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 […]
Shrimp Salad With Avocado and Pasta Shells
Despite Toronto experiencing a cooler than normal summer (so far), there are days when the last thing you want to do is sweat it out in the kitchen or even tend to the grill! We can’t stop eating. The thought of subsisting purely on nuts and fruits is out of the question as well. I […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Shrimp With Mastiha
Today I will be jumping back in fasting for Greek Lent. This is the home stretch, “Megali Evdomada” or Holy Week, culminating with a feast like no other on Easter Sunday for Orthodox Christians. One I say fast, I mean I will be abstaining from any meat or meat by-products until I go to church […]
Fried Calamari
One of my first and favourite seafood dishes that I enjoyed in my earlier vacations to Greece is calamari. In particular, fried calamari. Calamari are squid. Squid belong to the cephalapod family, which include octopus and cuttlefish. If you’re squeamish about cleaning squid, be kind and ask your fishmonger to do this for you. Barring […]
Shrimp With Capers and Dill
Doesn’t that plate of shrimp just scream Spring? Before I get on with today’s dish, allow me to do some “housekeeping”. I recently had another giveaway, this time the cookbook Greek Creative Cuisine was up for grabs. David Hall of of Book the Cook was the lucky winner, drawn randomly through a computer-generated lottery. Congratulations […]
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 […]
Shrimp, Roe and Dolmades
One of the ways that I “survive” fasting during Greek Lent is by enjoying a diet of shellfish. Shellfish do not have blood and therefore they are acceptable sustenance during the 49 day fasting period. I do not fast for the full 49 days but I do fast on the first and final week (Megali […]