Parisian chefs will come to Pitsilia. A great celebration of Cypriot flavors.

Agios Ioannis Pitsilias Gastronomic Festival will take place on Sunday, August 30th. Throughout the day, in the mountain village, you will be able to see how traditional Cypriot products and dishes are made, sample local flavors, and in the evening listen to music and see dance performances.

This year's seventh edition will be special. The organizers will dedicate it to the memory of the outstanding chef from Agios Ioannis. Andreas Mavrommatis, who moved from his hometown to Paris and built one of the most recognizable brands of Cypriot and Greek cuisine. Chefs associated with Mavrommatis restaurants in France will also be coming to his hometown.

Agios Ioannis Pitsilias Gastronomic Festival

The program will begin before noon. Around 11:00 a.m., a live broadcast from Kanali 6 radio is scheduled, while the main part of the festival will begin around 11:30.

The central square will be filled with stations where you can watch traditional dishes being prepared practically from start to finish.

Among other things, they will be baked in traditional ovens: halloumopita, eliopita and various types of bread.

Halloumi, trachanas, palouzes, and other products typical of Cypriot cuisine will also be prepared on site. A demonstration of zivania distilling is also planned.

Andreas Mavrommatis's flavors will return from Paris

The most extraordinary part of this year's festival will be the encounter between local tradition and the cuisine that Andreas Mavrommatis has been developing in France for decades.

They will come to Agios Ioannis chefs from the Parisian Mavrommatis restaurants, who will present selected dishes and recipes created by the Cypriot chef.

Mavrommatis's story began in this small mountain village. In 1977, he moved to Paris to study, but a career in the restaurant industry completely changed his career plans. In the following decades, he and his brothers created the Mavrommatis brand, combining Cypriot and Greek flavors with French culinary techniques. His Parisian restaurant earned a Michelin star in 2018.

Special exhibition in the library

The festival will not be limited to cooking.

The local library will host a special presentation on the life and career of Andreas Mavrommatis.

Visitors will be able to learn about his journey from his hometown of Pitsilia to the Parisian gastronomy scene, where he has spent years promoting the cuisine and products of the Eastern Mediterranean.

Grandmothers from Agios Ioannis will also be cooking

In addition to professional chefs, local residents will prepare their part of the program.

Rural traditions are to be presented by people who know them from their own homes and family recipes. Local housewives and grandmothers will prepare dishes typical of the Pitsilia region.

This part may be one of the most interesting for people who want to see Cypriot cuisine not only in its restaurant version.

In the afternoon, a visit to the local 17th-century church.

Music and traditional dancing in the evening

After a full day of culinary demonstrations, the festival will move into a more musical part.

They will perform on stage Vasiliki Hadjiadamou and Sotiris Petsas, as well as the traditional dance group "Alexandra".

The program is scheduled to run until midnight. Admission to the event is free. free.

The most important information

• When: Sunday, August 30, 2026
• Program start: around 11:00, main attractions from 11:30
• Until when: until midnight
• Where: the central square of Agios Ioannis Pitsilias, Limassol district
• Entry: free
• In the program: Traditional dishes, pastries, halloumi, trachanas, palouzes, zivania distillation demonstration, chefs from Paris, presentation dedicated to Andreas Mavrommatis, church visit, music and dance

Agios Ioannis is located in the mountainous part of the Limassol district, near Agros. From Limassol, the road towards Agros leads there, and the village is a short drive beyond Zoopigi.

Source: Agios Ioannis Pitsilias Gastronomic Festival organizers / Cyprus Food Museum / Cyprus Mail