The Skiathos Bulletin Board

Merlin · Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 7:46 pm Post subject: Dairy free

I was reading something some one wrote about vegetarians and it set me thinking.
Living with some one who has developed intolerance to dairy has opened my eyes to a whole new world. Just when you think you have it sorted wham something you weren’t aware of puts you back to square one. They even sneak dairy products into boiled sweets and some times the manufactures change the recipes to include dairy without even warning even Skiathos can be a dangerous place.
Some years ago I was completely unaware of the problem yes I knew of the existence of such things but never appreciated how devastating it can be to someone’s life; imagine slowly poisoning yourself and not knowing that you’re doing it and constantly feeling ill with no apparent reason.
Then one day you visit your GP for a routine health check only this time it’s not your regular GP and he has also taken the time to actually read your notes and wham he has the same problem to and bingo you’re on a winner or at least someone you can compare notes with.
Somehow I can not help think how did people cope years ago did they actually die of this problem or is it the result of modern day life. In our situation it was probably brought on by IBS and salmonella poisoning contracted whilst on holiday on Skiathos, we tracked it down to eggs.
We all visit Skiathos on a regular basis and many have done so for several years but does anyone know how common this problem is in Greece.
Many of our native friends seem to be aware of the condition but still continue to offer food containing dairy products and this is confusing me. Do they really understand, Is it something lost in translation or is this not such a big deal in the Mediterranean.
I know that some of the supermarkets now stock Soya products but being comparatively new to this problem I’m unsure how long they have been doing so and I can not honestly remember having to cater for this problem back in days when Skiathos only had small stores.
Some people have no choice in what they eat and if they break the rules whatever they are they pay dearly.

If you find this subject irrelevant then please accept my sincere apologise.
Arthur

HippyChic · Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2007 10:45 pm Post subject:

Arthur, a very valid point. It must be difficult for people with nut allergies too.

sundance · Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:53 am Post subject:

Live Dangerously!
In Greece you will eat Tzatziki made with unpasturised goat or sheep milk..if you are lucky and don't get the factory made stuff; salads with vegetables washed, if they are at all, in tap water which you have been advised not to drink, pork which has been hanging in the butchers window, unrefrigerated, during the day and chopped on an old wooden block with the same knife he uses for chicken, with a cigarette in one hand. Your swordfish steak, which will almost certainly have been caught and frozen somewhere thousands of miles away (fresh swordfish don't usually get as far as Skiathos), will have been sliced by a band saw designed to cut wood and cleaned only after the butcher slices off a finger. Don't worry about the mayonnaise though..from my observations whilst shopping for restaurant supplies it will have come out of a large tub and be made from powdered eggs!
Does the cleaner wash her hands before she moves your toothbrush after removing the bog paper? Like Hell!
More people probably get sick after wedding receptions in the U.K., on cruises, especially on the Nile, than do in Greece.
You could always stick to boiled beetroot (Pantzaria) and Skordalia Garlic sauce..no microbes can live in the one I make..
Kali Orexi

Merlin · Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 10:42 am Post subject:

Hi there Sundance

For me those sentiments exactly and to some extent the sentiments of my wife to but when that something inside your gut tells you that it shouldn’t be there then its game over.
Julie said yes the cleaner has washed her hands before moving the tooth brush, she is the cleaner.
I seem to get the impression that you think I’m having a pop at Greek hygiene but trust me I’m not. I have been visiting Greece for many years with 9 or 10 visits last year alone Julie stayed from May until September and I commuted between Islands unfortunate I know but a man has to do what a man has to do.
I do however agree if you are too sterile then you are at extreme risk and remember it’s not your own bacteria that can kill you it’s the bacteria of others.
Unfortunately Tzatziki is of the menu and for good reason as anyone with this curse well tell you. As for swordfish only once have I managed to eat this fresh in 20 years and that was at O’Batis year before last I think, so when in Rome do as the Italians do and all that crap the Romans went a long time ago.

Good appetite

sundance · Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 3:51 pm Post subject:

Sorry, Merlin.
On re-reading your post, you were referring more to dairy intolerance. My daughter got quite sick a few years ago and lost a lot of weight, thought it was Chrones disease..far from being an old Chrone though. Then they found it was gluten intolerance..fortunately for her, alchohol seems to be gluten free.
I'm sure I saw Soya milk and other such product in a couple of suoermarkets when I was last there..the one near the road to Kalivia for one and I know you can get all sorts of things in Volos. Certainly I get my Thai Curry Paste and coconut milk on my weekly trip from Afissos and that disgusting chocolate stuf they sprinkle on bread for breakfast. I tried force feeding Marmite in revenge!

Ian, call me pedantic..or anything else, but there is an apostrophe in the introduction to this forum which shouldn't really be there. I know my typing is aweful..hard to concentrate in an office with no air-co and 38 deg... can you get rid of it???!!!

Al Okle · Joined: 30 Apr 2006 Posts: 54 Location: Skiathos

Ah, the old grocer's or grocers' apostrophes.

It really gets up my nose when reading the news on the BBC's website to find them sprinkled through reports.

That and "I'd of thought" instead of "I'd've thought" for "I would have thought"

Yer old pedant.
Al.

sacha · Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 3 Location: London, UK

I developed a late onset reaction to milk products, especially cheese a few years ago - it gives me very bad eczema. Banning cheese was difficult at first, but I got used to it - but last week, surrounded by all that feta, I succumbed to a little taste with a side order of antihistamine. It was delicious ,but the tingling on the lips started very quickly, and as the mozzies were doing well enough at gving me little red lumps I had to stop.

I had to look away when the rest of the family were having their yoghurt and honey for breakfast!