A Culinary Week in Greece: Savoring Grandma’s Kitchen
Discovering the Heart of Greek Cuisine
Imagine a week immersed in the rich culinary tapestry of a Greek village, where every meal tells a story. This is a journey into the joys of traditional cooking, guided by a wise Greek grandmother. From the sun-drenched fields to cozy kitchens, the flavors of Greece await to be explored.
Day One: A Warm Welcome
Arriving late in the evening, our gastronomic adventure kicks off with a comforting dish of moussaka—a layered bake of potatoes, eggplants, minced meat, and creamy béchamel sauce. Accompanied by tangy feta cheese and refreshing tzatziki, this dinner sets the stage for a week filled with delightful home-cooked meals. To round off the night, we sip on "Greek" coffee that varies in name across the Balkans and Turkey, along with a slice of delectable spanakopita, a savory spinach pie.
Harvesting Flavors: Fresh from the Garden
The next day begins with excitement as the grandmother prepares for the harvest of Kalamata olives. Using homegrown zucchini, she whips up zucchini fritters, a delicious snack featuring fresh ingredients straight from the garden. Our lunch consists of fasolakia, green beans simmered in tomato sauce, a dish that embodies the essence of rustic Greek cooking.
Sustenance for the Soul
As the days unfold, we enjoy the remnants of yesterday’s feast. For dinner, we savor grilled sausages paired with a bright tomato salad, proving that one person’s leftovers can be another’s gourmet meal. Sweet treats make an appearance too—with an orange cake prepared earlier, showcasing the sweet-toothed side of Greek culinary traditions.
A Glimpse of Traditional Dining
As the week progresses, we encounter slow-roasted lamb and marinated pork, known as kontosouvli, presented as a perfect shareable feast. This meal is accompanied by traditional almond cookies, lingering in sweetness, as flavors from each dish meld into an unforgettable experience.
Exploring the Garden: A Delicacy of Nature
The grandmother’s garden serves as an ongoing source of inspiration, yielding not just vegetables, but insight into the soul of Greek cuisine. Bell peppers, lettuce, and delicate zucchini flowers create an inviting atmosphere for cooking and experimenting with various dishes.
Fishing for Freshness
With the day’s highlight being the careful preparation of salted cod—a skill that demands patience—we learn the art of achieving a perfect kaimaki, the frothy topping that enhances this dish. Traditional ravani, a semolina and flour cake, complements our culinary lessons, emphasizing the delight found in sweet textures.
A Symphony of Flavors
Tzatziki, the iconic Greek dip made from yogurt, garlic, and cucumber, pairs seamlessly with grilled peppers seasoned with vinegar and salt. On the menu for lunch is fasolada, a hearty bean soup that encapsulates the simplicity and depth of flavors inherent in Greek cooking.
Embracing the Unusual
As November approaches, the unseasonably warm weather brings surprises, including a small watermelon and fresh strawberries still growing in the garden. This unexpected bounty encourages the grandmother to prepare fresh salads alongside foraging for seasonal ingredients.
Preparing for a Feast
Each meal is a collaborative effort, with preparations for an elaborate dinner underway. Tomorrow’s focus includes a simple tomato salad and a feast of roasted suckling pig, marking the care taken to bring family together around food.
Comfort Foods Made with Love
Filled eggplants shine as a highlight of the week, alongside skordalia, an alluring dip made from garlic and mashed potatoes. The salted cod shines again, tantalizing the taste buds when paired with seasonal vegetables, culminating in a meal that truly warms the heart.
Sweets for the Soul
We indulge in homemade confections, known as "spoon sweets," crafted with love and care. These preserves, often made from grapes and plums, showcase the grandmother’s talent for transforming simple ingredients into a sweet symphony.
A Final Feast
As our week draws to a close, the leftovers from the previous days present a heartwarming dinner solution. Stuffed eggplants, roasted pork, and bean soup are collected to create a nostalgic final meal—a beautiful reminder of the flavors we’ve experienced.
A Culinary Journey Ends, But Memories Remain
Our culinary expedition culminates with a fishing adventure and a feast of fresh catch, featuring white grouper delicately prepared. Lunch becomes a celebration of flaky gavros (anchovies), grilled sardines, horta (boiled greens), and beet salad—a testament to the freshness of local ingredients.
Sweet Surprises for the Taste Buds
Dessert brings a grand finale with galaktoboureko, a custard pie wrapped in phyllo dough and garnished with crispy kataifi. The memory of baklava, with its layers of crispy filo, honey, and nuts, represents a sweet ending to a week filled with the love and richness of Greek cuisine.
A Feast of Memories
Reflecting on a week spent savoring Greek family recipes, we embrace the magic of grandma’s kitchen. Each meal has woven a rich narrative of love, tradition, and fresh flavors that transport us back to the heart of Greece, where food is not just sustenance, but a celebration of life itself.
Ha I KNEW she was going to stuff those eggplant! 💜
Grandma’s know food is LOVE ❤️
Beautiful 🤩
Loved your video! Everyth8ng looked so good, and cozy!😍
beautiful
I dont like zuccini or eggplant I think I substitute potato for fritter with spinach but rest I think is lovely
Stuffed eggplant. Looked so delicious.
The grilled peppers…are they sweet or spicy?
oh, the rain… 3:50
Even the takeaway food looks so healthy
AUTHENTIC, RUSTIC, TRADITIONAL, HARDCORE REAL GREEK CUISINE.WELL DONE,DELICIOUS HEALTHY AND AMAZING GREEK EATS AT ITS FINEST.KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.VERY IMPRESSIVE .GOD BLESS YIA YIA AND HER WHOLE FAMILY.
Vse domashnee.
S ogoroda….xoziaistvennie liydi,aolivkovoe maslo👍👍👍👍👍dai bog vam zdorovia…kakaia eto derevnia?
Zolotie babyshkini ryki,kak vse krasivo ona delaet….dozdi redko bivaiyt v gretsii eto naverno severnaia gretsia…
I have been watching your videos the entire day, and i have some questions..
1. Where does she live?
2. Can i visit her? 🙂 i promise to do all the cleaning for her!!
I love greeks recipes
Κάποτε τα έτρωγα αυτά κ δεν πάθαινα τίποτε. Τώρα απλά τα χαζεύω…😢
Looks delicious…..
Notice how little red meat. Almost none of their diet is red meat.
I’d love to see how it’s all cooked!
Nice and atmospheric video!
Nice. 🙂 What does that bean pod cleaner called in English? Looks very handy.
Whereabouts is this in Greek?
Looks nice and tasty, but hardly no fish
Omg turkish kitchen!😂 I thought we just share only kebab, mezes or fish foods. But our home made foods(fasulye or beans, turkish mum’s favorite ‘misafir’ dessert revani…) are completely same too.
Why do Greek restaurants in The Netherlands and Germany only serve crazy amounts of grilled meat? I would love to eat this.
Melted away in time like Dal's clocks.
Excellent!!
So much lyricism and the overpowering power of not talking..
Ty
❤❤❤
Για σου γιαγια χρυσοχερα. Φιλια απο Βραζιλια🇧🇷
Exactly same concept as South Italy: they are our cousins. That is why in the Mediterranean sea we have so many centenaries and we genuinly miss our food when we are abroad 😀
Soooo lovely❤ on what Island is this located?
Shouldn't the beans boil for a couple of hours before you put the veggies? Also you need to change the water.
Weird that she has chickens but buys takeaway chicken.
That’s happiness ❤
That coffee looks so strong you could stand a spoon up in it! I thought they were making hot chocolate. I would be awake for three days straight if i drank that coffee 😂
Nothing like Greek food 😋
It reminds me a lot of mediterranean food in general… We have a lot similar dishes here in Dalmatia, Croatia
Warm greetings to you ❤
I tried orange pie recently it was delicious
Very nice 😋 I eat Greek food as much as possible I love it
I love Greece, their people and food!!!
Been there twice and would love to stay there.
Regards from South Africa xoxo
Having approximately 2000 euros in social security…could i live a reasonable life somewhere in Greece's island..?
PREA MULTĂ CAFEA LA VÎRSTĂ ÎNAINTATĂ NU ESTE SANATOASA PTR ORGANISM
DE CE NU SE SPUNE DIN CE SE FAC PIFTELUTELE???DUMNEZEU FIE LAUDAT PTR TOATE.O SEARA BINECUVINTATA TIRUROR
Love your video you have a fantastic grandmother like our grandmothers in Turkey 🤗
Delicious home cooked foods! I love the life in the village parts of the video too!
Too much meat.
This food looks incredible. Can this woman adopt me?