Customer Reviews (3)

Wonderful Cookbookand pretty pictures
I just got my Greek Meze cookbook yesterday and I've already made two of the recipes. I bought it on the recommendation of my sweet sister-in-law who is Greek and an excellent cook. The recipes are easy to read and follow. Lots of good, healthy every day food your family will enjoy. My favorite part is the beautiful pictures. I love to see how my finished product should appear.

Beautiful photos and delicious recipes!
I picked this book up at a discount book store.I was getting bored with my small selection of cookbooks at home and I wanted to add something more adventurous to my lineup.Since then, I've tried almost every recipe and they have all worked and tasted beautifully.I made the baklava and it was out of this world!I'll never purchase it again.Also, I now crave things like hummus and olive bread - things I never even tried before I had this cook book.

Someone who is seasoned in Greek Meze could weigh in on the authenticity better than I can.All I can say is that book has beautiful photos for almost every recipe, easy instructions, lovely tidbits on Greek life and culture and produces excellent results.

The Best Cookbook I Have Ever Had!
My mother-in-law recently gave me this cookbook and, since then, I have used it almost every day. At this point I have tried about half of the recipes and they are all superb. My husband and my dinner guests have been amazed at the quality of the food I have prepared. The instructions are easy to follow and include estimated preparation times. Suggested menus are strategically placed throughout the book, helping the novice know which dishes complement each other. The book is beautifully illustrated with color photographs of almost all of the finished dishes (so you know how they should be presented) and with photos of Greek landscapes. If I had to cook with just one cookbook the rest of my life, Greek Meze Cooking would be it! ... Read more

Product Description

The acclaimed chef from Molyvos—New York’s “very best Greek restaurant” (Esquire)—reinvents one of the world’s classic cuisines in 150 recipes that celebrate its fresh ingredients and bold flavors.

Before the Livanos family opened Molyvos they wanted to be sure their food hit all the right notes. So they hired gifted chef Jim Botsacos and took him on a tour of the Greek isles, spending many nights dining and cooking in Greek homes. Jim’s immersion in Greek cuisine and his own bistro-influenced sensibility made an immediate impression on New York restaurant critics, including Ruth Reichl, whose three-star rave thanked Molyvos for reminding her “how truly wonderful Greek food can be.” Now, with The New Greek Cuisine, anyone can “go Greek” with flair.

While staying true to tradition, the recipes in The New Greek Cuisine bring everything to the next level by emphasizing ingredients and presentation and intensifying flavors. Home cooks can start small by learning to make marvelous mezes, including mussels with mint or a crustless leek and cheese pie. When it’s time to move on to entrees, there are plenty of tasty and satisfying options, from braised lamb shanks with orzo to plank-grilled prawns. Inventively simple sides such as roasted “cracked” potatoes with coriander and red wine, or comforting pastitsio--a Greek macaroni and cheese--could become new family favorites. And no Greek meal would be complete without desserts like semolina cake with yogurt and spoon sweets or easy pinwheel-shaped baklava.

Based on staples such as fish, whole grains, and olive oil, Greek food is not only healthy and delicious but offers a welcome break from other overexposed Mediterranean cuisines. And this richly illustrated cookbook by one of the new Greek’s most talented practitioners is the perfect way to discover its many delights.

Customer Reviews (6)

Labor-Intensive but EXCELLENT New Greek Cooking
I had to write a review when I noticed that only one other reviewer commented on how long it takes to prepare the recipes in this book. Many are very labor-intensive. Have you ever made a recipe for another recipe for another recipe? Yes, that's what I'm referring to. That being said, the food that's presented here is wonderful. They are creative spins on the old, traditional Greek foods that you are used to. They would be perfect if you wanted to host a dinner party to impress. And actually, many recipes within other recipes are staples (bechamel sauce, for example) that can be used for several dishes. In this sense, you don't have to have an excuse such as a dinner party to cook from this book, but you should know that the recipes do still take some time.

A side note: I loved reading about the history of this book, including the relationship between Jim Botsacos and the Livanos family, the Molyvos restaurant, and the exploration of Greek food. If the author is reading this, thank you for including such a passionate and detailed explanation. It really personalizes the book and makes it unique from all the other Greek cookbooks out there that just present recipes and not much more.

Interesting book
We bought this as a present so we didn't try any of the recipes. We did look though it however and saw that the recipes did look authentic. There was a wide range of food and if you are the type of person that likes to experiment (I'm not), this would be a good book for you.

A worthy Greek Cookbook purchase
I have hundreds of cook books that I both read for enjoyment and use for -obviously- the joy of cooking (and eating). This one ranks high. The author's commentary is interesting and gives a richer flavor to the individual recipes as well as to the entire book. The recipes are a step beyond the basic and traditional Greek offerings, but not overly complex or intimidating.
I was drawn to the book after seeing the author on Martha Stewart's program and am very glad I followed up with the purchase.
If you have been to Greece and /or enjoy Greek flavors and foods, this is a worthwhile purchase to help recall and relive and reconstruct the experiences.

Great addition to my cook books!
This cook book is a great addition to my cook book collection.I am Greek and have many of the same receipes but this book gives a little twist to some of the old favorites that is refreshing.Easy to follow recipes for the Greek and non-Greek alike.

The greatest Greek cooking book ever...
The recipes are truly Greek, with really no "Americanizations."They were easy to follow and although some took time to prepare, the results were outstanding.We made some of the dips for New Years and they were incredible and HEALTHY!!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Product Description
Greek food is simple, colourful and packed with robust flavours. Although many dishes show influences from Greece's past, particularly Arab, Turkish and Italian, they have a distinctive style of their own - a style which has changed little over the years. Greece has a long tradition of fine cooking and the full range of delicious dishes often remains undiscovered by the holidaymaker. The Greek diet, like that of other Mediterranean countries, is extremely healthy, being low in processed foods and animal fats, and is based on the availability of local produce: wheat products such as bread, pastry and pasta, fresh fruit and vegetables, fish and olive oil. The Book of Greek Cooking brings you a mouthwatering collection of over 100 recipes, each one illustrated in full colour and with step-by-step instructions, making it the perfect guide to cooking authentic Greek dishes. Some are familiar favourites, while others are less well-known, but all are guaranteed to bring a little Mediterranean sunshine to your menu ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

HP Books of Cooking!
Every book in this series is terrific, and Greek cuisine is a favorite:healthy Mediterranean food, helpful photos, and unique touches that transcend the usual. . . what's not to like?Only the best for this little book; it won't bulk up your shelves, AND prices on Amazon start at $00.01!

Healthy cooking Greek style
If one is interested in healthy Mediterranean cooking, here is a little book that has it all: well written recipes, good picture to stimulate the intelectual anf gastronomic appetite, as well as a hearthy immagination. Easy to read and produce a fine cuisine.

Authentic and approachable
This is one of my favorite cookbooks.It's not overwhelming and the recipes are delicious.I initially bought it soully for the moussaka recipe, which looked authentic when I read it (and it has been every time I have prepared it!).Then I was delighted that the other recipes were classics.Nothing over the top and intimidating.The tzatiki is fantastic.The bulgur-stuffed zucchini received rave reviews from guests.My family enjoys all of the recipes, though they are sometimes skeptical of some of the ingredients.

Wonderful Book!Great Starter for Greek Cooking
This is a very nicely done book that is perfect for those of us completely new to Greek Cooking.There are several things that I like.

First and foremost is the practical selection of recipes.Many times I've purchased ethnic cookbooks in the past only to find that I can't get most of the ingredients, or to discover that a majority require a great deal of work and time.In this case nearly every ingredient is readily available.There are some involved recipes, yes, but for the most part these are dishes that are practical enough for the average family.

We've had this book for perhaps two months, and we are literally making at least two or three Greek meals each week.This is healthy cooking too;almost everthing is based on fresh ingredients and olive oil is used almost exclusively over butter.

Among our favorites are the white bean soup, the lentil soup, the Avgolemono Soup, the Souvlakia, the Tzatziki.We've found a way now to increase legumes in our diet for the first time.There are many fish recipes in this book that look very apetizing, including a couple with squid.There is a dessert section with Baklava, a salad section, and a number of fairly uncommon meals involving partridges, quail, or rabbit.There is just the right balance of common recipes you might expect in a restaurant and some authentic less common recipes.

The book design deserves some praise.It's a small volume of 120 pages, one recipe per page.Heading each is a small picture, perfectly adequate to draw you in.There are helpful photos throughout. The book is as tall as all of your other books, but only 10cm or so deep.Easy to hold, easy to tote around with you in the store.Affordable.

Sometimes you find major measurement errors in books like these.I've only found one potentially confusing illustration, but nothing more.

Anyway, this really is my favorite cookbook for now.We're giving it a lot of excercise.

Great introduction to the Greek cuisine.
In its roughly 50 parts, all written by experienced cooks and cook book writers, HP Books' "The Book of ... Cooking" series takes you to the cuisines of various regions of the U.S. and around the world; all in easy to follow, well-explained recipes.

This installment, the Book of Greek Cooking, starts with a brief introduction into the basics of the Greek cuisine and a glossary of ingredients, and then presents recipe suggestions for all major courses, from mezes and soups to baking and desserts.Special chapters are dedicated to salads and vegetable dishes, fish, (red) meat, and poultry and game.Classics such as avgolemono soup, baklava, chicken pie, dolmades, marinated olives, moussaka, live bread, souvlakia, tzaziki, spanakopitta, and spiced rack of lamb appear next to unique dishes such as cinnamon knots, coriander mushrooms and pork with pears.

From afelia (coriander pork in cilantro and red wine sauce) to zucchini with cheese, this collection of recipes, while not all-encompassing, is a great introduction to the richness of the Greek cuisine - and at a relative bargain price, to boot. Also recommended:This series' installments on North African, Mediterranean, Spanish and French provincial cooking, antipasti, pasta, light pasta sauces, and pizzas and Italian breads.

Also recommended:
Around the World Cookbook
Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home: Fast and Easy Recipes for Any Day
Sundays at Moosewood Restaurant: Ethnic and Regional Recipes from the Cooks at the Legendary Restaurant (Cookery)
Madhur Jaffrey's World Vegetarian: More Than 650 Meatless Recipes from Around the World
On Cooking: A Textbook of Culinary Fundamentals (4th Edition) Textbook only
Joy of Cooking: 75th Anniversary Edition - 2006 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Definitely worth the hunt
A friend in Greece has this book and when I saw it I knew I had to have it. However, it is out of print right now so finding it used is the only option. I was very pleased to find it on Amazon.com and received it last week. Can't wait to get cooking! The illustrations are amazing and there is LOTS of excellent informaton about ingredients etc. ... Read more

Product Description
This masterfully done cookbook features 500 exotic recipes from one of Greece's best-selling cookbooks, and uses American measurements. The tempting and unusual dishes can be prepared from ingredients readily available to the American cook. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

No pictures
When I purchased this book I was looking for a Greek Cookbook asap. The recipes seem to be traditional food. What the book is lacking are pictures. I really like pictures in cookbooks and this has none. I'd like to be able to double check my creation against a picture, especially when I've never grown up around Greek cooking.

I suppose it's good, but not sure I'll try many.
The description of this book talks about authentic recipes, etc.To me, many of the recipies are WAY too full of oil to ever try making.One of them calls for something like 2c of olive oil to cook green beans in!!

If I would have known there were so many fried food recipes (it falls just short of deep-frying butter), I wouldn't have gotten it.At the many Greek restaurants I've been to, I've always considered Greek food to be healthy - mostly roasted and grilled.

I'm sure there are some good recipes in there, but nothing has really jumped out at me yet.Maybe someone else has had better luck finding something healthy in the book.

The best Greek cookbook!
I am a first generation Greek American. As a small child I remember my mother using a cookbook by Sophia Skoura which was written entirely in Greek. When I found this book translated into English I was thrilled!!! I've owned it for 13 years and have used it so much that it's worn out. I'm purchasing another today and buying an extra copy for my daughter to have when she grows up. I can't say enough good things about this book. It's has very traditional recipes that are easy to follow. You won't be disappointed!

This cookbook is great!
I have had this cookbook for years and made many recipes out of it. They all turned out great! I highly recommend this book if you want to make Greek food.

Culinary Nervana!
I am an avid cook of international foods and love to have a theme for all my dinner parties and gatherings with family and friends.

I was stuck on the greek theme for several months...All the receipes were...Delectable Culinary Nervana! ... Read more

Product Description
The Complete Greek Cookbook contains the mostcomprehensive collection of Greek recipes ever published in thiscountry with over one thousand variations of three hundred authenticrecipes. They reflect a simplified modern approach to Greek cooking,step by step instructions, modified proportions of sugars, fats andoil, the use of instant foods and spices, tested short-cut methods andthe use of appliances. Anecdotes and myths about the origins of theserecipes makes this book fun to read and a treasure to have in thekitchen.This is a new edition of an Amazon five star classic whichwas revised in August 2000 that has sold over two hundred thousandcopies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Not for cookbook collectors, really disappointing
I collect cookbooks and, if you do, too, you know what I am saying when I report that the previous reviewers must not cook.I don't consider a cookbook worthy if it contains recipes like "Greek Salad"Chop head of lettuce and pour olive oil and salt and pepper on it.That's a Greek Salad?Not to a real cook.I wish I had my $6.00 back.I will resell this one as fast as possible.If you want it let me know.

Wonderful Food
This Greek Cookbook makes the best Greek food I've ever had. I cook with my boyfriend all the time, this is like his bible for cooking. His whole Greek family loves this book and cooks just about everything from it... although most of the recipes are from memory now.

A must have for every kitchen!

great book
I got this book for my boy friend and he loved it... it was in great shape for a used book just like it stated... I admit I was a bit leary with it being used... I'd order from here again . great value for a great price

The Complete Greek Cookbood
Was at a friends and tried a recipe with her for Dolmades.Ordered the book online before I left as it was a great recipe and the cookbook is made for the home cook with items that are available at most stores. I also bought an extra for another friend as a Christmas gift.I know she will love it also.

It's Greek to me!
Just got the book; I bought it used. Hardcover.Seems like a good, basic Greek cookbook.There are a few pencilled-in notes from a previous owner which I actually appreciate.The book has the favorites:baklavah, roast leg of lamb, moussaka, and of course that delicious lemon sauce the Greeks often use.I'm more of an eater than a cooker, so I like this book.The recipes seem easy and that's perfect for me; all I need is a bit of a direction for spices and so forth, and hoopla - it's dinner!
... Read more

Product Description
book ... Read more

Product Description
The 265 Authentic GREEK RECIPES Cookbook for the Kindle contains a huge variety of 265 delicious Greek recipes.
We are pleased to offer thousands of eBooks for the Kindle. Click on our Editor Name next to the book title above (eBook-Ventures) to view all of the titles that are currently available. ... Read more

Product Description
New York has many of the most famous, and most visited, Greek restaurants in the country, along with on of the largest Greek populations. Both Greeks and non-Greeks, New Yorkers and tourists flock to these restaurants to sample some of the best Greek food around. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Best Greek Cook Book Ever
I have tried several of the recipes with great success and look forward to trying even more.

Simple Ingredients and Instructions, Excellent Tasting Food
My impression is Gekas is a perfectionist.The recipes when followed exactly are excellent.

This is my "mother"...you can learn to cook interesting meals from the book.If you are single, these recipes "cook on their own".Short prep. time, then you leave them to bake or simmer for ~2 hrs.Gives me time to settle down after work while dinner is "almost ready".

For the price and the quality of the recipes, I have to refrain from the urge to buy another copy!It's a great deal--hands down.Feels like I have wasted my money buying the other cookbooks on my bookshelf.

Wonderful!
Wonderful cookbook..the recipes are easy and delicious and actually work.....with the exception of a few ingredients everything is in your kitchen.Anyone can cook greek with this cookbook......I highly recommendthis book!

ENJOY! ... Read more

Product Description
Sofi Konstantinides, proprietor of the acclaimed Los Angeles restaurant Sofi, shares the culinary legacy of her native Greece, presenting 145 recipes made lighter by using less oil, butter, and sugar than is customary. Filled with reminiscences about her family and friends, Sofi's Aegean Kitchen is both a loving tribute to generations of talented Greek cooks and a health-conscious offering of their best home cooking. Black-and-white photographs and line drawings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Yummy!
If you love Greek you'll love Sofi's book....My family loves the creations I've made using her recipe's.

Great "Healthy" Greek cooking is EZ with Sofi's Direction
This is by far the best cook book in preparing Greek food.Sofi's recipies are light, tasty and easy.Even the native born and raised marvel at the dishes that I have prepared.And Sofi's delightful stories about life in Greece of her family introduce each recipe giving it an even more interesting ingredient, that of the history of the cuisine. ... Read more

Product Description
A slogan for the 21st century could be eat Greek and stay healthy!Over 200 delicious recipes showcase Greeces healthy Mediterranean diet.Reflecting modern trends, as well as traditional Greek cooking, recipes have been adapted to suit todays weight and health conscious people. A true taste of modern Greek cooking. This is a cookbook that belongs in every kitchen. Full color photographs. ... Read more

Product Description
This is one of the most complete books of traditional Greek desserts ever published. It includes a full range of breads, cakes, cookies, confections, and preserves as well as the famous Greek spoon-sweets and honey-syrup pastries. Many of these 250 heirloom recipes were handed down from the author's family, natives of the fabled city of Constantinople. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

One of my favorites
I am a Turk living in California. I was amazed by the recipes and the photos in this book. I haven't yet had time to try all the recipes, but I have been very pleased with the ones that I tried. The explanations are good and easy to follow. Taste is authentic. For people who are not familiar with the pastries and desserts of the region, the photos in the book show what the outcome will look like.
Highly recommended to those with a sweet tooth ;-)

A Masterpiece
If you don't own this book, then your library is incomplete!Having just returned from Greece, I can honestly say this has every pastry you'd find in a neighborhood bakery.One of the best parts of Greece is the dining, whether during Lent or the rest of the year, and this book has all the dessert recipes you'd need to have a little of Greece in your own home year-round.She also has a great variety of recipes for the various Orthodox Christian holidays, which makes the book all the more valuable for festive occasions such as Christmas and Easter.If you've lost Grandma's cookie recipes, just pick up a copy of this.Thank you, Vefa!

If it's traditional you want then look no further
Vefa Alexiadou has done it again. I purchased this book while in Greece after seeing her on a very popular morning show. I was not disappointed. I had purchased other books from her and had always been pleased. Greekpasteries are amongst the most difficult to make yet Vefa makes it not onlyeasy but enjoyable. The photos in the book are wonderful. Upon first glanceI wanted to make everything!For those of you who want to try traditionalGreek cooking, the way it is done in Greece, then this is the book for you. ... Read more

Product Description
Over 160 wonderfully flavored Greek recipes, including tasty classics and popular modern dishes, using traditional techniques and ingredients. An informative introduction celebrates the history and food culture of Greece, the wealth of fresh ingredients and the methods used in the preparation and cooking. Easy-to-follow illustrated step-by-step instructions ensure perfect results every time. 700 color photographs. ... Read more

Product Description
Everything you need to have your own "Big Fat Greek Wedding..." Join in the celebration of food and folklore! Author Susie Atsaides has collected over 400 recipes straight from authentic Greek-village kitchens, fourno ovens, and olive orchards in this compendium of food and culture. This treasured collection has been handed down from mother to daughter through generations. Filled with mouth-watering dishes, ancestral superstitions, and amusing bits of folklore, "Greek Generations: A Medley of Ethnic Recipes, Folklore, and Village Traditions" will delight the palate and the hearts of readers from every background. Food and family are central to every culture, and Atsaides' easy-to-follow recipes are simple and fun. Written in an informal manner, adults as well as children can enjoy the delicious results of Greek cooking, simply and easily. An encyclopedia of good taste, "Greek Generations: A Medley of Ethnic Recipes, Folklore, and Village Traditions" offers readers a buffet for the senses and a delicious "taste" of a time-honored way of life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Greek Generations
Fodor's Athens:
The Collected Traveler
by Barrie Kerper


Citation:
Greek Generations:
A Medley of Ethnic Recipes, Folklore, and Village Traditions
bySusie Atsaides
page 456

" I found this gigantic book at the Kitchen Artsand Letters in New York and fell in love with it - less for its recipes, truthfully (and there are more than four hundred of them), than for all the other interesting stuff that's documented in it.I like books like this because they are created and compiled as a labor of love and are authentic archives of a community.In this case, the community includes village kitchens, ovens, and olive orchards in Greece.The recipes, cultural details, ancestral superstitions, and stories have been passed down from mother to daughter for generations.This hardcover compendium is a great joy to read, even if you never make a single recipe.Atsaides, who hails from the Greek community of Baltimore, now lives on Rhodes and maintains a good website, www.faliraki-info.com, which is devoted to the history of Rhodes and also includes accommodation information, travel tips, recipes, and a good section on Greek traditions and village superstitions.This Book is a major accomplishment."
Barrie Kerper

A culinary and cultural delight
This is the most extensive ethnic cookbook that I have ever seen."Greek Generations" has over 480 pages of recipes, preparation tips and tricks, and meal suggestions.An exhaustive collection of Greek recipes it includes many recipes for lamb, pork, and beef as well as vegetable dishes, sauces, marinates, desserts and any other food category.It also includes traditional Greek recipes that would be pretty hard to find in any other cookbooks.For example, it includes traditional recipes for fish roe, grilled eel, fried brains, and squid rings.If you have a favorite Greek dish and would like a recipe for it I would be greatly surprised if you could not find it here.Pilafs, pastas, meats, breads (some wonderful bread recipes), appetizers, soups, desserts, drinks, it is all here including my favorites - gyros, souvlaki, and baklava.

At the end of the book Susie Atsaides includes a section on Greek superstitions, traditions and legends.She has done a great job of sharing this fascinating aspect of Greek social customs and history and it is great reading for anyone who has Greek friends or is interested in their traditions.She also has sections on holiday celebrations, different men and women in the village, and common ceremonies.By the time I had finished the book I had a new appreciation for the Greek people and a greater understanding of their history, society, and traditions.Susie Atsaides has opened up her life and family for all to understand and appreciate.This is a very highly recommended read for anyone interested in Greek recipes or Greek society in general, Susie Atasaides effectively welcomes you into her life and makes you feel like a friend of the family.

A wealth of identity, history, and more
Greek Generations: A Medley Of Ethnic Recipes, Folklore, And Village Traditions is a combination cookbook, cultural preservative, guide to tradition, and celebration of a Greek cultural heritage. Black-and-white photographs, down-to-earth narration and a wealth of identity, history, and more comprise this fascinating celebration of the Greek cuisine and a robust way of life. After providing a wealth of recipes for sauces and dressings, marinades, appetizers, salads, savory pies, stuffed vegetables, pilafs and pastas, vegetables, soups, meats, poultry, game meats, organ meats, seafood, breads, desserts, preserves and pickles, and beverages, Greek Generations devotes entire chapters to "Greek Cooking for Children"; "Kitchen Techniques"; "The Greek Pantry"; and "The Greek Menu Planner". Greek Generations then goes on to cover Greek superstitions, traditions and legends; holiday celebrations; male and female village roles and occupations, and the Greek ceremonies of marriages, baptisms, and funerals. Greek Generations is especially recommended to the kitchen cookbook collections of those who enjoy multicultural dining experiences in general, and a Greek cuisine in particular. ... Read more