Loukoumades
One of Greece’s best known sweets/ desserts/snacks/street foods has to be Loukoumades. I knew that offering these sweet fritters up for my guests would be memorable. Every Greek has had them. Loukoumades are the Greeks’ answer to donuts and as one friend calls them…”the original Timbits”! The first time I ate Loukoumades was during my […]
Piroski
There are about 11 million Greeks in today’s Greece and about another 11 million throughout the rest of the world. Greeks have long traveled beyond familiar land and have made their new beginnings in far off lands. Eons ago, Greeks had settlements in Egypt, as far west as southern France and as far east as […]
Tsigarides – Fried Pork Chunks
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with family, friends and loved ones. Yesterday was one of the most memorable…for the company and of course, the food. Christmas for the Greeks goes beyond Christmas day and the tree at this household does not come down until after Epiphany. One of the mezedes I made […]
Feta & Leek Croquettes
A city in Europe that always caught my interest was Amsterdam. I liked that the Dutch had a historical tie to Canada from WWII, that the Dutch were tolerant and a diverse society, many spoke English and the sheer green beauty of the countryside and the gorgeous canals and steepled buildings of its cities, like […]
Makaronada With Fried Baby Eggplant
There are still lots of eggplants in the markets here and this year’s crop has been sweet with very few having the usual bitterness one finds in eggplants. Not all eggplants are the same: the usual big purple ones often have some seeds and bitterness and one sprinkles salt on the exposed flesh to draw […]
Lobster Eggs Benedict With Crispy Potato Pancakes & Bearnaise Sauce
One of the downsides (there are few) to going to Greece is that lobster prices are astronomical. If you find live lobster at the market it will go for 60 Euros a kilo and at a seafood taverna you will likely pay 80 Euros a kilo for this delicacy. Fast forward to Canada, back from […]
Yianni’s Loukoumades, Nea Kallikratia, Halkidiki
My family’s hometown is in Nea Kallikratia, Halkidiki, just 30 minutes south of Thessaloniki. There’s no shortage of Loukoumades in Greece but there are good ones, bad ones, mediocre ones and….great ones! Loukoumades are traditionally made with a yeast dough and they are dropped in hot oil where they puff up and once golden, get […]
Best Beer Battered Fish Ever!
Last week I was given the opportunity to set-up a pop-up/vending stand for Father’s Day apres-bike ride along Toronto’s scenic Don Valley. The event was held at the Evergreen Brickworks and the challenge for me was to step-in last minute to fill the shoes of another chef who couldn’t keep their commitment to cook for […]
Olive Oil French Fries
For as long as I recall watching cooking shows, we (consumers) have been told that one should not use olive oil for frying as it has a very low smoke point. Smoke point refers to the temperature an oil becomes unstable, burns and breaks down, giving off an unpleasant taste. With respect to olive oil, […]
Lemon-Pepper Calamari
When you’re hungry (especially during Lent) your belly can inspire you to create the simplest and most delicious dishes. One of the easiest dishes to prepare is fried calamari. One need only find fresh or thawed from frozen squid, mix a bowl of seasoned flour and have the confidence to fry in hot oil. Not […]
