Lemon Meringue Pie
We (Greeks) are now into Holy Week, “Megali Evdomada” – less than a week until Easter Sunday. Both the Catholic and Greek-Orthodox Easters (as is the case from time to time) fall on the same day this year. It is a very spiritual time for Greeks and it is indeed more significant than Christmas. The […]
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 […]
Fried Whiting With Makalo (Μπακαλιαράκια-τηγανητά-με-μακάλo)
Tomorrow is a double-celebration for Greeks. March 25th is a holiday in Greece where we celebrate Greek Independence Day. The inspiration is drawn from one of the most holy days in the Greek-Orthodox calendar, the Annunciation of the Theotokos. This is the day that Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would bear a child. […]
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 […]
Kritharaki me Fakkes (Κριθαράκι-με-φακές)
Here’s a wonderful dish that’s suitable for Lent, works as a side dish or served with seafood or fish. You get to pick how you want this dish to appear on your table. Kritharaki is what us Greeks call orzo. Kritharaki is a rice shaped pasta that should be treated as such. Do not add […]
The Vatistas Vineyards (aμπελώνες-Βατίστας)
My introduction to the Vatistas Winery is a prime example of the phenomenon known as “six degrees of separation”. The journey began two summers ago when I was asked by my cousin if I would like to visit the Pavlou Estate Winery in my mom’s home town of Agios Panteleimon. The Pavlou Estate wines are […]
Octopus Salad “Mosaic” (Χταπόδι-σαλάτα-Μωσαϊκό)
Readers of this blog should know by now that Greek food goes beyond souvlaki, spanakopita and pastitsio. There’s nothing wrong with these dishes but as Greeks, we do not eat them every week. The traditional Greek diet is weighted towards vegetables and pulses, grains and bread, fruits and nuts and fish and seafood. It’s a […]
Baked Sole Stuffed With Seafood
Tuna has gotten a bad wrap in the past, being labeled as the “chicken of the sea”. In my opinion, the real “chicken of the sea” is the sole. Sole (the flatfish) has to be the chicken breast of the sea. It’s lean, it’s white and in need of some flavour. That’s the minus side […]
Sai-Gon Palace
One of my favorite things to do in this city is to be a “tourist in my own town”. I’ll head out into various neighborhoods of Toronto, armed with a nap-sack, camera and wallet and take in neighborhood or two, snapping photos, stopping in some shops and ultimately, recharging with a bite to eat. One […]
Tandoori Chicken
It’s time to break the monotony of the series if Lenten dishes I’ve been posting. For the record: I fast for the first week of Lent, revert back to my regular diet of meat, seafood, vegetables (all in moderation) and I’ll revert back to the Greek-Orthodox fast for Holy Week (preceding Easter on April 4th). […]