Grilled Octopus (xταπόδι-σχάρας)
One of the reasons I started this blog is because I noticed a disjoint from the notion people have of Greek food here in Canada and the United States and what is actually eaten in Greek homes or served if you were to go to a Greek estiatorio (restaurant) or taverna (tavern). This gap is […]
Hilopites With Mushrooms and Mint
Hilopites (pronounced “HEE-lo-Pee-tez”) are a class of pasta that are made in Greece and some families still have their own recipe, many festivals have ladies selling their artisan pasta and other dry noodles and they are definitely available at Greek supermarkets. The most common Hilopites are a small square pasta that are often used in […]
Spetsofai Skewers (Σπετζοφάι-σε-σουβλάκι)
Regular readers of my blog will know that I like to share dishes from a Greek magazine insert in the daily Kathimerini known as Gastronomos. This magazine comes out each month and it features the month’s seasonal ingredients, introduces new products entering the Greek market and it showcases new artisan and crafted foods made by […]
Grilled Calamari
For those that have been fortunate enough to visit Greece and enjoy some of the world’s freshest seafood, you would have been offered calamari either fried or in this case, grilled. I didn’t always eat calamari (squid) but the deep-fried variety is what converted me. However, grilled squid (or calamari) is what cemented my love […]
Lamb Lemonato
This past Easter, our family came to a consensus that we would not roast a whole lamb on the spit. Greek Easter fell earlier on the calendar (April 19th) and the weather was indeed cooler than seasonal norms. We opted for a whole leg of lamb on the spit and decided to offer “lamb two […]
Grilled Sweetbreads, an intro to Offal
The sweetbreads I’m discussing and cooking with today are considered offal. To look at sweetbreads, one would make the common mistake of thinking they are brains (in fact they are not). Sweetbreads come from the thymus glands, located at the chest entry, just before the trachea. They are only found in young animals as they […]
Cuttlefish With Saffron and Potatoes
Cuttlefish are an under-appreciated member of the cephalopod family. It’s cousins the octopus and squid seem to get all the attention at the party. The cuttlefish can be quickly grilled over high heat or braised until fork tender. The next time you visit your fishmonger, ask him/her if they have any cuttlefish. Chances are they […]
Sofrito
The title of this dish means three different things in three different languages and cuisines. Sofrito in Spanish refers to a well-cooked and fragrant sauce. In Italian, Sofrito means a saute and it often refers to sauteing a “mire poix”. The Greek take on Sofrito is related to the Italian definition as veal or beef […]
Octopus With Pasta
Last year during my vacation in Greece, I spent a couple of days in Naxos for a traditional Greek island wedding and then my plan was to visit the island of Sifnos for the first time. Oh yeah, I got to Sifnos but when one is in Greece, one should always expect a little adventure […]
Pavlou Estate Winery
Last year during my vacation in Greece, I was fortunate enough to be given tours of three different wineries…a small one, a medium-sized operation and a large, internationally established brand. Today, I’m going to showcase the small operation, Pavlou Estate. The Pavlou Estate Winery is located in the Greek province of Macedonia, northwest of Thessaloniki. […]