to experience authentic Cycladic gastronomy through flavours rooted in tradition, hospitality and a deep connection to the island.
Let us discover together the way the locals were cooking in Therasia, an unspoiled, quiet greek island, almost 100 years ago. We invite you to cook traditional food from our vegetable garden with fresh ingredients together, just next to our heritage church of Santa Irini, located inside the courdyard of our peaceful heritage hotel.
A JOURNEY
OF TASTES THAT
BRIDGES THE PAST
WITH THE PRESENT
In a world that moves increasingly fast, the wood-fired oven reminds us of something simple: the most memorable meals are not only about food, but about the people, traditions and stories that bring us together. Close your eyes, as you did as a child, and enjoy your traditional unique journey of tastes that bridges the past with the present! Pair your meals with our local wines from Therasia, Santorini and Peloponnese vineyards. All our guests can enjoy our traditional food, at our slow living peaceful retreat. The traditional Aegean Cuisine, is a heritage that addresses all dietary habits.
