Greek Wine
Feb 5th, 2012 |
By Peter Minakis 
Last year when I visited the Gerovassliou winery in Epanomi (near Thessaloniki), it was my second time for a tour of the winery and museum. As you will recall the first visit was cut-short because I arrived late and the winery was closing. I had to wait one whole year to come back tho this [...]
Posted in Braising, Eggplant, Featured, Greek Wine, Herbs, How To, Main, Olive Oil, Spices, Thessaloniki, Vegetables | 5 comments
Feb 3rd, 2012 |
By Peter Minakis 
It’s time to start thinking about summer vacations and I’m once again urging you to visit Greece. Price-wise there has never been a better time and secondly, it’s still such a wonderful place for a vacation…ignore what you see happening in Athens. There’s so much more to Greece and I promise you – once you [...]
Posted in Culinary Tour of Greece, Featured, Greek Wine, Thessaloniki, Travel | 2 comments
Jan 28th, 2012 |
By Peter Minakis 
I’ve been very busy of late with a lot of my time in the kitchen being devoted to making phyllo pastry by hand and selling these creations to many here in Toronto. Often times I’ve found myself without an iota of an idea about what to have for dinner and that has to change. I [...]
Posted in Featured, Fish, Greek, Greek Wine, Herbs, Legume, Lemon, Main, Olive Oil, Vegetables | 10 comments
Jan 19th, 2012 |
By Peter Minakis 
For a few years now there’s been talk of “sustainable” sources of fish, produce and meat. Today I ask you to consider the rabbit – mild in flavour (like chicken), lean, healthy (no skin) , sustainable and delish. Before I get any comments from the Philistines, the rabbit you see in recipes is not “Fluffy” [...]
Posted in Braising, Featured, Flour, Garlic, Greek, Greek Wine, Herbs, Main, Mushrooms, Olive Oil, Oranges, Rabbit, Sauce | 5 comments
Jan 15th, 2012 |
By Peter Minakis 
For those that have been to Istanbul, you know what I mean when I say it’s surreal: the density of the city, the endless traffic, boats and ships running up and down the Bosphorus, the seemingly endless city filled with historical landmarks and everywhere…I mean everywhere – there’s food to be had. When you’re a [...]
Posted in Beef, Featured, Greek Wine, Herbs, Istanbul, Main, Meze, Olive Oil, Onions, Peppers, Recipes, Turkish, Vegetables | 17 comments
Jan 10th, 2012 |
By Peter Minakis 
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 [...]
Posted in Featured, Festive, Fish, Greek Wine, Herbs, Main, Olive Oil, Onions, Polish, Recipes, Sauce | 13 comments
Jan 5th, 2012 |
By Peter Minakis 
In Greece, there are big fish and there are little fish. The big fish are usually grilled and the small fish usually get fried. There are always some exceptions but one fish that’s usually fried is the red mullet – prized for its firm but sweet meat that also holds up well to frying. Red [...]
Posted in Featured, Flour, Frying, Greek, Greek Wine, Herbs | 6 comments
Jan 3rd, 2012 |
By Peter Minakis 
Recipe update from December 2007, I’ve switched wild boar for more widely available pork shoulder…a favourite cut of mine as it’s affordable, forgiving and versatile. I’ve lost count of how many pork dishes I’ve made using pork butt. Greeks eat alot of pork these days which wasn’t always the case. Souvlaki and Gyro are most [...]
Posted in Christmas, Featured, Greek, Greek Traditions, Greek Wine, Main, Olive Oil, Onions, Peppers, Pork, Potato, Roasting | 30 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’veĀ always loved [...]
Posted in Appetizer, Baking, Bread, Cheese, Christmas, Featured, Fruit, Garlic, Greek, Greek Wine, Oranges, Spices | 9 comments
Dec 19th, 2011 |
By Peter Minakis 
I’m convinced that the prices of meat cuts have more to do with popularity rather than its true value. Chicken wings used to be given for almost nothing yet now cost almost $10 for a lb. of wings at the bar. How about flank steak? That used to be the cheap “every man’s steak” but [...]
Posted in Dairy, Featured, Greek, Greek Wine, Herbs, Main, Mushrooms, Olive Oil, Onions, Pork, Sauce | 11 comments