COOKING EXPERIENCES-EN

We want to take you with us on a journey around Greece in a few hours; tasting local dishes from every corner of our country.

All of this happens in our house, in the park, on a three metre long table that comfortably seats 12 people.

And if weather permits, we will dine in the courtyard garden on a large table under the trees!

We have prepared recipes with wonderful ingredients and we have created a fantastic menu which changes according to the season.

Some of the recipes will be known to you and will bring memories from the past; others will be more experimental and they will surprise you pleasantly.

But before the food, we will start with an olive oil tasting in order for you to try the different types of Greek olive oil, to realise the differences they have according to the variety of the olives, the place of origin and when they were harvested.

Along with the tasting there will be a small “food-pairing” to show you that not all types of oil go with all types of food! Pairing olive oil correctly to food is similar to what happens with wine pairing.

The meal will follow and will consist of at least 5 courses. If you wish you can come earlier and help prepare the dishes too!

Along with each dish you will learn it’s history- where it is from, how it is prepared and what the ingredients are.

It is very interesting to have a connection to the past.

On leaving, apart from the recipes, you will receive a little basket of goods used in the recipes to enable you to cook the food at home that you have experienced.

We want to take you with us on a journey around Greece in a few hours; tasting local dishes from every corner of our country.

All of this happens in our house, in the park, on a three metre long table that comfortably seats 12 people.

And if weather permits, we will dine in the courtyard garden on a large table under the trees!

We have prepared recipes with wonderful ingredients and we have created a fantastic menu which changes according to the season.

Some of the recipes may be known to you and will bring memories from the past; others will be more experimental and they will surprise you pleasantly.

The meal will consist of at least 4 courses. If you wish you can come earlier and help prepare the dishes too!

Along with each dish you will learn it’s history- where it is from, how it is prepared and what the ingredients are.

It is very interesting to have a connection to the past.

You will leave will a full stomach and hopefully an enlightened view of Greek food!

Let’s go on a journey through time! We will traverse three thousand years in three hours! How does that sound? Pretty fast eh?

Athens is one of the oldest capital cities in the world and has been continuously inhabited for thousands of years. It stands at the crossroads of many ancient civilisations from the east and west and from the north and south and has therefore been affected by influences from all of these cultures.

From its unique geographical position, Athens developed as a major centre for international trade and all merchant routes passed through

it’s ancient centre.

What did the ancient Greeks eat? Did they create the first ever Pizza?

What did they eat during the Byzantine Empire? What food did the Ottoman’s introduce?

Is Moussaka really Greek? Is Greek (Village) Salad Greek?

What culinary secrets did the Sephardic Jews bring with them from the Iberian Peninsular when they arrived in Greece in the 1600s?

We will visit over 30 of the best gastronomic centres in the city. We will visit shops, open markets and we will taste various foods on the journey.

We will drink traditionally made Greek coffee, circular baked rolls covered in sesame called “Koulouri” and traditional cheese pies.

We will sample different olives and olive oils and vinegars. We will try cured cold cuts and cheeses from specialist delicatessens showcasing products from every corner of Greece.

The only requirements are- wear comfortable shoes and don’t eat a large breakfast!

What is Greek cuisine? What is it that makes it differ from other cuisines around the world?

What is the “mediterranean diet”? Is Greek cuisine a part of this diet? What has changed since then?

In this lesson we will learn all about Greek cookery and it’s origins and traditions.

We will talk about the use of olive oil and butter.

We will learn about wild greens and local fish, about spring lamb and goat meat and pork in wintertime. 

We will learn about the use of pulses and legumes, wheat and even ‘sacrificial’ foods. The food of the villagers and the food of the suburban class-the food of Tselemende (the father of modern Greek cuisine), the use of Bechamel, stuffed vegetables and Moussaka.

And we will cook…..Boiled wild greens, Handmade pasta, Rusks made with olive oil, Oven-roasted Lamb, Local sausage with eggs, Baked Cod with Garlic mash, Tzatziki (the quick way), A traditional Greek Salad, “Koulourakia” (rings of pastry with Olive oil and sesame seeds) and Halva (a dessert from Semolina)

And finally, whatever has been made and tried by you will be available to be taken with you after the lesson to try with your friends or if you like as your evening meal!

You will never forget these 4 hours learning about the secrets of Greek cuisine!

Kali Orexi (Bon Appetit)!! 

So, what is this about?

It is about learning to cook from scratch but in depth. 

For instance one of the first things that we will learn is how to fry an egg.

And I can hear you all.. “Yannis, don’t we know how to fry an egg?” And I will answer that indeed you do not know how to properly fry an egg as I did not know how to do it some years back.

Apart from that we will learn how to make a dough for pizza, cook a steak, bake some bread and make some wonderful cookies.

And the most important of all is that we will learn these things properly and in depth.

We will also learn how to use our oven and the heat on the stove. 

If we aquire all those skills, then to make a moussaka is just a piece of cake :-) 

So, give yourself the chance to take your cooking to the next level and unlock your hidden talents! 

And later come back to learn how to make the perfect moussaka! 

So, in the previous lesson we learned how to bake bread, make cookies etc…

Let’s try something harder now!

Tarama Mousse, Pie with home made phyllo dough, Roasted chicken with potatoes, Celeriac mash, Salad with a few twists and a kick ass vinaigrette, and as for desert we will try a cake.

And of course you will learn all these with my help.

You will learn how to perfectly season a nice piece of meat, learn about the hot spots in your oven.

How can you make a great meze in minutes? How to make perfect roast potatoes, how to make a mash, what is a vinaigrette and how to make one!

Also find out how we place a chicken in the oven. 

How to make a cake that is flat in the centre and not domed. Buttercream or Ganache? 

All these info will be coming your way! 

Add to your skills and never be intimidated in the kitchen again! 

Give yourself a chance!!