St. Lawrence Market Greek Supper Club (recap)
National Geographic recently rated Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market as the “World’s Best Food Market”, something Torontonians have known for years. Early Greek immigrants lived near the Market as they also worked as butchers, fish mongers and green grocers. St. George (Toronto’s first and oldest Greek Orthodox church) was founded to be near the Greek community. […]
Greek-Style Corned Beef Hash
If I was in Greece, I’d be making this with Kavourma, a term for a cooked/preserved meat that was slow cooked then stored in containers in the winter. It was preserved/sealed with the fat on top to prevent rotting. These days, kavourma is made in more modern ways and beef, water buffalo, pork and lamb […]
Tzigerokeftedes
Last month, we celebrated Easter and when I mean celebrate, we prepare a full-on Sunday feast with food being served from morning ’til night. You would too if you fasted from meat and meat by-products for a 40-day Lent period. The center of the Greek Easter table is lamb (or goat) and nothing gets wasted […]
Mushroom Magheritsa Soup
When Greeks return from the Anastasi service at church (Saturday Easter eve), the first thing to go into the mouths is a bowl of Magheritsa. This is a traditional soup made of boiled intestines (cleaned) and other offal (such as heart, lung, liver and sweetbreads). The soup is full of boiled greens, dill, parsley, scallions […]
Smoked Eggplant Macaroni & Cheese
This dish came about after brainstorming with “The Dragon” on our recent trip to Chicago. I had prepared as part of the main course a braised lamb in tomato sauce on a bed of smoked eggplant purée. Hunkar Begendi for those who know Istanbul-Constantinople food. The key to pulling off this dish is getting the […]
Recap – Politiki Kouzina, Constantinople Dinner
Constantinople, the name Greeks still like to call modern-day Istanbul. The name Istanbul comes from Byzantine times when it was referred to as “Is Thn Poli”. I have been three times to this magical, historical and magnificent city. Many Greeks who left Istanbul to resettle in mainland Greece, brought with them the many recipes for […]
Kalofagas Cooks at Chicago’s Avli Restaurant
I’m delighted to announce that I will be traveling to Chicago to cook at Chicago’s Avli Estiatorio (restaurant), located just north of the city in Winnetka. Proprietor Louie Alexakis and I have come up with a menu that will showcase dishes from my repertoire and some from the kitchens of Avli. I’m also pleased to […]
Kritamos on the Danforth
Toronto’s Greektown aka The Danforth has been a street in transition and it sorely needed to have injection of fresh, new Greek eating establishments. Enter Kritamos, located on the south side of the Danforth, between Chester and Logan. Kritamos was opened by Brian Li and he’s brought Chef Kypros Soteriou (Mandolin Aegean Bistro in Miami) […]
Let’s Visit Santorini
This past summer was one of the most memorable (all trips to Greece are memorable) but anytime one visits Santorini – it’s special. Santorini has been called the “Jewel of the Mediterranean”, arguably one of the prettiest islands in the region. It boasts lots of sunshine, traditional architecture throughout the island, a sophisticated tourist industry […]
Best of Greek Food 2013
I’m back from Greece and I return with lots of fond memories of my vacation spent with family and friends. In the coming days, weeks, months you will read of the places I visited, read of my favourite destinations and delight in the food and recipes I’ve brought back from Greece. While in Greece, I […]