Everyone loves Greek food, and most of us dream of one day impressing our family and friends with an authentic Greek dish that will blow their minds. Well, now you can do just that with the help of a cookbook that’s much more than a collection of recipes.
Savor Greece, dear readers, is an exciting trip to tiny Greek villages, seaside tavernas, traditional kafeneia (coffee shops), and into the homes of Chef Tony’s friends (and there are many!) – who share their secrets for creating some of the most delicious traditional Greek dishes you probably never knew existed.
Who Is Chef Tony — aka The Greek Chef?
For starters, Tony Kavalieros is a dear friend and a man who is passionate about food and in love with Greek cuisine.
But he is also a man with a mission: to collect and record traditional Greek recipes, to pass these on to younger generations, and to share the incredible diversity of Greek gastronomy with the world.
Keeping Greek Culinary Traditions Alive
As with every Greek story, it all begins with family, and in Tony’s case, with the recipes of his beloved grandfather who ran a famous restaurant in Cairo called The Union.
Born in Cairo to Greek parents, Tony grew up surrounded by the enticing flavors and aromas of Greek, Egyptian, and Turkish cuisine. His life journey later took him to South Africa, from there to the United States, before leading him back to Greece, and finally to Sitia, Crete, which he now proudly calls home.
One thing is for sure, Chef Tony wears many hats: food historian, cookbook author, teacher, and culinary consultant. He also organizes Greek cooking seminars and gastronomy tours, and he’s the creative force behind TheGreekChef.us and the popular Savor Greece YouTube channel.
Back to the Basics
For Chef Tony, Greek food is much more than just cooking or ingredients. It’s about the stories and the people behind every dish. It’s about the big fat Greek family tables overflowing with homecooked food made with the finest ingredients, reflecting abundance, hospitality and love.
In his book Savor Greece, Chef Tony presents 77 traditional Greek recipes gathered from his travels across the country. As a food historian, he also introduces readers to local Greek products, artisanal craftsmanship, and the essence of Greek hospitality.
He celebrates the majesty of seemingly simple dishes and reminds us that true Greek cooking begins with just three essentials: Greek salt, Greek herbs, and Greek extra virgin olive oil.
Guests and friends tell us how they’ve been ‘Touched by Greece’
1. How were you ‘touched’ by Greece?
Greece has always touched my soul. After years in South Africa and the USA, I always returned, drawn back to its spirit and beauty.
2. What does Greece mean to you?
Greece is my culture, the blood in my veins, the thoughts in my mind, the air I breathe, and the essence of my identity.
3. Your favorite place in Greece?
For 64 years, Samos was my favorite, but visiting Sitia in Crete four years ago made me fall deeply in love with its charm and people.
4. Your favorite food?
Definitely Cretan cuisine as a whole, it is, after all, the foundation and mother of Mediterranean cuisine.
☞ Just in time for the holidays, Savor Greece: 77 Traditional Authentic Recipes is a perfect gift and you can find it here. If I were you, I would get one for myself too! The recipes are easy to make and clear. So get some Greek music playing and bring the tastes of Greece into your homes.
