This book is the culmination of many years of hot tub parties and cookbook meetings. At long last, it is here! The difficulty in compiling these recipes was that our parents used no recipes. When asked for specifics, they always replied, “…a little bit of this, a little bit of that.” Please feel free to adapt them to your own tastes or special dietary needs.

We have come to understand, particularly since the passing of our parents, how truly blessed we were to have had this rich cultural background. It is our intent to share not only these unique recipes but also the many “parimies” (proverbs) that became a large part of our lives. The down-to-earth truth, wisdom, and humor of these adages make them simple yet incredibly profound. Also included are stories about our daily family life and how we lived the Greek culture.

The deep love of our parents for each other was particularly apparent in the kitchen where the preparation of these dishes was purely an act of love. The kitchen was their stage for true Greek drama and comedy. As Daddy would place the final touch on his culinary creation, we could hear a booming voice from the kitchen: “CALL THE GLOBE NEWS!” Humility was definitely not his strongest attribute. He claimed there were only two great chefs in the world, and he had pushed the other one into the Canadian River a long time hence. He had a magnetic personality and wit that endeared him to all. In his own words, “Και ή γñ που περπατaω μέ αγaπάει” (Ke i yi pou perpataó me agapái)—“Even the ground I walk on loves me.” Mother, on the other hand, was more modest about her cooking but always loved being reassured of its incredible quality. She had a golden touch, and everything she prepared had an unexplained sweetness. She was Daddy’s greatest fan, thrived on his antics, and was his perfect “straight man.” These family traditions are our key to understanding and living Greek. It is our privilege and joy to pass them on to you as they were so lovingly passed on to us.