Larnaka Tourism Board is supporting Athienou Municipality on the LEADER programme of the EU with the initiative ‘Athienou Food in Our Diet’ alongside the Larnaka and Famagusta District Development Company (ANETEL) and Filagro Group.  

Activities under the programme include the publication of a new recipe book under the 'Handcrafted in Athienou' branding with 10 recipes for Cyprus breakfast dishes incorporating Athienou’s local products (available here in Greek). The recipe book also introduces the culinary traditions of Athienou and the different food products and ingredients. 

Chefs from five of Larnaka’s hotels (Lordos Beach Hotel & Spa, Sentido Sandy Beach, Golden Bay Beach Hotel, Radisson Beach Resort Larnaca and LeBay Beach Hotel) were trained during a workshop on how to prepare the recipes so that they could be offered to guests during breakfast in the week of October 11-18 2023, with Athienou Municipality providing the ingredients. 

Other activities under the programme include a promotional video, informative stands at retail outlets, the creation of quality mark for authentic Athienou products, a brand management guide, and student materials, among others. 

Athienou Municipality is known for its wheat growing, bread making and baked goods; eggs and dairy (Halloumi and Anari cheeses), alcohol distillation, nuts, preserves and the ‘kleftiko’ (meat stew) served at its local taverns. It has one of the richest histories of traditional food production in Larnaka region - and the island - and the most elements (eight) included on the UNESCO National Intangible Cultural Heritage List, with five of those related to food (including Lokoumi wedding sweet, bread making tradition and ‘kleftiko').