the great escape

FIVE TASTEMAKERS PICK THE PLACES THEY CAN’T WAIT TO GET BACK TO AND ARE ALREADY IMAGINING THEMSELVES, COOL DRINKS IN HAND

- PIP McCORMAC

Kea

BY THE CHEF AND AUTHOR YOTAM OTTOLENGHI

Every year, my husband Karl and I, our two kids and 10 friends head to Kea, an island just off Greece. It’s a little under the radar as it doesn’t have an airport, but what it lacks in accessibility it makes up for in everything else (and the ferry from Athens is only an hour). Turquoise seas, beautiful landscapes and vegetable stands by the side of the road selling wonderful courgettes, aubergines and tomatoes, this island has all you want for the perfect holiday. It’s relaxed, it’s underdeveloped and while we’re there we just unwind. We always stay in villas we book on homeaway.co.uk, and in the morning, we’ll head to a pretty town called Ioulida, with a big church and sunny square, where we’ll sit and drink coffee while the children play with the local cats. We’ll be at the beach all afternoon – my favourite is Spathi, though it’s a treacherous car journey down steep roads – and then head home to make cocktails and cook. At night, we’ll often eat in Korissia, the port town, where at Rolando’s taverna you can dine on octopus and honey, lightly poached courgette wedges served with raw garlic and wild oregano. I know we’re all giving things up right now, and living in simpler ways, but I’d give up everything – really everything – if I could just be in Kea. Ottolenghi Flavour By Yotam Ottolenghi and Ixta Belfrage (Ebury Press), is out now.

NEED TO KNOW

Villas start at around £850 a week, homeaway.co.uk

Sorrento

BY THE INTERIOR DESIGNER SUZY HOODLESS