Appetizer
Jan 31st, 2012 |
By Peter Minakis 
There’s alot of good things happening with this salad, you’re gonna learn a couple of things, be frugal and fancy all in one dish! The centerpiece of the salad is the phyllo cigars filled with Feta cheese, walnuts and almonds, some lemon zest and ground anise. There’s more licorice flavour echoed in the salad greens [...]
Posted in Appetizer, Cheese, Featured, Fruit, Grapes, Niagara, Nuts, Olive Oil, Phyllo, Salad, Syrup, Vegetarian | 8 comments
Dec 29th, 2011 |
By Peter Minakis 
One of the surprise hits at Christmas dinner was this baked Brie cheese i paired with cranberry sauce. Brie on its own is always welcome on a cheese plate but when baked it’s even creamier, more of its flavour comes out and it’s great when paired with something savory and something sweet. I’ve always loved [...]
Posted in Appetizer, Baking, Bread, Cheese, Christmas, Featured, Fruit, Garlic, Greek, Greek Wine, Oranges, Spices | 9 comments
Dec 22nd, 2011 |
By Peter Minakis 
Traditionally, figs get stuffed with walnuts and are laid out to be served among the array of sweet and savory bites during the Christmas season, [...]
Posted in Appetizer, Christmas, Dessert, Featured, figs, Fruit, Greek, Nuts, Snacks, Spices, Sugar, Walnuts | 10 comments
Dec 20th, 2011 |
By Peter Minakis 
One of the cornerstones of Greek cuisine has to be it’s cheeses…varied in taste, texture and many offerings coming from all parts of the country. I brought a cheese from Greece is called Batzos – not Batsos (Greek slang for Police/Cop). Batzos come from northern Greece and more specifically from central to western Macedonia (Naoussa [...]
Posted in Appetizer, Bread, Cheese, Featured, Frying, Lemon, Meze, Pantry | 7 comments
Dec 18th, 2011 |
By Peter Minakis 
I decided to organize some Christmas dishes for you to consider when you’re planning your Christmas, holiday and New Year’s menus. These are some options divided simply in savory and sweet categories. Eat when you drink, drink when you eat and reach out and invite someone extra to the table. You’ll feel good! Savory [...]
Posted in Appetizer, Cheese, Christmas, Cookies, Dessert, Featured, Greek, Greek Traditions, Main, Salad | 9 comments
Dec 14th, 2011 |
By Peter Minakis 
I figured I better squeeze in all the fried cheese while it’s still December and we can splurge on some richer foods (and eat them too)! I have just one thick slab of Batzo cheese left in the fridge – a cheese from northern Greece that I brought back this past summer. To refresh your [...]
Posted in Appetizer, Cheese, Featured, Flour, Frying, Gravy, Greek, Greek Wine, Meat, Meze, Sauce | 5 comments
Nov 4th, 2011 |
By Peter Minakis 
When I head into Thessaloniki (from Halkidiki) it’s to grab a bite with some family and friends and each and every time – a culinary surprise waits for me – guaranteed! A conversation with my friend Yianni goes like this: Me: I’m coming in to the city, what’s new, what’s hot – where shall we [...]
Posted in Appetizer, Beer, Cheese, Featured, Greek, Greek Grill, Herbs, Main, Onions, Peppers, Pork, Thessaloniki | 8 comments
Nov 2nd, 2011 |
By Peter Minakis 
The cool weather is here (in Canada for awhile) and the shift to heartier dishes and spicier dishes has been made. Although I like to eat spicy and hot dishes all year ’round, Autumn/Winter is ideal for eating hot peppers. I was brought-up in a household that always had peppers in the fridge, we pickled [...]
Posted in Appetizer, Cheese, Featured, Florina, Greek, Herbs, Meze, Olive Oil, Side, Vegetables | 12 comments
Oct 31st, 2011 |
By Peter Minakis 
When I visit Greece I also head into Thessaloniki to have a lunch or dinner at one of my favourite restaurants in the city, “Kourdisto Gourouni” (Wind-up Pig). The Kourdisto Gourouni has old world charm, serving lots of beers, a good choice of Greek wines and lots of great food to be served with [...]
Posted in Appetizer, Cheese, Featured, Frying, Greek, Herbs, Meze, Peppers, Thessaloniki, Vegetarian | 13 comments
Oct 24th, 2011 |
By Peter Minakis 
A short while ago I wrote about having lunch at one of Toronto’s great new places to eat seafood – Diana’s in Scarborough. As sexy as it was having a Lobster Club House sandwich, the real star of that lunch were the steamed mussels in a white wine and fennel sauce. Tremendous. I asked our [...]
Posted in Appetizer, Bistro, Butter, Canadiana, Featured, Herbs, Recipes, Seafood, Wine | 13 comments