In 1975, the chance meeting in a college canteen with a bizarrely varied group of foreign students, resulted in my acquisition of a Greek boyfriend.
Having been fascinated by cooking and food since childhood and also being convinced of the old adage, that the quickest way to a man’s heart is through the stomach, I dashed out and bought the only Greek cookbook I could find.
Fortunately, it was the classic ‘The Home Book of Greek Cookery’ by Joyce Stubbs. This was my very first experience of a cuisine that would become second nature and also to a country that would become my second home.
In the intervening years, the boyfriend transformed into my husband and our story meant that we lived on a Greek island for many years and also in Athens – perhaps the coolest city in the Mediterranean!
Of late our travels have rested in England but I cannot shake off the smells, tastes, colours and warmth of Greece.
My endeavours to capture it all are here..
A bit more about ‘The Home Book of Greek Cookery’ can be read here. https://kouzinacooking.com/2017/04/14/an-indispensable-guide-joyce-stubbs-and-the-home-book-of-greek-cookery/
I think your story is so wonderful! Having had 3 of the best years of my life growing up in Cyprus (pre-developed & somewhat spoiled?!) (Yes, me & the island!) I miss the Med terribly. I really look forward to reading more of your story, recipes and life, Mrs Kouzina!
Kind regards,
Shelley
Hi Shelley,
I’m so pleased that you have enjoyed my ramblings! These Mediterranean islands are so magical – especially before the tourism ‘revolution’. I don’t think you ever really leave them, once you’ve lived there and experienced it all.
Hope you get back there soon.
Many thanks for your kind comment.
Regards
Jane
Jane – a great website. Looks good and the recipes are straightforward and easy to follow. Thanks.
Thank you, David ! Really good to know that !
Hi, I’ve nominated you for a blog award. Hope you are up for it! See my blog post http://kritsayvonne.com/2015/03/27/versatile-blogger-award/ Best wishes, Yvonne
Thanks Yvonne! That’s really kind ! Really appreciate that. Best wishes, Jane
I own that book by Joyce Stubbs too and its just as tattered as yours!
Still a favourite though !
Love your recipes, love visiting this site! I first came across Joyce Stubbs’ gem of a book in a public library in Glasgow’ s Royal Exchange Square. I re-discovered it on Amazon a couple of years ago, and even though it no longer looks new, but a bit splattered with olive oil and the pages are yellowed with age, it has some of the best Greek recipes I have ever seen.
Do you have any other favourites Jane?
Thanks ! That’s really kind – so glad you like the blog. My copy of the Joyce Stubbs book is in the splattered and age-yellowed state ! Another real favourite is Cooking the Greek Way’ by Anne Theoharous – it’s very good for standard Greek dishes. Sadly it is also out of print – but I did manage to get a copy for a friend from Abe Books. Another favourite is Vefa Alexiadou’s ‘Vefa’s Kitchen ‘. It’s a bit of a a hefty tome but is very informative. Vefa is Greece’s ‘Delia’, so her recipes are well-tested. It’s well-worth the investment.
What’s you favourite dish ?
I love light simple dishes, vegetable stews- Briami, and I cook a very good Moussaka also light, but still traditional. I love Walnut Cake steeped in orange spicy syrup, andmy speciality Galaktoboureko. Anne Theoharous’ book is on my kitchen shelf too and is often my go-to book for family favourites.
Looking forward to working through your posts. Thanks so much for the kind comments about my own. It’s great to feel appreciated 🙂
It’s good to know there are really people out there !! Looking forward to reading more from you too 🙂
Thanks ! The Anne Theoharous book is one of my all time favourite books – all the recipes are so precise and well-explained. Such a shame it’s out of print !
I’ve just come across you and feel very pleased to have found you. The Zonar piece is excellent. I’m a fussy reader and I like your style and writing voice. Zonar’s we remember well. We lived for two winters in Athens in 1962/3 and 1964/65. After that on Sifnos and Amorgos; later, in Papingo, north of Ioannina. You might be interested in our (Peter and Susan Barrett’s) latest collaboration about our first decade in Greece. Have a look! susanbarrettwriter.com/pencross-books. (I also depended on Joyce Stubbs!)
Hi Susan – thank you so much for your kind words. Am very pleased that you enjoyed the Zonars’ piece – it’s a place close to my heart.
I will definitely have a look at your website and book. I’m fascinated by Athens in the early Sixties- it was a moment of great change for the country and there seemed to be an interesting mix of ‘ex-pats’ there – including Joyce Stubbs and her husband!
I’ve managed to get hold of Leslie Finer’s guide book to Greece from 1964 and Robert Liddell’s travel books. So interesting ! When I first went there in 1977, you could still get glimpses of that Athens.
Really looking forward to reading your work. Hoping to keep in touch.
Best wishes
Jane