“Every morning Mr. Stavros used to come to our shop around the time when we were cutting the delight on the pans. He used to take the remains from the edges and put them into buns he'd bought from the bakery in order to sell them to the factory workers. Mr. Stavros kept the rolls hot inside a little transparent, glass chest and a drawer filled with burning coal”.

A delight maker with roots

Dina Sykoutri, a delight maker in Syros Island, describes her memories of the man almost tearfully. No matter how strange it may seem, this wonderful and hard-working man, who used to impress her so during her childhood, raised four fine children doing this job, financing their university studies as well.

Mrs. Dina learned the delight maker's art from her father, who came from Asia Minor. She is part of the fourth generation of the island’s delight makers and still insists on making the delights in copper cauldrons, because no other metal is suitable for this purpose. She is very happy that her son, a graduate of the Fine Arts School, continues the family tradition. Even when he was a student, he used to take the boat to Syros and start working after the end of each semester; he never wasted any time.

The first cauldron dose

In 1832 the first cauldron of delights was taken out ovens in Syros, made by Greeks of Constantinople (Istanbul) and Asia Minor. The first one who put a trademark on his brand was Stamatelakis in 1837; Daniolas, Rigas, Kritikos and many others followed. The old delight makers had their logos created by specialized designers and chose powerful symbols, like lions, eagles, bees, ancient gods and crowns.

Social life in Syros is closely tied to delights. The sweets are offered in celebrations of joy and sorrow, feasts and funerals. This is why delight makers always know of joyful or sad occasions first. In Syros, emotions are always ties to the taste of delights, known in the island as Loukoumia. This is true not only for the locals but visitors as well, who, unable to resist the smell of rose, mastic and bergamot filling the air temporarily suspend their diets and succumb to temptation.
TEXT-PHOTOS: GEORGE ZAFEIROPOULOS
SOURCE: www.greecewithin.com

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