Mariana Fonseca, the Chef who spread Greek cuisine, celebrates 10 years of existence of her restaurant Myk and shares her favorite addresses to eat in Mykonos, Greece.
Traveling the world and loving Mediterranean cuisine are some of the pillars that tell the story of Mariana Fonseca as a chef. In 2005, on a vacation , she set off for the first time to Mykonos. Upon arriving, she fell in love with the island’s spices, flavors and culture. She decided to stay there, and what was supposed to be a vacation became a long stay. This transformative journey completely changed the course of her professional life. She visited and explored more than 200 islands and tried hundreds of recipes before returning to Brazil. In 2013, Mariana finally returned to her homeland with a new set of experiences. Inspired, she created Myk, the first contemporary Greek restaurant in the country. The restaurant quickly became one of the most sought-after in São Paulo, because in addition to the signature cuisine inspired by the chef’s experience, Myk’s ambiance reproduces the party atmosphere, music and joy typical of Greek culture.
Mykonos is on the route, and my guide couldn’t have been better. Before setting off for the famous Greek island and exploring the best places to eat, I went to dinner at the famous restaurant run by chef Mariana Fonseca, accompanied by her. How lucky I was. We tried all the new items on the menu on a delightful evening. The menu was created to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the restaurant, which has been the basis for several successes. “There were many tests and endless ideas for creating new recipes. I felt like changing the entire menu, but if I did that, my customers wouldn’t like it, since most of them remain faithful to the dishes I introduced ten years ago,” the chef jokes. The octopus served with potatoes and the baked cod, for example, are always popular. Among others, we tried feta cheese breaded in sesame seeds with orange compote, pastistio – a Greek lasagna, schnitzel with skordalia, and a delicious grilled squid. Everything was delicious, and Mariana’s maturity as a chef and businesswoman is evident. Myk is a place that never disappoints, and remains current and true to its roots. At the end of the conversation, she told me, with her eyes full of love, how she currently dedicates her life to her son and balances the management of her three restaurants – Myk, Kouzina and Fotiá – with the development of new projects that are coming up. As we chatted, I finally asked her what her favorite places to eat in Mykonos were. A few days later, I flew there and was very happy. I came back full of longing. It is at this point that I will need to go to Myk again to remember.
A dream itinerary
Mykonos is truly a delight. Despite the invasion of tourism (and thanks to it), the Greek island still has great restaurants. “One of my favorites is Rizs, in Ano Mera. It’s far from the hustle and bustle, but serves real Greek food. Order the koukoulou, a Mykonian sausage with potatoes, egg and kopanisti cheese,” says Mariana, her mouth watering. The island’s prestigious hotels also house good restaurants. The local group Myconian Collection has beautiful properties and takes great care of the cuisine. The recently opened Ô by Myconian Collection serves international food and top-quality meats in a seaside atmosphere. At Sishu Sushi Bar, Japanese cuisine is well represented by chef Meiwang Ke Steven, who creates a fusion of local ingredients. At the Greek restaurant Cabbanes, you can calmly enjoy local cuisine created by chef Filippos Stampoulis, with a stunning view. On Sunday afternoons, a must-see is Scorpios. Excellent food, impeccable service, top-notch music and guaranteed excitement are the hallmarks of this chic restaurant & beach club that has gained fame and attracts thousands of people every summer. Another party destination is the Asian Zuma, which has locations all over the world.
“In Little Venice, where the city has the most incredible sunsets, go eat beautifully at the Italian restaurant Cocco and order a good wine. I love the Italian side of the island, and one of my favorite restaurants is Mediterraneo. The owner, Simoni, was in Brazil and loved it. If you’re looking for a party and have lower gastronomic expectations, you should make a reservation at Interni. There’s also the tireless Alemagou on Ftelia beach, which is always cool. Good music? Go to Principote; my friend Babis, who played for two consecutive years at Myk, rocks on his turntables. On the sand? On Paraga beach, you’ll find authentic Greek food at Tasos,” says Mariana enthusiastically.
Meanwhile, on Agios beach, there is an authentic tavern that has become famous around the world: Kiki’s. The few and busy tables are covered with the best of everything. Trying the eggplant, the mushrooms, the pork and then choosing the salads from the display would be a must. It is a place that will remain etched in my memory, as it did. At the trendy and beautiful Spilia, on Agia Anna beach, following Mariana’s recommendations, I opted for the spaghetti with sea urchin caught in front of me in one of the cleanest waters on the island. “In Kalo Livadi, a beach with fewer tourists, I love the food at Solymar. Another tavern that I really like is Fokos on the beach that has the same name. In the city, Koursaros, Lotus and Remezzo are Greek restaurants that have lost their shine due to new developments, but which were always very good!” recalls Mariana. At night, it’s great fun to stroll around the city, have a few drinks at the old Jackie O bar and watch the drag queen shows. In the city center, there’s also Astra and its neighbor Queen, both of which are usually packed. “Some good news is Drakoulis, a traditional Athens restaurant specializing in meat that will open this year,” concludes the chef. It couldn’t be better, our gastronomic journey in Mykonos signed by someone who really knows a lot about the subject.