“Filoxenia is the Greek word for traditional hospitality, in which a stranger (xenos) is instantly made a friend (filos) after being welcomed into one’s home.”
I learned the meaning of this very special term at “Dio Deka”, the restaurant where I chose to dine on my last night in Los Gatos. “Filoxenia” is the base of the culture, and it was evident in every aspect of this fabulous restaurant.
“Dio Deka” is a former Michelin rated Greek restaurant located in the Hotel Los Gatos, where I made my base for the great Forester “bonding” adventure. It is the only Greek restaurant in the United States that has received a Michelin Star. When I visited Los Gatos years ago, eating in this restaurant was part of my plan. It didn’t work out on that trip. But, I vowed to come back and have a meal here sometime.
This was the time! What better way to end my stay in Los Gatos than by enjoying a meal and the fine company of the family at “Dio Deka”? Not only was the food spectacular, the hospitality experience was unparalleled. I was dining alone, but truly felt like I was having a fine meal in the company of friends.
Truth be told, I went back and forth about whether to take a chance on this restaurant. It was relieved of the Michelin star in the last few years, and I read a few reviews that were not stellar. So, I did my usual survey of locals to get an opinion. Even those were mixed. But….seasoned traveler that I am….I know how it goes with reviews. One needs to take them with a grain of salt. There are lots of different slants on what constitutes “good” and even more variation on “great”. And, frankly, the Michelin star is a good quality measure, but does not always guarantee a great meal. Still, I was so conflicted that I waited until about an hour before I was planning to go to dinner and decided that if I could get a reservation, I would give it a try. I’m so glad I did.
After I was seated and had a minute to review the menu, the waiter came by and we established that I was dining alone. He wondered if I would have a glass of wine. But, of course! I wondered if he had a recommendation. I had decided to have the Moussaka. He recommended several wines that would pair well with that choice, but I landed on an “Old World” Bordeaux Blend.
He explained that the Moussaka was not “traditional”, but a “deconstructed” version, which made me question my choice a bit. But, his description sounded so good, that I decided to stay with this. I also ordered some marinated Greek olives. For those of you who have traveled with me, you know that I have an olive fetish. I love them….all kinds….and have tried them everywhere I have visited. So good!
The Moussaka was, indeed a treat. It consisted of 2 short ribs, each of which was topped with a slice of roasted eggplant that was topped with a small mound of pureed potato that had been crisped in the oven. The ribs were placed decoratively on the dish surrounded by an eggplant puree, a balsamic reduction and a sprinkling of roasted cherry tomatoes. There was a crisp, homemade potato chip propped up on the side of each of the short ribs. It was a work of art.
I constructed each perfect bite with a small bit of each of the components of the dish. The combination of crispy, smooth and chewy textures along with the savory and sweet flavors was unbeatable. And, the wine choice was a perfect match for the flavors and the richness of the meat.
A few minutes into the meal, the waiter came by to get my thoughts. All I could say was
“This is fantastic! So delicious!”
We chatted for a few minutes about my visit to Los Gatos, and I asked him about the lost Michelin star. Apparently, they had a change in chefs and things went awry. He said it happens all the time. But, they now had someone new, William Roberts, who is showing great promise. I agreed and said that if this meal shows any indication, they would certainly win back their star.
Well……he relayed my compliment to William, who communicated back a hearty thank you through the waiter. Then, as I was nearing the end of my meal, William came by to meet me and thanked me for my comments. He was so appreciative….and humble. I passed along my card from the tasting room where I work. I hope he stops by sometime. He said he would…..we’ll see……After he left, the General Manager came by to see what I thought of the Moussaka.
Again…..Delicious!
At the end of the meal, my waiter came by with the check and said that William was so glad I enjoyed my meal that he waived the cost of my glass of wine. How nice!
As I left, each of the staff members I passed spoke to me, thanked me for coming and wished me a good evening. What a wonderful experience! I truly felt like I was a welcome part of their family!
This experience was the highlight of my day, even a little higher than my discovery of the “off-roading” capability of the mighty Forester!
It even topped my wine tasting follies for the day, which is always a favorite for me! In the end, I did find a few open tasting rooms where I met some interesting characters and had some great wine.
This tasting room had a tropical theme! Funny!
My favorite for quality was Wright’s Station.
The owner and winemaker was behind the bar pouring. He was retired from another career and decided to try his hand at making wine. So, he went to UC Davis to study winemaking, got a certificate and went to town. He has a fairly new tasting room with spectacular views of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
I loved his Pinot Noir….and other things, too…..but, the Pinot was my favorite!
My favorite tasting room for interacting with interesting characters was Savannah-Chanelle.
The wines were good, but the staff was better. Mike and Luke were behind the bar. They kept me quite entertained….and informed about the wine…..while I was there. We swapped tasting room stories and had a few laughs. Very fun!
So, all in all, I would deem my “bonding” adventure a great success. I am one with my new car (which, by the way got a stunning 34 miles per gallon on my trip home….another thing to love), my tummy is full of yummy food and wine, and I have some new friends in Los Gatos….my favorite part of travel.
I also have a new word in my repertoire….“Filoxenia”. I think I will take this on as my new travel mantra.
I like it. I think it suits me……
Travel With Betsy 
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