For centuries, Preveza locals have made the most of the incredible bounty offered by the Ambracian Gulf in the country’s northwest to establish a strong tradition in fish and seafood processing and production of related products. The accumulated experience has, more recently, driven the town’s younger generation away from self-consumption and towards the marketplace. Younger people are turning to old family recipes to deliver packaged products proving popular in the market.
For example, Preveza’s renowned fish roe, a superb, hard-to-find, delicatessen product, is one of the specialties of the town’s deep-rooted tradition now being taken to the market. Marinated seafood has followed a similar course.
The town’s renowned prawns, locally known as gabari, and sardines, commonly referred to as papalina, have long been an integral part of Preveza’s nutritional reality, either at homes or tavernas, enjoyed as handmade meze delicacies.
Preveza has also gained a fine reputation for its ouzo, which is not a surprise given the town’s significant output of fish and seafood, ideally suited to a glass of this aniseed-flavoured spirit. Preveza is home to one of Greece’s oldest distilleries, Roubou. Locals clearly prefer ouzo to spirits popular in other parts of Greece, such as tsipouro.
Epirus’ big cheese-producing tradition was brought to Preveza by people who moved to the town from the region’s remote villages. This led to the establishment of exceptional cheeseries. Preveza is the Epirus region’s biggest producer of dairy products, above Ioannina, Thesprotia and Arta. Some of these cheeseries, producing superb varieties, are now also exporting. Others have been a hit with Preveza locals and are also drawing the attention of visitors to Preveza, courtesy of their authenticity and taste.
In addition, the plains beyond Preveza, covering nearly thirty-three percent of the Epirus region, have become a strong base for vegetable production. Small family businesses producing handmade sauces, pickles and marmalades have surfaced.
The emergence of delicatessen shops in Preveza stocking quality wines and gourmet delicacies, including products by small-scale Greek producers, are also helping Preveza’s products gain wider exposure among consumers looking for top-quality goods.
The town also has an exceptional street food outlet, preparing sandwiches filled with homemade, preservative-free charcuterie.
Food delicacies and drinks
Preveza fish roe, marinated seafood
The fish roe of Preveza, offering a special, delicate flavour, has remained relatively unknown. This food product is incredibly satisfying. Definitely try fish roe spaghetti, a wondrous recipe. If one Preveza food product has to be singled out for visitors to try, this would have to be the town’s fish roe.
The town also boasts noteworthy sardine production, anchovies, and other seafood, all marinated and spicy; a perfect match for ouzo, the favourite drink of Preveza locals.
Make note of Preveza Thalassonostimies (+30 2682021337), producing fish roe and marinated seafood such as anchovies, anchovies with olive, cured sardines, marinated prawns from the Ambracian Gulf, and octopus in vinegar. Also keep in mind Tou Prevezanou (+30 2682089106), a producer marketing Frederica Botargo fish roe, as well as marinated seafood, including anchovies (also made as a spicy version with chili and pepper), octopus in vinegar, prawns marinated in lemon and vinegar, and European flying squid in lemon and vinegar.
Ouzo Roubou
Ouzo Roubou, one of Greece’s oldest distilleries equipped with the oldest still to be found anywhere in the Epirus region, is situated in the alleys of Preveza’s historic centre, at the ground level of an old building with carved wooden doors, stylish front window displays, and a vintage-tile floor.
A visit to the Ouzo Roubou shop promises a true experience. A very stylish first impression is made by the multi-coloured bottles filled with liqueurs or brandy, and the clear-glass ouzo bottles, set in rows at the retro window displays. The distillery’s nostalgic style can also stir up an emotional experience, reminding of bygone eras.
The distillery produces the marvellous Ouzo Roubou, cinnamon liqueur, cherry liqueur, as well as a special brandy, Gnisio Roubou 38%.
Old Town, 17 Adrianoupoleos, +30 26820 22274, www.ouzoroubou.gr
Prominent Preveza food-related enterprises
Pappas cheesery
The Pappas family, of Vlach descent, set out from the village Matsouki in Epirus’ Tzoumerka area in the early 1900s, and now, three generations later, is based in Filippiada, northeast of Preveza, where it runs a cheesery, producing exquisite cheese varieties under the Vlachian Mountains brand name. The cheese producer buys its milk from local dairy farmers keeping indigenous livestock. Beyond Preveza, Vlachian Mountains cheeses are available at selected shops and supermarkets around Greece and abroad.
The graviera cheese is a Vlachian Mountains top seller. The cheesery also produces kefalotyri, as well as kefalisio (like the graviera, but slightly saltier), all with a mix of sheep and goat’s milk. The A Nostru series (in the Vlach language, the term means “our own”) includes a cheese variety with green and black pepper, and a spicier cheese with paprika. Both these varieties are made with sheep’s milk.
The graviera and kefalotyri, both aged, as well as the Grecale gourmet series, based on Tuscan producing techniques, are all exceptional cheeses. The cheesery also produces pecorino with goat’s milk, yoghurt, galotyri cheese dip, anthotyro cheese, myzithra cheese, as well as feta made with goat’s milk or a mix of goat and sheep’s milk.
All the cheesery’s products may be found at its Filippiada store (09:00-15:00) at good prices.
Filippiada, 4th km Old Filippiada-Ioannina road, www.vlachianmountains.com
Syrrako dairy products – Tefas family
Hailing from the Epirus region’s village Syrrako, the Tefas family opted to settle in Preveza. It produces traditional sheep’s milk yoghurt, cow’s milk yoghurt, vanilla and chocolate pudding, rice pudding, as well as kefir and other products, all under the Syrrako brand name. The dairy company’s products are very popular in Preveza and may be found all over town, at supermarkets, groceries, even local stores and kiosks.
Gefseis Prevezas Areti
Areti Christia launched her small venture in 2010, producing a series of interesting tomato-based sauces, pickles, as well as sweet preserves. Their production is based on home recipes, her family’s tomato production, plus purchases of other ingredients from local producers.
Her tomato sauces include a standard version that can be flavoured as preferred, as well as versions with finely chopped Florina peppers; basil; as well as garlic and paprika. The small-scale producer’s pickles include sweet-and-sour onion, tomato, cauliflower and cucumber. Amongst the sweet preserves, the apple version is the most interesting.
This coming summer, the Areti shop, spacious with ample parking space, will run a special canteen offering spaghetti and fried potato chips served with Areti sauces, as well as pasta salads with pickles.
Preveza-Ioannina road, at the town’s entrance (next to the AVIN petrol station). 09:00-17:00, +30 6978775586
Delicatessens and Street Food
Kava Gafas
A revelation of a liquor store, Kava Gafas sells 400 different wine labels, including little gems produced by small-scale wineries, while its shelves also carry select Greek and imported delicatessen products, as well as Cuban cigars. Wines on offer here include: La Tour Melas (Fthiotida), Thymiopoulos (Naousa), Moschopolis (Thessaloniki), Zafeirakis (Tyrnavos), Tzimas (Arta), Papagyriou (Laliotis, Corinth). Ktima Mouson (Viotia, Mouson Valley).
The store also stocks premium spirits, including smoky Japanese whisky, Greek gins (Mataroa, Grace Gin), as well as aged tsipouro (Chrysi Vidra/Domaine Glinavos). The shop also sells Preveza fish roe (Goumas, Preveza Thalassonostimies), Bafas brand cheeses from Arta (Krystalli graviera made with sheep’s milk, smoked sheep’s milk cheese), Greek Thesauri caviar, Belgian chocolate truffles of various flavours (salted caramel, cognac, cacao and coffee), as well as chocolates for wine.
5 Eirinis Ave, +30 2682 060800
Chubbies Fine Street Food
Working wonders in his tiny space, chef Thodoros Mitsis prepares special sandwiches using his very own preservative-free, handmade charcuterie. Choices include California Dream beef marinated for one day; chicken with garlic and fresh herbs; pork with smoked salt, onion, and peppercorn; as well as vegan salami with gluten flour, herbs and spices. Pulse spreads are added to the sandwiches, including bean with Café de Paris sauce flavour, as well as lentil and sun-dried tomato pesto.
