Matt Damon, starring in Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’, developed a fondness for a particular Greek dish while filming in Greece.
In recent days, the region of Messenia in the southwest Peloponnese has turned into a huge Hollywood set, as many stars have arrived for the shooting of the highly-anticipated film.
Among the star-studded list of actors who will bring to life yet another adaptation of Homer’s epic The Odyssey, Matt Damon drew the most attention.
Following the arrival of the cast in Greece, local residents have shared their experiences of meeting the stars, highlighting their down-to-earth and approachable nature.
Matt Damon and his colleagues dined at a local restaurant alongside director Christopher Nolan, Tom Holland, and Anthony Molinari. According to the restaurant owner, who spoke on Mega Channel’s TV show “Pame Danai”, the Hollywood stars showed a keen interest in local products.
Matt Damon falls in love with Greek fava dish
Matt Damon was especially intrigued by the Greek dish fava (yellow split pea puree), asking about its preparation, and also enjoyed grilled octopus. He opted for cumin-seasoned lamb, while the rest of the cast sampled traditional Greek dishes, which they shared among themselves.
“They are very simple and genuinely interested in local products like olives and olive oil,” the restaurant owner stated. “They tasted taramosalata and fresh fish. Christopher Nolan came with Matt Damon, and we also hosted Tom Holland, Anthony Molinari, and others.”
She went on to describe Damon’s enthusiasm: “Matt Damon was particularly impressed by fava, asking how we make it. He also enjoyed the grilled octopus. The rest of the group tried various traditional dishes and shared them at the table.”
What is fava, the Greek dish Matt Demon loved?
Fava (φάβα), in Greek cuisine, is a traditional dish made of split peas, typically yellow ones. They are cooked with chopped onion and mashed together with seasonings, garlic, lemon juice and oil into a thick, creamy paste. The dish can be eaten as such, warm or cold, but is also often used as a dip, much like hummus.
A special type of Greek fava, Fava from Santorini, which has a protected designation of origin, uses the seeds of Spanish vetchling , cultivated only on Santorini and neighboring islands.
Making fava only involves a few steps. To begin, rinse the fava beans and prepare the other ingredients. Pour fava beans and chopped onions into a saucepan, add water to a few inches above the beans and bring to a boil. Boil the beans until they are mushy adding more water if needed. Transfer the beans to a bowl and beat in the rest of the ingredients with a fork.
With a star-covered cast and a whopping $250 million production budget, ”The Odyssey” is an ambitious cinematic project expected to be one of the most talked-about films of recent years.
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