Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Feb 10, 2012, 11:32 am
A recent article by Diana Farr Louis titled “Cucina Povera – Greek Style” got me thinking about all the tasty dishes in Greek cookery that were concocted during times of poverty and necessity. There’s the Macedonian Makalo, a flour-based sauce, there’s potato stew (Yiachni), the countless ...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Feb 8, 2012, 9:00 pm
Happy Chef was kind enough to send me a sample to review.  I was sent a set of nine chef knives plus a nylon case for travel. The set begins with a 9″ chef knife and at the other end of the spectrum is a 12″ sharpening steel, carving fork and kitchen scissors. I liked the look of the knives bu...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Feb 7, 2012, 9:05 am
Last year was a pretty good year on a personal level. The blog keeps on rising in popularity, I’m cooking the best food I’ve ever showcased here and I’m meeting some wonderful people – all not possible had I not created this blog back in 2007. Last year I was invited to attend the Sani Gourm...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Feb 5, 2012, 10:00 am
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 gorgeous ...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Feb 3, 2012, 8:24 pm
It’s time to start thinking about summer vacations and I’m once again urging you to visit Greece. Price-wise there has never been a better time and secondly, it’s still such a wonderful place for a vacation…ignore what you see happening in Athens. There’s so much more to Greece and I promi...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Feb 3, 2012, 6:56 am
Gyhthio, Laconia Epirus line of authentic Greek cheeses launches in US marketSymposio, a new initiative to promote Greek cuisineThose hard-to-pronounce Greek wine labels may actually be a marketing advantageMetaxa 12 Star Greek brandy debuts at Hellenic Duty Free ShopsAcrocorinth, one of Greece’s ...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Jan 31, 2012, 7:28 am
There’s  alot of good things happening with this salad, you’re gonna learn a couple of things, be frugal and fancy all in one dish! The centerpiece of the salad is the phyllo cigars filled with Feta cheese, walnuts and almonds, some lemon zest and ground anise. There’s more licorice flavour e...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Jan 30, 2012, 10:25 am
Last night I attended the first Reel Eats dinner event, created by Mary Luz Meija and Mario Stojanic of Sizzling Communications. The Reel Eats concept is a dinner  menu focused on a food-centric movie and story-telling is interspersed between courses. Although the movie is playing in the background...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Jan 28, 2012, 7:37 am
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 don’t like to eat...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Jan 27, 2012, 12:45 am
Chinese vegetables, Vardari, Thessaloniki If flying to/from Athens, take some time to review the two photo exhibits on displayDiane Kochilas has compiled a glossary of edible wild greens, think outside the VlitaAcropolis Museum (Athens) hosts Manos Hatzidakis soirees in FebruraryDiane Farr-Louis sha...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Jan 25, 2012, 8:05 am
Last week the mighty Stratford Chef’s School brought an entourage of teachers, directors and students to Toronto for a day of instruction in the kitchen by Chef Emily Watkins. With not even 24 hours in Canada and just coffee and innate passion for food did this young chef based in Oxfordshire (an ...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Jan 23, 2012, 6:13 pm
A strong return to Greek brands is seen in Greece and abroadGreek cheeses win awards in many categories at recent international cheese competitionMolyvos in midtown Manhattan has re-opened after a renovationHealthy and delicious Greek yogurt is being labeled the next superfoodOikos Greek Yogurt will...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Jan 23, 2012, 7:23 am
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 egg...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Jan 21, 2012, 10:26 pm
Last week my travels took me about 2 1/2 hours southwest of Toronto to Stratford, Ontario. Despite my urges to go seek out the old Justin Bieber haunts (he’s from Stratford), I resisted and went directly to The Old Prune restaurant to taste the creations of Chef Paolo Lopriore from Siena’s Il Ca...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Jan 19, 2012, 8:43 pm
For a few years now there’s been talk of “sustainable” sources of fish, produce and meat. Today I ask you to consider the rabbit – mild in flavour (like chicken), lean, healthy (no skin) , sustainable and delish. Before I get any comments from the Philistines, the rabbit you see in recipes i...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Jan 17, 2012, 7:05 am
This dish came together last year, almost a year now but the time is right. Forgive me for the link-love that’s coming in this post but it’s necessary and good blogging karma. Last year I attended the Canadian Food & Restaurant Association (CFRA) Show where restaurants, franchises, distributors,...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Jan 15, 2012, 8:11 am
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 ...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Jan 14, 2012, 12:58 am
Donkey Beer, a micro-brewery from Sanotorini is….kicking assInspired by Toronto’s “The Good Bike Project”, artists in Thessaloniki are gathering old bikes and decorating and displaying them throughout the cityThe trend continues: Greeks leaving the city returning to the land for their liveli...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Jan 12, 2012, 8:08 pm
This is one of the most exciting moments since this blog first began back in May of 2007. After many hours of learning the craft of making homemade phyllo, I am confident enough to be able to make it on my own with consistency and some degree of speed. I am indebted to y Mother who taught me this cr...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Jan 10, 2012, 10:14 am
Last year my brother married a gal of Polish origin which makes me automatically interested in the ways, culture and food of this northern European neighbor. This past weekend while looking for cookbooks at thrift shops and used book stores I tripped upon a a couple of Polish cookbooks which were qu...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Dec 14, 2011, 11:05 pm
I figured I better squeeze in all the fried cheese while it’s still December and we can splurge on some richer foods (and eat them too)! I have just one thick slab of Batzo cheese left in the fridge – a cheese from northern Greece that I brought back this past summer. To refresh your memories, t...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Dec 13, 2011, 3:36 pm
A couple of weeks ago I did a cooking demo at Toronto’s Harbourfront. No stranger to crowds, cooking in front of strangers didn’t present a problem and besides..I was doing what I love – sharing good, comforting food. When I was asked to conduct some cooking demos the prerequisite was that I s...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Dec 12, 2011, 6:59 pm
Here’s a dish my family’s made since I can recall holiday dinners like Thanksgiving and Christmas. This rice comes together rather easily which is good to have in your arsenal of holiday side dishes, what with the mad dash going on in the kitchen. The dish would originally be made with “ksinol...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Dec 12, 2011, 10:57 am
This dish was first inspired when I saw Anthony head back to home territory (New York) and tour the city’s great old-skool eateries. If you’ve ever been to New York you know that there’s an endless selection of places to eat with every culture and cuisine present and a combo of trendy and trad...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Dec 10, 2011, 6:50 am
I decided to organize some Christmas dishes for you to consider when you’re planning your Christmas, holiday and New Year’s menus. These are some options divided simply in savory and sweet categories. Eat when you drink, drink when you eat and reach out and invite someone extra to the table. You...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Nov 2, 2011, 7:23 am
The cool weather is here (in Canada for awhile) and the shift to heartier dishes and spicier dishes has been made. Although I like to eat spicy and hot dishes all year ’round, Autumn/Winter is ideal for eating hot peppers. I was brought-up in a household that always had peppers in the fridge, we p...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Nov 1, 2011, 6:35 pm
Recipe Update from May 2008 My eating diet can be summed up in two seasons: Soup season and salad season. With the exception of the cold soup, it’s salad days indeed. The only other exception I make when it comes to eating a salad ‘year ’round is a Caesar Salad. We’ve all had Caesar Salad ...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Oct 31, 2011, 11:51 am
  When I visit Greece I also head into Thessaloniki to have a lunch or dinner at one of my favourite restaurants in the city, “Kourdisto Gourouni” (Wind-up Pig). The Kourdisto Gourouni has old world charm, serving lots of beers, a good choice of Greek wines and lots of great food to be served ...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Oct 28, 2011, 9:42 pm
Most Greeks are named after patron saints (others given ancient Greek names) and each person celebrates their “name day” on the day their namesake (patron saint) died. The saint’s memory is celebrated along with all those named after that particular saint on that particular day. There are name...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Oct 28, 2011, 6:00 am
"OXI" Day Parade, Toronto 2010 Vlachohoria: tourism is helping to revive these mountainous Vlach villages near Grevena Unemployed, under 35 and educated with an agricultural degree? Well, Greece wants YOU…to become a farmer Pasta maker Misko has just announced their new line of traditional Greek ...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Oct 26, 2011, 11:01 am
According to  Larousse Gastronomique, a Ballotine is made of a piece of meat, fowl or game (or fish) which is boned, stuffed and rolled into a bundle. Don’t let the fancy French term nor the appearance of the dish intimidate you – this is easy to prepare and you’ll impress yourself as well as...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Oct 24, 2011, 12:04 am
A short while ago I wrote about having lunch at one of Toronto’s great new places to eat seafood – Diana’s in Scarborough. As sexy as it was having a Lobster Club House sandwich, the real star of that lunch were the steamed mussels in a white wine and fennel sauce. Tremendous. I asked our wait...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Oct 21, 2011, 7:16 am
The Mediterranean Diet Pyramid has been updated to adapt to today’s way of life Athens Mayor announces “bike-for-rent” scheme (think Bixi) in an effort to make the city more “bicycle-friendly” Ancient Greek ships carried more than just wine Speaking of Greek wine, here’s some wine recomm...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Oct 20, 2011, 10:14 am
  The hamburger renaissance is large here in the Toronto area and from what I’ve been gleaning in the media, the same holds true throughout Canada and the US. Hamburger franchises are closing and new independent shops are opening up. Some of the new shops are merely new, glitzy shops offering th...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Oct 19, 2011, 10:15 am
It’s time for another saganaki dish. There are a lot of “saganaki” dishes on this blog but this one is the tastiest. REALLY! Most of you are familiar with the flaming cheese saganaki (a taverna favourite) but there are many types of saganaki dishes. Saganaki is the two-handled dish that it’s...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Oct 17, 2011, 9:37 pm
A few weeks back I made Hosafi, a dish from the Pontian Greeks and I alluded that I would share with you in due course and the time has come. This past summer in Greece, I spent a weekend visiting the diverse, delicious and distant city of Xanthi…a Greek city closer to the Turkish border than Athe...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Oct 16, 2011, 7:38 pm
It’s been awhile since I’ve shared a Sunday meal with you but I think the wait was well worth it. In this dish, pork belly makes a return and I pair it with roast potatoes, fresh herbs from my garden, olive oil, lemon juice, seasonings and good ole’ fashioned heat from your oven. The only fanc...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Oct 14, 2011, 2:28 pm
View of Athens from Tourkovounia-Panorama Galatsiou The Simon Fraser University in British Columbia receives a $7 million grant towards Greek language, history and Byzantine studies Ruth Kozak explores the little Byzantine churches of Athens, this site also gives you the floor plans for some Have y...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Oct 13, 2011, 11:06 am
Shortly after returning to Canada (from Greece) I had to go and re-stock my fridge (and pantry) after being absent for almost 7 weeks. A shopping we went and I found myself on Lawrence Avenue East and near Diana’s Seafood. Diana’s Seafood has been selling the freshest seafood in the east end of ...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Oct 11, 2011, 10:34 pm
Yesterday I cooked Thanksgiving for a small gathering of family and friends. Thanksgiving in Canada is held on the second Monday of October. Thanksgiving in Canada celebrates the harvest and being thankful for the bounty and to have a seat with family and friends – say farewell to Summer simply en...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Oct 10, 2011, 7:17 am
This past summer while in Greece I visited the island of Lefkada, situated on the Ionian side of Greece. Each day was spent visiting a new beach and each evening it was a new dining adventure. Sometimes it was seafood and sometimes meat. Many dishes were sampled – some good, some were “meh” an...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Oct 8, 2011, 6:20 am
Catch of the day, Porto Lagos, Xanthi You can learn Greek through on-line courses and the best part….for free Chef/Instructor/Author Nikki Rose lectures on the Cretan diet at the Greek Embassy in Washington D.C. then a meze offering follows at the Mourayo Restaurant Max Allen visits Greece and so...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Oct 7, 2011, 11:19 am
Go to WWW.cakestar.ca I grew up and live in the east end of Toronto…Scarborough if you will. People in the east end would never go to the west end..unless it was to pass through or go to the airport. I’m sure folks in the west end never visited the east end and that’s just how it is. Both end...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Oct 6, 2011, 8:10 am
The first time I visited the Greek islands on the Ionian side of Greece was back in ’88 when I took a bus from Thessaloniki to Igoumenitsa and from there the short ferry boat ride to Corfu. Until about a few years ago this trip took a day with a 7 hour ride through winding roads that hugged the Pi...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Oct 5, 2011, 7:06 am
A Turkish dish that’s entered the kitchen’s (and bellies) of Greeks is Imam Baildi - the literal translation being “the imam fainted”. From the all the olive oil ingested in this olden dish. I’m calling this Imam as the canoes of eggplant filled with vegetables and topped with cheese still...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Oct 3, 2011, 7:14 am
It’s October and that means it’s pomegranate season Karpathos is an island located between Rhodes and Crete, have a look at the island’s sleek new website Touring through northern Greece’s (Macedonia) wine country  Learn more about the Lake Prespa region area in northern Greece – now prot...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Oct 2, 2011, 8:58 am
Eggplants are in season in Greece from August and here in Canada, you can still find sweet (not bitter) eggplants at your local grocer or farmer’s market. Eggplant is one of the ingredients in  classic vegetarian dish called Briam and the similar dish (we’re cooking today) called Tourlou. Toulo...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Sep 30, 2011, 3:30 pm
I first heard about Diner en Blanc this past summer while I was in Greece. I was invited to this flash-mob-cum-al fresco dinner-cum picnic and I agreed to go but I really wasn’t sure what the big stink was. I was in Greece, within walking distance of an azzure beach that I swam at twice a day. Any...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Sep 29, 2011, 11:09 am
Early in my vacation to Greece this summer (within the first week) we got our first rain. This could mean we get the usual one (o two) summer showers that are the usual or…this would be an omen of an unusually rainy summer. The latter scenario proved to be false and Summer of 2011 proved to be hot...
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Peter M. posted an article on Kalofagas - Sep 26, 2011, 3:55 pm
This past summer in Greece I cemented my affections for pork butt, a particular cut of pork that’s diverse, very forgiving to cook with and it always come out juicy and delicious. The pork butt comes from the front end of the pig (nowhere near its rear), located near the shoulder. It’s not as pr...
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