Grilled Halloumi and Orange Salad
Today is Mother’s Day and I would like to extend my best wishes to my mother, all mothers, grandmothers and mom’s to be. You rock, you make the world go round and I send this dish out to you. My love affair with Halloumi cheese continues. This slightly briny, semi-firm sheep’s milk cheese hails from […]
Grilled Halloumi Salad With a Kalamata Olive Vinaigrette
I’m not sure which ingredient is the star here – the Halloumi cheese or this dressing made primarly of processed Kalamata olives? The Kalamata olive is best known as topping the famous Greek or Horiatiki salad. The Halloumi cheese, born in Cyprus, enjoyed equally throughout the Middle East and gaining new fans around the world. […]
Roast Lamb in Parchment (Αρνί ψητό στη λαδόκολλα)
Oh how many ways to cook a lamb there are. I’m just a Greek guy sharing the many ways. You have braised, boiled, grilled, rotisserie and roast. Then you have your whole lamb, or sections of lamb on the spit, leg of lamb, shoulder, chops, steaks and in this case, the shank. All these recipes […]
Salmon With Artichokes & Potatoes
Here’s a dish that’s “just in time” for Spring. Artichokes are in season, salmon is available all year’ round and the flavours of citrus lick this dish. Some potatoes coated in sweet paprika and some briny capers round out the dish. The oregano has just sprouted and so have the chives. This dish is a […]
Omelet With Feta, Scallions & Mushrooms
A couple of weekends ago, when I was shopping for some last minutes groceries for Easter, I had met and chatted with a gent who was obviously a senior citizen. I allowed him to be served before me and the man kindly refused. The man with him interjected and asked me to ask how old […]
Thrapsala Gemista (θράψαλα-γεμιστά )
One of the reasons I find fasting for Lent more manageable is because when I choose a recipe (and ultimately share it), it has to be good. Not just good enough for Lent but worthy enough to reproduce throughout the year. You should consider cutting down on your red meat intake and boosting vegetables, fish […]
Lavraki Sto Fourno (Λαβράκι-στο-φούρνο)
Today is Palm Sunday for Greek-Orthodox Christians and it’s the second of two dates during the Great Lent where fish is allowed to be consumed (the other was March 25th, Annunciation). Many parishes will be hosting banquets with the main course being fish. These banquets are popular as those who have followed the strict fast […]
Potato Salad With Blood Oranges (Πατατοσαλάτα-με-σαγκουίνια)
This salad comes to you with inspiration of the season, my visit last year to southern Greece (Laconia) and timely in that it’s also a Lent-friendly dish. Let’s examine the ingredients: a new shipment of Greek extra-virgin olive oil, just shipped from the old country and courtesy of a family friend. The early harvest of […]
Grilled Butterflied European Sea Bass
Each time I go to Greece I have to stop by the “Kourdisto Gouroni” (Wind-up Pig) in the Agia Sophia neighborhood of central Thessaloniki. This eatery has been in operation since the early 1990’s and the feel of the place and the food could be best described as “Greek Bistro”. Lots of beers on tap […]
Cuttlefish With Spinach (Σουπιές-με-σπανάκι)
Cuttlefish. Don’t touch that dial and the cuttlefish is an interesting member of the cephalopod family. That is to say, it’s related to squid and octopus. The cuttlefish has an internal shell, the cuttlebone. Some of you who have spent much time on the beach will have found some cuttlebones in the sand. Others who […]