It’s rare to find a business that truly offers the warmth of home, but with Greek hospitality you can expect nothing less. Nestled in the historic quarter of Mansfield just down Church Street, Fournos The Greek Bakery has created a welcoming space to feed and nourish. We spoke to Alexandros and Symeon about their first few months in business, and the evolving menu of Greek delicacies on offer.
The idea for a bakery came about for Alex just a few months ago. A Thessaloniki native, he had spent the past four years in London as Manager of a Greek supply company and things were going well, but he explains “when I heard about my wife having a baby I decided to quit from there.” He had an aspiration to open a coffee shop like the ones they had experienced in Greece, “and our dream came true around March” he adds. It’s this family first ethos that flows throughout the entirety of Fournos.
The welcome from Mansfield has been warm too, with plenty of positive feedback from Greeks and Brits alike. Sharing a similar cuisine; Romanians, Bulgarians, and others from the Balkans have found familiar flavours here too. But don’t fear if you’re a newcomer to Greek food, you can find your cafe classics like fresh croissants, doughnuts, and the usual coffee menu. Curious to try something new? Alex recommends the spanakopita – a crispy spinach and cheese pie. All the pastries are served with choriatiki – Greek salad, and tzatziki – a creamy herb dip; making it a hearty and moreish meal.
If you have a sweet tooth, “Our most popular is the orange pie, Portokalopita” Alex tells me, before insisting I have a slice. I can see why – it’s sweet, tangy, and syrup-soaked without being soggy – the perfect accompaniment to your afternoon coffee. With summer just around the corner, the Freddo espresso is a great choice too. Expect the caffeine kick of your usual iced coffee, but smooth and frothy – the Greek way.
Quality is just as central a principle to the bakery as hospitality, with everything made fresh everyday. If you like a bargain (and who doesn’t) you can find a welcome treat on the Too Good To Go app, with a baked goods or desserts bag setting you back just £6-£7 for the opportunity to try a few different products for a fraction of the price.
The menu is ever evolving, and if you’re lucky enough to be there at the right time expect a treat! At Easter the bakery served up tsoureki, a sweet yeasted dough decorated with red dyed eggs. Variations include praline, and indulgent white chocolate and hazelnut. I’m teased that we might get to indulge in the New Year’s version called vasilopita which Symeon explains has a coin inside and “Whoever gets it has luck for the whole year.”
With summer just around the corner and hopes of a freezer, new additions are expected to come to the menu. Baklava with ice cream is anticipated, along with gelato from their Italian neighbours across the Mediterranean. Until then, you can stock your cupboards with essentials like chocolate, wafers, soft drinks, ground coffee and even organic honey.
The space is relaxed and comfortable; and before I leave a sociable customer interjects to tell me Fournos “Has become like a little community area, people come here and make friends.” Ancient Greeks even had a name for this generosity- philoxenia – explaining the natural instinct to offer a warm welcome to strangers and friends alike.
After a coffee and sweet treat from Fournos, you might think Mansfield already found that lucky coin in the vasilopita, and we’re only guaranteed more fresh blessings from the oven each day. Head down to Fournos The Greek Bakery Monday-Sunday 8am-5pm and experience the best of Greece for yourself
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