Festive

Greek Easter Recipe Round-Up

Apr 24th, 2013 | By
Greek Easter Recipe Round-Up

Many of you have visited my Recipe Round-Up for Lent and I hope that I’ve helped you find some interesting dishes to break-up the monotony of the usual Lenten fare. We’re fast approaching Greek Easter and preparations are already beginning in my household! Greek Easter is centered around lamb or goat and the whole day [...]



Ellasonitiko (Slow Roasted Pork Belly With Crackling)

Mar 10th, 2013 | By
Ellasonitiko (Slow Roasted Pork Belly With Crackling)

Last summer was a hot one and avoid the cities and stay near the beaches where most of my friends and family are, anyways. Once the temperatures get cooler, the evenings longer – that’s when it’s time to head into the city and explore without sweating off half your body weight. September is a wonderful [...]



Pork Gioulbasi Stuffed Kefalotyri & Sour Cherry Sauce

Dec 20th, 2012 | By
Pork Gioulbasi Stuffed Kefalotyri & Sour Cherry Sauce

There’s a Constantinople dish from around 1900 called Gioulbasi. Traditionally, a leg of lamb is studded with garlic and stuffed with pieces of sharp, aged Greek cheese. The meat is wrapped in parchment paper and slowly roasted until the meat is fork-tender, aromatic and about to fall off the bone. In mainland Greece there are [...]



Greek Style Sunday Roast

Dec 12th, 2012 | By
Greek Style Sunday Roast

This dish is inspired by the memories of having large family gatherings on Sundays. I mean large when aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents also show up for lunch/dinner and lots of food would be prepared and served to feed the Greek appetites. My dad taught me how to roast Prime Rib but my mom taught me [...]



Thalassa! Thalassa! July 10th Greek Supper Club Recap

Jul 18th, 2012 | By
Thalassa! Thalassa! July 10th Greek Supper Club Recap

I just received the fabulous photos of last week’s Greek Supper Club held on the rooftop of a condo in the Fashion District of downtown Toronto. The memories are still fresh in my mind but I want to share this fabulous evening for those of you who couldn’t make it or you’re thinking about attending [...]



Neo-Magheritsa

Apr 14th, 2012 | By
Neo-Magheritsa

Margheritsa is a traditional soup made by Greeks for Orthodox Easter. It contains cleaned intestines, organs of the lamb or goat and may contain sweetbreads and even the boiled head of the animal. The meat is boiled until softened and a stock is created. Spring onions, herbs are added and the soup is finished off/thickened [...]



Gaia Greek Dinner at Malena

Mar 23rd, 2012 | By
Gaia Greek Dinner at Malena

Just two nights ago some lucky folks here in Toronto got to experience the first of many Greek cuisine-themed dinners I hope to organize in the future. Beyond organizing dinners at my home or other people’s residences this was the first to be held at a restaurant. I chose Malena because I love the warm [...]



Ryba po Grecku (Fish ala Greque)

Jan 10th, 2012 | By
Ryba po Grecku (Fish ala Greque)

Last year my brother married a gal of Polish origin which makes me automatically interested in the ways, culture and food of this northern European neighbor. This past weekend while looking for cookbooks at thrift shops and used book stores I tripped upon a a couple of Polish cookbooks which were quickly snapped up. I [...]



Sauerkraut Rice

Dec 12th, 2011 | By
Sauerkraut Rice

Here’s a dish my family’s made since I can recall holiday dinners like Thanksgiving and Christmas. This rice comes together rather easily which is good to have in your arsenal of holiday side dishes, what with the mad dash going on in the kitchen. The dish would originally be made with “ksinolahano”…a coarser Greek version [...]



Roasted Pork Shanks With Crackling

Dec 12th, 2011 | By
Roasted Pork Shanks With Crackling

This dish was first inspired when I saw Anthony head back to home territory (New York) and tour the city’s great old-skool eateries. If you’ve ever been to New York you know that there’s an endless selection of places to eat with every culture and cuisine present and a combo of trendy and traditional restaurants. [...]