Flavours of Northern Greece: A Culinary Journey
Greek Food Guru, Diane Kochilas have taken our budding friendship to another level as we have organized a tour of Northern Greece that will excite even the most world-weary traveler with some of Greece’s best cuisine, artisan producers of Greek products and some of Greece’s top wineries. Diane bring her expertise as a cookbook author, […]
Onion Dolmades
Last year while congregated with some good friends for late-night dining in Thessaloniki, I had the joy to eat these Onion Dolmades at a taverna in Thessaloniki. I’ve been wanting to make these for a few years but I was frankly intimidated by the whole process of peeling the onions and stuffing them. Would the […]
Kotopoulo (Chicken) Maskouli
A couple of years ago while vacationing in Greece, I was up in my Dad’s town (Amynteo) and even though I always enjoy going back to visit the region of my ancestors…I’ve grown tired of chasing chickens (think Rocky Balboa). Amynteo is about 90 minutes north-west of Thessaloniki, in the region of Florina. Beside Florina […]
Soft Shell Crab With Red Pepper Skordalia
One of the many strong points of Greek cuisine is that within the lifestyle/way Greeks eat is also the meze/appetizers served at one’s home or at the rustic taverna. Mezedes (appetizers) may come in the form of dips, table cheeses, olives, salads, savory pies, meats and of course, fish and seafood. The plates are small, […]
Slow-Roasted Pork Belly
I’ve been using this marinade with pork shoulder for a few years. Resplendent with the aroma of fennel, rosemary and thyme, citrus and a bottom end of smoked paprika and coarse ground peppercorns. Light garlic flavour, coarse sea salt offering just the right amount of seasoning and the natural pork flavours come out in this […]
Mussels Saganaki With Mustard
In the town near to our summer home in Greece, is a “psaro taverna” or seafood tavern that’s been a favourite of our family & friends for years. The taverna’s name is Kapetan Giakoumis and the proprietor is this portly fellow with long curly dark brown hair. Think rolly-polly Diego Maradona. Our summer home is […]
White Giouvetsi With Chicken
Sometimes, less is more with a dish. When quality ingredients are selected, they should be allowed to shine, without sharing the stage (in this case the plate). I’ve been hankering for home-spun dishes of late…is it the cold? That we’re in January and full-on in the Winter Blues or that’s just the “food space” that […]
Roasted Sea Bass With Potatoes & Fennel
I’ve noticed that I’ve been seeing good quality (very fresh) sea bass and sea bream on the iced displays at local fishmongers. Both the sea bream and sea bass are a Mediterranean fish and as I looked on the side of the Styrofoam boxes that contain these fish packed in ice – they are shipped […]
Alpha Estate Winery Visit
Alpha is the first letter in the Greek alphabet (= a) and when it comes to the quality, attention to detail and care in making wines, it”s no coincidence that Alpha Estate chose this letter to name their operations. Alpha also represents a “new beginning’, a new era for Greek wines. Readers of this blog […]
Pork Tigania With Cabbage & Mushrooms
Today’s dish will transport you to a Greek taverna in the mountains. The sea is never more than three hours away in Greece but mountains are everywhere. I have a cousin in Greece, Stefanos and let’s just say he’s another “Kalofaga” or gourmet. Stefano once told me he loves winter! I find this odd coming […]
