Svinghi
Here in Toronto, we have a large and diverse Greek diaspora, boasting of a Greek population that resettled here from all over Greece. The first time I had Svinghi, they were made and given to me by Kathy Hourdas, a lady from Kalymnos, one of the islands in the Dodecanese. A few years ago, I […]
Pavlova With Greek Yogurt and Vissino
A few days ago I shared my Pavlova recipe. Here, I’ve combined it with the simple Greek offering of Greek yogurt and Vissino (sour cherry spoon sweet). I served this a couple of years ago when I was guest Chef at a St. Sophia banquet in Los Angeles. It was a big hit and continues […]
Pavlova With Lemon Curd and Fruit
Named after Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, this New Zealand-created dessert is easy and the combinations are endless! On your plate, a pavlova consists of a meringue nest (the base of the dessert) followed by a pastry cream, lemon curd and topped with fruit. This dish takes little time and you’ll impress your guests this summer […]
Kourkoubinia
I know it’s cliched but the simple things in life are often the most satisfying. In this instance, Kourkoubinia hit the spot. Kourkoubinia are little logs of rolled phyllo that get fried until golden then dunked in syrup. They are crunchy, they are sweet and my oh my…addictive! Think of these as sweet phyllo bites. […]
Frigania From Zakynthos
Three years ago, I visited the island of Zakynthos, located among the Ionian Islands, off the coast of Patras. My hotel was located in the island’s main town and specifically near Solomos (Dionysios) Square, named after the poet who wrote the Greek National Anthem’s lyrics. I ordered one of the island’s specialties, the “Frigania” from […]
Short Cut Cherry Spoon Sweet
My favourite of the spoon sweets is Sour Cherry (Vissino glyko). It’s not as sweet as the others and it pairs well with so many things like ice cream, yogurt, the best topping for cheesecake and I’ve even used it as part of a BBQ sauce! Like many spoon sweet recipes, they are easy […]
Carrot Spoon Sweet
The past few years while visiting in Greece, I’ve seen Carrot Spoon Sweet (Glyko Karotou). Spoon sweets are a category of fruit and vegetable preserves that are offered by hosts/hostesses when a guest visits their home. Restaurants/tavernas are known to also offer a “kerasma”..a treat if you will to their dining guests. On a few […]
Sour Cherry Ice Cream
There’s a whole sub-section in Greek cooking called “spoon sweets”. In essence, fruits (and sometimes vegetables) are preserved in sugar and jarred with syrup. The most common are citrus, stone fruits and they are served to guests of a home with a glass of cold water. My favourite is sour cherry (Vissino) – served on […]
Strawberry Shortcakes
I’ve gone head-first into the abundance of local strawberries. Last weekend I went to pick my own from a farm just north of Toronto and I knew I had to make strawberry shortcake(s). The recipe can be assembled as cake (use a round spring form pan, cut cake in half to make two cake rounds), […]
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. […]
