Meze

Islim Kebabi

Jan 15th, 2012 | By
Islim Kebabi

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 [...]



Batzos Saganaki

Dec 20th, 2011 | By
Batzos Saganaki

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 [...]



Fried Batzos With Makalo & Kefte

Dec 14th, 2011 | By
Fried Batzos With Makalo & Kefte

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 [...]



Tomato & Feta Stuffed Peppers

Nov 2nd, 2011 | By
Tomato & Feta Stuffed Peppers

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 [...]



Red Pepper & Feta Pseudokeftedes

Oct 31st, 2011 | By
Red Pepper & Feta Pseudokeftedes

  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 [...]



Lobster Saganaki (Αστακος Σαγανακι)

Oct 19th, 2011 | By
Lobster Saganaki (Αστακος Σαγανακι)

It’s time for another saganaki dish. There are a lot of “saganaki” dishes on this blog but this one is the tastiest. REALLY! Most of you are familiar with the flaming cheese saganaki (a taverna favourite) but there are many types of saganaki dishes. Saganaki is the two-handled dish that it’s served in – so [...]



Pickled Green Beans – Φασολακια Τουρσι (Στίπα)

Oct 17th, 2011 | By
Pickled Green Beans – Φασολακια Τουρσι (Στίπα)

A few weeks back I made Hosafi, a dish from the Pontian Greeks and I alluded that I would share with you in due course and the time has come. This past summer in Greece, I spent a weekend visiting the diverse, delicious and distant city of Xanthi…a Greek city closer to the Turkish border [...]



Goat Cheese-Stuffed Onions

Oct 10th, 2011 | By
Goat Cheese-Stuffed Onions

This past summer while in Greece I visited the island of Lefkada, situated on the Ionian side of Greece. Each day was spent visiting a new beach and each evening it was a new dining adventure. Sometimes it was seafood and sometimes meat. Many dishes were sampled – some good, some were “meh” and others…memorable. [...]



Steamed & Broiled Razor Clams

Sep 12th, 2011 | By
Steamed & Broiled Razor Clams

Razor clams are perhaps the most perverted food I’ve seen at a market. Long and kind a phallic – the live mollusk wiggling and poking out of its shell. Open the shell up and surprise…the inside looks akin to a woman’s naughty bits. Innuendos, blushing brides and 40-year old virgins be damned – razor clams [...]



Gavros Saganaki (Γαύρος Σαγανάκι)

Sep 1st, 2011 | By
Gavros Saganaki (Γαύρος Σαγανάκι)

There are some things that just MUST be eaten when in Greece: vine-ripe tomatoes, freshly pressed olive oil, tree-ripened figs, watermelon and cantaloupe and the fresh fish – anchovies in particular. Erase whatever preconceived notion you have of the anchovy. Forget about the salty tinned or jarred variety or that pizza with the dreaded anchovies [...]