Villa Bianca

MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE

“The Stolen Lamb”

“Kleftiko” is the Greek name for Lamb Shank, which means stolen. Derived from the times when Greece was occupied by the Turks, the Greeks would steal lamb from their tenants in order to enjoy a forbidden feast.
However, they could not cool it over flames at night, for a fire would attract attention, as would smoke in the day.

They were forced to invent a new method for preparing the “stolen lamb”.

Come dusk, a hole in the ground would be dug and the burning coals scattered inside. Portioned lamb, wrapped in vine leaves, would be placed on top of the coals and the hole refilled with soil.

The lamb would then “slow cook” overnight, from the heat of the coals.

The reward was that they were able to enjoy a truly heavenly dish of lamb the following day, which being stolen made it all that tastier, as forbidden is always sweeter.

We at Villa Bianca, still today prepare our “Kliftiko” in the heat of our wood burning clay oven, “slow cooked” overnight, for you to feast!

“Bon Appetit”

Arthur Cavallineas