Shrimp, Macaroni & Feta
It’s been really busy around the Kalofagas camp – prepping and cooking for over 2000 guests at TUM, planning, recipe-testing and executing my last Greek Supper Club, I’m participating in a Taco Throwdown this week and in between all this I am also entertaining friends from out of town and finding the time to feed […]
Mousto-Balsamico Flank Steak With Greek-Style Chimichurri
My buddy Panagioti runs a nifty little business here in Toronto selling his family’s olive oil and this very unique product called Moust0-Balsamico. This vinegar is made of balsamic vinegar and grape must (mousto) is added to sweeten the pot (just a little bit). Combine this extraordinary vinegar with Acropolis Organics extra-virgin olive and you […]
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 […]
Floriniotiki Strapetsada With Feta & Kebapia
To understand where this dish comes from is to first get a hang of what Strapetsada is: basically a scrambled egg dish containing grated tomatoes, olive oil and crumbled Feta and often eaten as a meze or late evening Greek dinner. There are may variances to this dish but those are the basics. Like with […]
Riganada
A little while back I shared my memories of visiting the island of Lefkada and this time I’m back to share more but this time we’re going to touch upon the cuisine. Lefkada is located on the Ionian side of Greece, that which faces Italy and its no coincidence that many dishes hint of those […]
Halkidiki Green Olives Two-Way Meze
Recently, green olive from Halkidiki were finally granted Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status by the European Union (EU). A PDO product is given this designation/label to highlight the uniqueness of the product produced in a specific geographical region. Halkdiki is located in the northern province of Macedonia and if you look at a Greek […]
Tas Kebab
From the name “Tas Kebab”, it’s easy to state this isn’t a Greek-specific dish – a dish enjoyed in the Levant and its made it’s way to the Greek table via Asia Minor Greeks who resettled in mainland Greece over time. Traditionally Tas Kebab is made with lamb but I’ve often seen beef used in […]
Grilled Trout With Yellow Beans, Red Wine Vinegar & Grape Shoots
This meal came ‘full circle’ if you will. I remember a summer vacation to Greece – it was 1983 and we had just spent the weekend during Panagias (Aug. 15th) in the Panagia Soumela and Naoussa area of central Macedonia. After feasting on roast-roasted rotisserie goat there was no room for food on that day […]
Calamari Sandwich With a Smoky Yogurt Sauce
One of my favourite Greek appetizers has to be fried calamari. It’s the freshness of the sea, the tender squid tubes and tentacles dredged in flour and fried until golden. You get a slight crunch from the coating then the tender squid in your mouth explodes with flavour. Calamari (squid) are found at your local […]
Pork Chops With Mustard & Honey
Tomorrow’s Tsiknopempti in Greece, a day that means “burnt Thursday” with all the meats being grilled/cooked on this Dionysian Carnival day. Backyard grills are pulled out, charcoal and/or wood is lit and the long train of varied meats are laid-out and grilled and just when you thought you were full, another plate arrives at the […]
