A TALENTED chef who waved goodbye to his idyllic homeland to marry the love of his life is enjoying bringing a taste of his culture to a small Cumbrian town.

It's not just the plates that are smashing at an exciting new cafe in Millom, after a town delights in a tasty new cuisine at the Network Centre.

Vass Nikolaou opened It's All Greek to Me earlier this year and has enjoyed a roaring trade by tempting the taste buds of Millom residents.

As well as operating as a cafe in the day, Mr Nikolaou offers a whole range of services including takeaways, special Greek-themed nights and a personal service straight from peoples' kitchens.

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Mr Nikolaou said: "There are a great number of people here who have been to Greece on holiday.

"When they heard I was opening a Greek cafe they were all keen to come and remember and to get another taste of that food."

The 43-year-old moved to England in 2002 when he met and fell in love with his wife while they were studying near Leeds.

The newlyweds returned to Greece, where they lived for a year, before moving back to Millom.

Mr Nikolaou said: "I used to work at Millom School as a supply teacher but I decided I wanted to move in a different direction so I asked my brother to send me some olives so I could go round the markets with them.

"I also started to make baklava and I went to Keswick market, Workington, Sedbergh, Kirkby Lonsdale and Milnthorpe."

Mr Nikolaou then decided to settle in Millom and opened the cafe in March this year.

He said: "I love Millom - it's very nice.

"When I came here I thought it was a fantastic place. I love how green it is and how quickly you can access not just the sea but outdoor activities and the mountains.

"And the people are very friendly."

Mr Nikolaou also offers Greek cooking lessons in Millom in addition to Greek language lessons in Ulverston.

Delighted by the reception he's received, Mr Nikolaou is excited to encourage people across the area to try something a little different.

He said: "The experience I've had here is just amazing and everyone is so supportive.

"I'm doing something new and something that's a bit different. People come in and have a look at the menu and when they see Spanikopita (a spinach and feta pie), they don't just go for a bacon butty, they will try it."

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As the cafe continues to be a hit with people across the town, Mr Nikolaou's special Greek-themed nights are becoming a sell-out success.

Offering home-cooked Greek recipes that have been handed down through generations of his family, Mr Nicolaou offers residents an authentic taste of his hometown in the comfort of residents' own homes or even the Network Centre.

He said: "This is what I enjoy about doing this. I'm making something Greek and offering it to people and they like it because it's different and tasty. It's just a great feeling of satisfaction.

"It makes me feel proud.

"All my recipes and all my training have filtered through my mum's recipes and they're wholesome. It's a product of love."