Santorini Caesars by Jeffrey Siger Page A

food came in tranches, overrunning the available space on the table and pressing into service adjacent empty chairs. First, Santorini fava with onions and capers; baked white eggplant in tomato sauce with feta and fresh basil; grilled Haloumi cheese with grilled tomatoes and olive oil; and grilled Santorini spicy sausages alongside fried potatoes and parmesan cheese. Next, a salad of spinach, red and green leaf lettuce, spring onions, dill, orange, walnuts, parmesan, pomegranate, and balsamic vinaigrette with honey; a second salad of cucumber, tomato, onion, green pepper, boiled potato, Cretan cottage cheese, olives, croutons, fresh olive oil, capers, and Cretan salt; and grilled octopus with fresh oregano and balsamic vinaigrette. Following came spicy fried pork with peppers, onions, leeks, Santorini cherry tomatoes and feta; lamb in yogurt sauce with mint, coriander, and cracked wheat; and beef filet in vinsanto sauce accompanied by wild mushrooms and basmati rice.
    By the time they finished eating, the place had virtually emptied out, and Sappho was sitting next to Petro, engaged in a running monologue for the benefit of all three men on the nature of their species. She took time out only to encourage them to eat more and pour more wine for them and herself. “Eat, eat. The fatter you get the less likely you are to be a threat to the virtue of Greek women.”
    Petro couldn’t remember ever laughing harder or longer in his life. “So, you’ve worked here all your life?”
    â€œYep.” She took a sip of wine. “Except for my university days in Patras.”
    â€œWhat did you study?”
    â€œChemical engineering.” She leaned toward Francesco. “My turn to interview. So what are you three musketeers doing on Santorini in the off season?”
    Petro said, “We’re here to—”
    â€œStop hogging the lady’s attention. Give some other guy a chance,” said Francesco. “We’re here to check out some hotel properties with an eye to investing in them.”
    She nodded. “A lot of people come here in the winter looking to do that. Never understood why. My friends tell me the only time you make money in the small hotel business in Greece is when you sell it.”
    â€œIt’s all a matter of how you market it.”
    â€œAnd getting it at the right price,” said Dimos.
    She poked Petro on the arm. “What do you have to say about the hotel business?”
    Francesco spoke quickly. “He’s our money guy. He’s not part of the business.”
    She leaned back and ran her eyes up and down Petro. “You’re rich? Wow you’re a great catch for some girl.” She pulled her chair closer to his and rested her head on his shoulder. “Please take me away from all this. I want to bear your children.”
    Petro laughed.
    She sat up straight in her chair. “What! You dare to laugh at my proposal?” She jumped out of her chair and headed toward the kitchen, yelling to her father as she passed him. “And you just sit there as my honor is besmirched by these rude strangers.”
    Her father kept talking to his remaining customers, ignoring his daughter.
    Francesco glanced toward the kitchen before leaning in toward Petro. “My boy, be careful. A woman wound as tightly as this one comes with problems. Guaranteed.”
    â€œBut she’s funny. “
    â€œYeah, a regular life of the party,” said Dimos.
    â€œGreat fun, but when they’re alone, and not the center of attention…” Francesco shook his head.
    â€œThe word you’re looking for,” said Dimos, “is depression.”
    â€œJust be careful, is all I’m saying.”
    â€œLook guys, I’m just having a good time. Thanks for the fatherly concern but I’m not getting married.”
    Francesco looked at Dimos. “Did he just say ‘married’?”
    â€œAgain.”
    â€œScrew you