Discover the spirit of kersma with My Greek Family Table
Sara Schwarz
My Greek Family Table by Maria Benardis [©Penguin Books (Australia 2009)]
Written with passion, My Greek Family Table by Maria Benardis is a personal invitation to experience all the depth and flavour of Greek cuisine and the wonderful spirit of kersma - the offering of food to those we love.
Greek cuisine has not always been considered in the highest regard in Australia, which is a strange things as we have a huge Greek population and many talented Greek chefs and cooks in our midst.
Since a life-changing trip to Greece in 2004, Maria Benardis has dedicated her life to sharing Greek cuisine with others and inspiring their own passion for the food. In the five short years following, Ms Benardis has established a successful cooking school, Greekalicious (in Sydney), begun leading food tours of Greece, released her own range of ingredients and now this beautiful recipe book – My Greek Family Table.
Maria Benardis, a generous, kind and determined woman has had a life long love affair with the food of her homeland. From a very early age, on her grandmother’s island of Psara, when most youngsters are still battling with shoe tying, Ms Benardis was establishing a secret vegetable and herb garden overlooking the ocean – a sanctuary at a tumultuous point in her young life.
My Greek Family Table is as much a celebration of her family’s struggle as immigrants and through life’s trials as it is a reflection of their quiet love and support for one another – expressed always through the preparation and sharing of traditional Greek food.
Throughout My Greek Family Table Maria’s love and respect for her family and especially the strong women who shaped her life, shines through, reflected in the images of tablecloths and other fabrics hand crafted by the family over generations and also by the family photos and stories which intersperse the 100 recipes within. These recipes redefine Greek cuisine as it should be known: fresh, flavoursome and simple and wholesome.
With the warmer weather upon us, Maria’s use of seasonal vegetables, seafood and lamb matches perfectly with Australia’s growing interest in the use of fresh regional cuisine, homegrown entertaining and outdoor living. Be inspired this summer and share the recipes within with those you love.
My Greek Family Table by Maria Benardis is published by Penguin Lantern (2009; pb) RRP $59.95. Subscribers and Members of VisitVineyards.com and Winepros Archive can purchase My Greek Family Table from our book partners Seekbooks at 12.5% discount off RRP (postage extra).
Click here for details on Greekalicious cooking school and food tours.
VisitVineyards.com Members please note special offers for Members on cooking classes and food tours.
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MEMBER BENEFIT: Greekalicious offers Members an introduction to traditional and modern Greek cookery along with a discount on all cooking classes.
Greekalicious (NSW): complimentary classesMEMBER BENEFIT: Ensure your culinary tour of Greece lasts a little longer when you book a Greekalicious culinary tour, with a complimentary double pass to a Greekalicious cooking class »
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