Great Lent
This is the final week of fasting before Easter Sunday. Greeks will vary in the manner in which they conduct their fast but it’s safe to say the majority will eat meatless and dairy-free until after midnight when we arrive back home to eat a waiting bowl of Magheritsa. For those not in the know, […]
Hunkar Begendi With Beef
When I visited Greece in the past, I’ve taken side-trips to Istanbul (Constantinople). The city to this day is the center of Greek-Orthodoxy and the Patriarchate is situated there. One of the most interesting experiences during my trip there was to try out many of the dishes being offered up by the Turks. Many dishes […]
Grilled Pork Chops With an Onion Marmalade
I enjoyed the whole experience of barbecuing so much the other day I had to go back to the grill and make up for lost winter-time BBQ moments. Today’s grilling subject is pork chops. Pretty run-of-the-mill, eh? Pork chops do not have much flavour, often they end up being dry and one often needs a […]
Shepherd’s Pie
I’ve been emotionally scarred. My father worked all his adult life in the restaurant biz. My father also rarely dines out. My dad has witnessed many kitchen nightmares and on occasion, he’d share his experiences. Don’t get me wrong, I still eat out but I know a few things to look for in a clean […]
Tsikno-Pempti
The two weeks leading up to the Great Lent means that Greeks will revel in dressing up, parties, good times with friends and family, travel and indulging in lots of meats. Afterall, for forty days we in the Greek Orthodox faith will be fasting by eating a vegetarian diet (of varying strictness). This year, the […]
OPA!
Ever see this flaming dish at a Greek taverna? Ever hear the Greek waiter shout OPA? This next dish is inspired by the many Greek restaurants, eateries and tavernas that serve up this style of fried cheese to a clientele that never ceases to tire of this ritual. Whoever said presentation never mattered to a […]
Keftedes With Ouzo
Some of you might recall my post about Greek Keftedes, which are Greek hamburgers or meatballs. I was at the supermarket to buy a few things and I saw a package of ground lamb meat on sale. I’ve had lamb burgers from time to time and I found them to be juicy and a nice […]
Brown Bagging for Dinner
The French have a knack for making something very simple to sound “chi-chi-frou-frou” and charging a helluva’lot for it. I can be frugal. Tonight’s dinner was “en papillote” but I ran out of parchment paper. “En papillote” simply means “in paper”. I’ve seen many dishes that are tucked into little packages of foil, parchment, pastry […]
Salad of Broccoli and Cauliflower
For those in the northern hemisphere, it’s almost winter and our eating gravitates to more meats, soups and heartier dishes. Although I’m not a big salad person in the winter, I think it’s still important to get your dose of veggies in your diet. This salad features broccoli and cauliflower which are low in fat, […]
Mâche Greens With Feta Dressing
The unusually warm autumn weather has allowed me to continue to eat some salads before the Canadian deep freeze sets in. We’re just beyond a week until Hallowe’en, I’m wearing short-sleeves and there are still alot of trees with greenery on them. I often also pass through my local Asian market. I find good, inexpensive […]