George Calombaris was brought into the public spotlight in 2009 as co-host of the incredibly popular reality TV program MasterChef Australia. He was well established as a successful Australian chef long before this, however, and Greek Cookery from the Hellenic Heart (New Holland, 2009) highlights his longstanding interest in food and cooking. Calombaris shares his passion for both his Greek heritage and sharing food with family and friends in this collection of traditional Greek recipes suitable for family meals and celebrations.
Greek Cookery from the Hellenic Heart
Liberally illustrated with photographs of family and friends, restaurant scenes and delicious food and a scattering of personal recollections and quotes, Greek Cookery from the Hellenic Heart is a visually inviting cookbook. Despite this almost coffee table book appeal, it is definitely a practical cookbook with recipes to entice both foodies and everyday home cooks interested in sampling traditional Greek recipes.
Recipes are divided into six categories:
- Proino: Breakfast
- Piata: Plates
- Skara and Psitaria: Grill and Spit
- My Mum’s Greek Cypriot Heart
- Glyka: Sweets
Recipes range in difficulty levels, although even the most intricate are clearly described with step-by-step instructions, additional tips and colour photographs of the finished dishes. Most recipes could be easily prepared in an everyday home kitchen, with only a few requiring specific kitchen equipment or traditional ingredients that can’t be found at a general supermarket.
Greek Cookery from the Hellenic Heart includes well-known traditional Greek dishes such as baklava, spanakopita, lamb souvlaki and moussaka. Other recipes include a range of salads, snacks, meat dishes, desserts and side-dishes such as:
- kotopoulo avgolemono (chicken, egg and lemon soup)
- salad of watermelon, feta, almonds, mint and rose syrup
- koupes (Cypriot pies)
- keftethes (Greek meatballs)
- melomakarona (honey walnut cookies)
- dolmathakia (stuffed vine leaves with yoghurt)
This enjoyable cookbook seems to resound with Calombaris’ own personality and passion for both his food and culture and with a foreword by fellow MasterChef Australia judge and food critic Matt Preston it is sure to appeal to fans of both Calombaris and the hit reality-TV cooking program.
George Calombaris
George Calombaris is a prominent and award-winning Melbourne chef responsible for two popular restaurants, The Press Club and Hellenic Republic. George’s passionate commentary and familiar catchphrases during the screening of MasterChef Australia in 2009 earned him fan base beyond those diners who appreciate the award-winning food presented in his restaurants.
Traditional Greek Taverna Recipes for Family Meals and CelebrationsGeorge Calombaris’ passion for his family, heritage and cooking come through clearly in this warmly presented collection of authentic recipes. The photography, anecdotes and additional snippets of information make this book a fascinating glimpse into the world of Greek family meals and celebrations, encouraging readers to prepare meals that they can share with their friends and family.
With recipes that represent Phoenicians, Florentines, Cypriots, Macedonians, Byzantines, Cretans and Spartans, Greek Cookery from the Hellenic Heart is a wonderful introduction to traditional Greek food, both in terms of recipes and the cultural significance of shared meals and mealtimes.
Review copy details:
Greek Cookery from the Hellenic Heart (ISBN: 978-1-741-10859-0, 287 pages)
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