Bacon-Wrapped Scallops & Mushrooms
This dish is rich, definitely decadent with it’s unashamed use of bacon and inspired by a recent visit I had at a Japanese (Izakaya) bar here in Toronto. The most outstanding appetizer of the of two nights I spent at Izakaya was this dish made of scallops and enoki mushrooms wrapped in slab bacon. Presented […]
Cheese Pies With Yogurt
This past summer while in Greece we had a little thing goin’ on with friends: bring some leftovers to the beach so that we could nosh/have some snacks to keep our growling bellies at bay. You see, Greece is hot in the summer…very hot. Despite late nights spent with family and friends I find myself […]
Grilled Pork Steakettes
If you’ve ever eaten pork steaks then you can relate to my enthusiasm for this cut of pork. A pork steakette is cut from the pork butt, a square piece of meat that’s attached to the shoulder. The pork butt (also known as the Boston butt) comes from the shoulder (not the pig’s rear) and […]
Dolmadakia tis Marianna’s
Just a couple of days into my trip to Greece and I began in earnest to meet the first round of folks who are passionate about Greek cuisine and take pride in the products they produce. Technology has it’s good and bad points but when it comes to connecting with new friends, acquaintances and the […]
Flaming Cheese Saganaki
This appetizer meze is one that you will find both in Greece and in the tavernas around the world. The glaring difference in the Cheese Saganaki served in Greece and abroad is that in Greece it will simply be pan-seared and brought to your table. Abroad (Canada, US, Australia, western Europe) you will also get […]
Keftedakia With a Paprika Sauce
Here’s a bookmarked recipe that I finally got around to trying this summer. Keftedes are a seasoned Greek meatball and here we have the use of the the diminutive, “keftedakia” or little meatballs. The recipe comes from Ethnos, one of Greece’s daily newspapers. It seems every paper in Greece has a section dedicated to food, […]
Shrimp and Garlic Bread
A brief post that’s a companion to the updated Chickpea Soup from Sifnos. This easy, delicious and chi-chi-frou-frou Shrimp and Garlic Bread. I’ve served this as an h’ors oeuvres and as a garnish with this soup – in both cases it was well received. The recipe is easy: raw shrimp, scallions, garlic, Feta cheese, grated […]
Octopus Kokkinisto on a Smokey Eggplant Purée
Some know it, many don’t and I now urge you to try the combination of octopus with eggplant. Next time you’re at a Greek taverna and you’re ordering seafood – make sure you have some octopus and eggplant in the mix. Try tasting both the eggplant (say Melitzanosalata) and the eggplant both in your mouth. […]
Vlahaki Salata
I’ve been having a wonderful time thus far here in Greece. Wake up, have brekkie, a little Internet, coffee with friends and then off the the beach. After my swim I head home, have lunch and a brief siesta, then head back to the beach for my second swim of the day. Sometimes this routine […]
Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Skewers
This dish takes a little patience but you’ll be rewarded with a succulent, slightly smoky appetizer that will fool the firmest chicken haters. What we have here are pieces of chicken breast that are wrapped with bacon, skewered with pieces of pepper and grilled until the bacon fat renders, leaving you with a moist, tender […]