Taverna Spiridoula, Lefkada
During the past week I’ve been vacationing on the island of Lefkada, located on the Ionian side of Greece. Lefkada is one of the few islands where a ferry boat is not used to reach it. Mainland Greece can be seen from the east side of the island and the other side faces the west, […]
Grilled Amberjack (Magiatiko)
Love fish? You’re going to adore the amberjack fish. Love swordfish? You may ditch it after you’ve tried amberjack. The amberjack is a fish that’s found in the Caribbean and the eastern seaboard of both North and South America and thankfully here in the Mediterranean. Us Greeks call this fish “magiatiko” as it’s in season […]
Grilled Shrimp & Manouri Salad
Toronto’s been having some of the hottest weather in years and today we’re expected to reach the hottest temperature EVER for the city. We complain it’s too cold to grill or eat outside and now the flipside…it’s too hot! The A/C is on, I have the stovetop at my disposal and one must eat. Chalk […]
Tangy Maple Mustard Lamb
This past weekend I went back in time and grilled some lamb with this marinade I first discovered in the late 90’s, when I began cooking with passion. I would try different combinations, attempt any cuisine and sample new and exciting ingredients. One of my favourite recipes EVER has to be this grilled lamb dish, […]
Mission Possible: Grilling Salmon Fillets
You know I love fish and seafood and one of the tastiest fish has to be salmon. Canada boasts some of the best salmon in the world (both Atlantic and Pacific). Much of what we eat is farm-raised but wild salmon is also still sold and frankly, preferred. Salmon is sold whole, in steaks (with […]
Endless Summer Pork Cutlets
One of my favourite cuts from the pig is the pork butt. This cut is NOT from the rear but it’s connected to the shoulder. It’s got some marbling in the meat and I’ve made my pork souvlaki from this cut, Gyro, a similar pork steakette. Pork butt is the preferred cut when making pulled […]
Grilled Shrimp With Mustard & Honey
Just last month I was in Greece and even though I was there for a a mere 12 days, I squeezed in all the activities I could: seeing family and friends, visiting markets, trying out new eateries and…making new friends. One of the new friends I made was Vefa Alexiadou – the Julia Child of […]
Spatchcock Chicken
This dish instantly takes me back to Thessaloniki (and Greece) – just this past May. I stayed for about a week at my favourite uncle’s place, “Theo Mitso”. My uncle saved his drachmas, built a wonderful new home in the suburbs and surrounded the family with a lawn, gardens, olive and varied fruit trees. In […]
Kontosouvli
In Greece, there are many souvlaki and gyro joints all over the country and on nearly every corner. Then there are tavernas, small eateries that specialize in grilled meats that go beyond souvlaki and gyro, serving pork chops, biftekia, sausages, lamb chops, whole roast lamb on the spit, kokoretsi and kontosouvli. Kontosouvli another rotisserie offering […]
Pork Gyro at Home
One of the most recognized Greek foods has to be the Souvlaki. i.e. cubes of meat skewered and grilled over glowing embers. The most common souvlaki you’ll find in Greek eateries is pork but you’ll also find chicken, lamb and beef versions. The other popular Greek street food has to be the Gyro: slabs of […]
