Pilgrimage to Inner Mani
I believe that every Greek should visit each corner of Greece, get to know/understand where other Greeks came from, learn their story and see their patrida from their perspective. My family is from towns in Florina, that’s northern Greece and less than an hour away from Greece’s border from former Yugoslavia. Place your finger on […]
Lemon Verbena and Melon Ice Cream
Have you ever smelled the aroma of lemon verbena? If not, let me describe it for you: it’s a soft lemony scent that is calming, like mom’s comforting stroke of your fair. The lemon aroma is distinct but mild and there’s a mint element to the scent. It’s warm, inviting and I absolutely adore it […]
Kalofagas Souvla Dinner, a Recap
I’ve roasted a whole lamb on the spit many times…mostly for Greek Easter but there’s the odd occasion when it’s done to celebrate as well. The tradition of roasting whole on the spit came from Roumeli (central Greece) but this method of cooking lamb became so popular that Greeks from all over Greece have […]
Mastiha Dinner in New York
This past Saturday was one of the most anticipated evenings, preparing for a Greek Supper Club in Manhattan. Here’s the setting: Upper East Side of Manhattan, a cozy restaurant called Amali being the venue and over 50 guests bought seats to try out my food. MY FOOD! The idea to do this dinner in New […]
Aroma Messinia – Dinner Recap
Last Tuesday’s Greek Supper Club was a sell out – 48 of my dinner guests sat together in two long tables to enjoy an authentic Greek meal. The dinner’s theme was the cuisine of Messinia, located in the southwestern tip of the Peloponnese. The dinner took place at the Burroughes Building on Queen Street West […]
Bulghur Salad With Nuts, Honey, Cheese, Pomegranate
I made this salad this past Sunday for guests who attended my Ancient Greek Food & Wine dinner. The main ingredient here is bulghur wheat, an ancient ingredient made of cracked durum wheat, parboiled and then dried. It gets sifted and then separated according to the size of the kernels. It’s a whole grain, super-healthy […]
Deipnon – Food & Wine of Ancient Greece Recap
Last night my guests were taken on a culinary journey back in time, when ancient Greeks had no lemons, no citrus, no tomatoes, potatoes. eggplants or peppers! The cuisine was centered on olives, olive oil, grapes, wine, vinegar for acidity, grape must and honey for sweetness. Lamb and goat were the meats of the day, […]
Roast Pheasant With Mushroom Cream Sauce
Last week I had the good fortune of being given two pheasants, just hunted from southern Ontario’s wilderness. The last time I enjoyed pheasant was over 10 years ago and the pheasant was farm-raised, not wild. Farm-raised game birds, boar, venison will be easier to cook than animals from the wild as the animal’s age […]
Pork & Mushroom Tigania With Katsamaki
The winter time in Greece is all about gathering with friends at someone’s home or at a taverna. Bonus points if the taverna has a fireplace…maybe in the center of the room or tucked in one corner. You’re really lucky if you get a table near the fireplace! My of my favourite wintertime Greek dishes […]
Juicy Chicken Gioulbasi in Parchment
Another Gioulbasi recipe, Greek man? Why….yes! This recipe comes from a rare, out of print book (only in Greek) that focuses on Rebetika mezedes/small bites and dishes. I love this book and you’ll be seeing more dishes from this fine little book. Again, Gioulbasi is most commonly known as a leg of lamb dish that’s […]