Tsantali Ouzo and a Meze Recipe
Last year, I was invited to visit the operations of the Tsantali Winery & Distillery in Agios Pavlos, Halkidiki, Greece. My family has been vacationing in this part of northern Greece since 1980, when our relatives bought their summer homes. The peninsulas of Kassandra and Sithonia are filled to the brim each summer with Greek […]
Greek Macaroni & Cheese
Toronto is experiencing one the coolest summers and definitely a wet one with a couple of rainfalls a day. The thermometer has breached 30 Celsius a mere three times. Toronto has also seen some labour unrest with some summer strikes (major one being a strike by the city’s garbage collectors). Me thinks summer is on […]
Recipe For a Greek Wedding
In less than two weeks, I’ll be back in Greece again for my vacation. This will be my 20th time and I still get excited about going. I still have some experiences to share from last year’s trip. One of the most cherished memories has to be when I attended a traditional Greek wedding on […]
Sardines Wrapped & Grilled With Grape Leaves
One of my goals of writing and sharing this blog about Greek food is to bridge the gap between what most of you are served at Greek restaurants in the West (Canada and the US) and what’s actually served in Greece and in Greek homes. In the summer, Greeks eat less, eat lighter and as […]
Char-grilled Chicken With Potatoes and Vegetables
One of the best ways to inject flavour into meats is with a marinade. Chicken is mild when it comes to meat so there’s alot of room for flavours. As I’ve written before, Greeks prefer their savory foods to remain savory, although some sweetness is tolerated and enjoyed. This marinade for chicken is sure to […]
Mussels Saganaki
When visiting Thessaloniki and the surrounding areas, chances are you’ll dine at one of the many tavernas that offer fish and seafood. Thessaloniki is Greece’s second largest city and its port is located on the Thermaic Gulf. Upon sitting down with your friends, the waiter will clean and set your table, bring bottles of water […]
Tonka Bean Creme Caramel
In the summertime, us Greeks try and beat the heat any way possible. Days are spent at the beach, siestas in the middle of the afternoon and cooking when the home has cooled down or minimizing cooking. During the summer in Greece, meals are prepared the evening before or that morning and simply reheated for […]
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 […]
Foodbuzz 24, 24, 24 – A Canada Day Celebration
This upcoming week will kick off the holiday season what with children out of school and parents are gearing up for family vacations. Next week also marks the arrival of July and a very important date for Canadians is July 1st – Canada Day. Us Canadians celebrate with pride our very young but thriving, prosperous […]
In Conversation With Michael Psilakis, Pt.1
The first time I saw or heard of Michael Psilakis is when he appeared on Iron Chef America vs. Cat Cora. Michael Psilakis is part-owner and chef of Kefi and Anthos, both located in Manhattan. I had the pleasure of dining at Kefi last year when I visited New York and I was proud as […]