Halloumi Saganaki with Ouzo, Grapes
The first time I tried Halloumi cheese was back in the 80’s – my mom brought some home from a Cypriot friend who got the cheese from another Cypriot friend who made the cheese herself. It’s safe to say Halloumi cheese has gone beyond “cult status”. No longer found at Greek and middle eastern shops, […]
Spaghetti With Grouper, Capers, Kalamata Olives
This dish takes me back to a visit I took to the island of Santorini. A beautiful island of steep cliffs, villages dotted atop of these cliffs and the blue Aegean sea below. The island also boasts of many excellent tavernas serving local specialties, lamb and many fish and seafood dishes. One dish that stood […]
Gamopilafo aka Cretan Wedding Rice
The first time I had Cretan Wedding Rice (Gamopilafo) was 10 years ago, my first trip to Crete. Traditionally, this rice is served at Cretan weddings usually made with a combo of goat or lamb and rooster to make the stock. This dish is an center piece offering exemplifying the host family’s wealth and well […]
Seared Scallops With Cretan Pilaf
One of the simple pleasures of Greek cuisine is a dish called “gamopilafo” aka wedding rice. It comes from Crete and traditionally served at weddings. Nowadays, many tavernas in Crete have it on their menus. Goat, lamb or rooster are boiled until tender and to give you a richly flavoured stock for cooking your rice. […]
Cypriot Inspired Meatballs
The Cypriots are known for their Seftelia, which are seasoned pork crepinettes wrapped in lamb caul fat. They are slow cooked over glowing embers. The fat in caul fat melts, keeps the ground pork moist and the combo of pork and lamb is to die for! Not everyone can find caul fat so this easy […]
15 Canada Day Menu Ideas
Canada Day is celebrated on July 1st, when we went from British North America to the Confederation of Canada. We’re a young country, celebrating 153 years. Below I have some ideas to entertain family and friends. Happy Birthday Canada! 15. The grill is on so you may as well make a smoky Melitzanosalata. 14. […]
Shrimp and Greek Grits
Earlier this year I was in New Orleans during their Carnival period. This city (and Louisiana) are a food lover’s paradise. I ate some lesser known dishes and tried the classics, like Shrimp and Grits. First, what are Grits? Grits are a porridge made of cornmeal, a staple of the southern US. Cornmeal dishes exist […]
Giaourtlou Kebab
Post originally appeared on September 19/07 I first had this dish Summer 2007, a taverna with grilled meats in Zografou, Halkidiki. Up to today, I must had this dish at least a dozen times. Savas, O Thanasis, and a few other tavernas in between. The dish arrived on mainland Greece from displaced Greeks who used […]
Bananas Foster French Toast
French toast are usually reserved for weekends but these are unusual times (Pandemic Lockdown) where weekdays and weekends are blurred. You have more time on your hands so I suppose one could make Bananas Foster French Toast on any day of the week. Bananas Foster was comes from New Orleans and basically its bananas in […]
Chuck Roast With Potatoes
One of my favourite cuts of meat are the shoulder. There’s some fat on them, the meat is always flavourful and these cuts are affordable. Lamb shoulder, pork shoulder or butt and in this instance, chuck. Shoulder cuts do need some time to get them tender and for this recipe, I am using my pressure […]