Artichoke Salad With Fried Calamari
They are a pain to clean, artichokes are buy they are a seasonal vegetable, an ancient one for Greeks and I love that fact that such an odd vegetable was discovered to be edible. Who actually took the time to peel off the petals, remove the choke and declare triumphantly that artichokes are edible and […]
Ladenia (Λαδένια)
One of my favourite Lent-friendly dishes has to be Ladenia (roughly translated to olive bread) from the island of Kimolos. This is great for a snack, a light meal or cut-up and serve as part of your meze table. Sometimes you want something lighter or you just may want to use the ripe, juicy tomatoes […]
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 […]
Baked Cauliflower & Broccoli With Cheddar
It’s Cheesfare Week in Greece and for all other Orthodox Christians in the world. Although Great Lent doesn’t begin until next Monday, this week is filled with many cheese-filled sides, snacks and entrees. Greeks will be having dishes with lots of cheese like pasta dishes, pizzas and what could be better than fried cheese? One […]
Marianthe’s Baked Octopus and Eggplant
Last year when I visited the Gerovassliou winery in Epanomi (near Thessaloniki), it was my second time for a tour of the winery and museum. As you will recall the first visit was cut-short because I arrived late and the winery was closing. I had to wait one whole year to come back tho this […]
Spinach-Stuffed Flounder on Braised Lentils
I’ve been very busy of late with a lot of my time in the kitchen being devoted to making phyllo pastry by hand and selling these creations to many here in Toronto. Often times I’ve found myself without an iota of an idea about what to have for dinner and that has to change. I […]
Salad of Smoked Eggplant Dressing With Graviera Croutons & Roasted Peppers
I love eggplant and it especially excels when its given a smoky flavour. The best way to do that is by blackening or charring it – ideally over a charcoal grill but a gas grill or stove-top works pretty good too. Broiling eggplant in the oven doesn’t do the job, save your time. When charring […]
Islim Kebabi
For those that have been to Istanbul, you know what I mean when I say it’s surreal: the density of the city, the endless traffic, boats and ships running up and down the Bosphorus, the seemingly endless city filled with historical landmarks and everywhere…I mean everywhere – there’s food to be had. When you’re a […]
Mushroom Pizza
This past summer I was out at one of these “Tweet-ups” where folks who have been connected through Twitter (hopefully with similar interests) get together. Most of the folks who gathered were food-centered, I knew some of the people attending and I was hungry! We met at a pizza joint and ever since I began […]
Classic Hunkar Begendi With Lamb
Anytime I travel I like to do some homework on the particular destination and the research becomes feverish when I look into food options. Last year I went to Istanbul for the second time and regardless of if you’re been to Istanbul or not – its reputation as a “food lover’s city” is justified. I […]
