Category Archives: Greek Life Cookbook

Newsflash! Greek Life and Greek Food For Sharing

There’s exciting news that I’m just bursting to share with you…..insert drum rolll….and that is the much awaited stock of my cookbooks titled Greek Life and also Greek Food For Sharing have just hit the press.

Greek Life a book about family, culture and food

You’ve sent me messages, emailed me, visited bookshops asking when the books will be available….and I’m here to share that Greek Life and Greek Food For Sharing will be arriving within a month or so.

I have a growing waiting list of people who have already reserved their copies, so if you’re wanting to add these beautiful and meaningful books, composed and infused with love to your library, then let me know so that I can put your name on the list.

In the meantime for those outside of Australia, the updated soft cover edition of Greek Life and Greek Food For Sharing, plus my other books, can be found at my author page.

Greek Food For Sharing - Recipes that Nourish the Soul

Join the celebration of Greek culture!
Need more information? Visit my website.

Feel free to share this email with your family, friends and colleagues or better still ask them to sign up here and they will receive their own S/S edition of Easy Entertaining; a free mini cookbook from me!

With love,

Eugenia x

The Mediterranean Diet is a Lifestyle

A GUEST BLOGPOST

DR ROSANNE FREAK-POLI, BSc, BHSc, PhD

Senior Researcher, Epidemiologist, Heart Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow

Last week I was enjoying a coffee at my old local coffee shop when I struck up a conversation with Eugenia, the owner of this blog. I am a life-course epidemiologist, meaning that I am interested in factors across the life course that impact health, well-being, and longevity.

These factors may not be obvious, and much of my work is exploring new potential risk factors for chronic disease. For example, I am currently funded by the National Heart Foundation of Australia to assess whether social connections with other people can prevent heart disease.

Eugenia and I soon realised our common interests in well-being and longevity. However, Eugenia taught me something very important that had escaped my attention. Eugenia was explaining the premise of her books “Greek Life” and “Greek Food For Sharing” which describe the benefits and lifestyle factors of the Mediterranean diet.

I instantly made the common mistake of thinking of the Mediterranean diet as simply the nutritional benefits provided to our bodies, but what Eugenia explained is that the Mediterranean diet is more than this, it is a way of life.

Eugenia explained that the secrets behind this way of living consist of both food and lifestyle factors. These include choosing the freshest and seasonal fruits and vegetables, consuming small quantities of nuts, dried fruits and natural yoghurt, generous amounts of olive oil, enjoying a glass or two of wine with meals and not as stand-alone events. The diet also encompasses multiple servings each week of legumes, two to three servings of seafood a week, and very limited dairy, red meat, and poultry. An abundance of herbs that are used in both cooking and for medicinal purposes, such as herbal teas.Aside from the food, the Mediterranean Lifestyle encompasses having fun, being socially connected with family and friends, laughter, and incidental exercise by way of walking, gardening or dancing. Enjoying a cup of Greek coffee that’s prepared on the stovetop using pulverised coffee, means that this brew is packed with polyphenols and antioxidants, and these contribute to health and longevity.

Greeks are known to take a nap after lunch and this helps the body to rest, restore and reset. Another important lifestyle factor is the fasting rituals that include over 200 days a year where no dairy, meat or poultry is consumed, and this caloric deficit also contributes to health and wellbeing.

I’ve now learnt that these are the reasons why in some parts of Greece people enjoy longevity and good health well into their 90’s and to beyond 100. The island of Ikaria is one such place, and its been named as the island where people forget to die.

Instantly it all made sense. As researchers conducting data analysis we can only assess the variables that are available in the database. If someone is interested in nutritional content, dietary patterns, and food behaviours then they may ask a lot of specific questions about these factors. Some interests are not collected at all, and because of this we would have very little information of the ‘way of life’ that the Mediterranean diet encompasses. An example of this is reflected through much of the lifestyle choices, for example, the importance of social connections that attribute to wellbeing and longevity.

Why does it matter? The public health message that we receive is that the Mediterranean diet is the most beneficial for health. However, if someone decides to make a lifestyle change, then the Mediterranean diet definition only discusses the dietary pattern and nutritional content. Potentially the other elements as discussed above are not provided and therefore the person wanting to make the lifestyle change is not fully informed.

I can see that Eugenia’s books would be of benefit to people wanting to make a positive lifestyle change, not just for health but also for their well-being.

Learn the secrets of the Mediterranean Lifestyle

You may wonder what all the fuss is around the Mediterranean Diet. I’d like to share the secrets behind this way of living, and why in some parts of Greece, people enjoy longevity and good health well into their 90’s and beyond 100.

Firstly, it’s not simply a diet. More than that, it’s a lifestyle. It’s about choosing the freshest in season fruits and vegetables, enjoying a small quantities of nuts and dried fruits, generous amounts of olive oil, a glass or two of wine, multiple servings each week of legumes, two to three servings of seafood a week, and very limited dairy, red meat, and poultry.

Correctly observed, the Mediterranean Lifestyle also incorporates times of fasting. As a rule each Wednesday and Friday, plus forty days before Easter, the first 15 days of August, 40 days before Christmas, and some other dates in between. That adds up to over 200 days of the year where no dairy, meat and poultry is consumed, and on some of these days oil and wine are also not consumed.

Aside from the food, the Mediterranean Lifestyle encompasses having fun, being socially connected, laughter, dancing, gentle exercise by way of walking, gardening or dancing (did I say fun?), sipping a Greek coffee served in a demitasse cup, enjoying a couple of glasses of wine, and basking in the company of family and friends.

These lifestyle choices are at the core of my book award-winning book Greek Life. If you love Greek food, and admire Greek culture, be sure to order your copies from Amazon. Click on this link to order my books.

Greek Life belongs in the homes of families for whom Greek culture means something.

I’m Eugenia Pantahos, and I thank you for keeping the celebration alive.

xox

When Greek Life is the Gift to Give

At my local supermarket Just last week I bumped into a young man who I’ve known for some years. He was so excited to share with me that he was one of the recipients of my book Greek Life at an award ceremony at the 2018 Glendi Festival. It made my day to learn that Greek Life was presented to the students for them to carry the torch of Hellenic culture with them into the future. Here’s the excerpt from the Adelaide High School Newsletter:

GLENDI GREEK FESTIVAL… OPA!

This year’s Glendi Greek Festival coincided with Greece’s National Day, March 25. To mark 40 years of the festival, it was moved to the heart of the city at Victoria Square. Here, our students’ Hellenic spirit was celebrated; our Year 12 students were awarded certificates for their service and dedication to their language learning and were presented a book, The Greek Life, written by Eugenia Pantahos by The Foundation of Hellenic Studies and The Greek Teacher’s Association, Year 9 and 11 students served dignitaries at the official opening function, and Year 8 and 9 student work was displayed in the school’s marquee.

Throughout the festival, Adelaide High Students represented the school and their culture proudly. Many danced in traditional dance troupes and volunteered in the food stalls for their community groups. The highlight, however, was witnessing many second and third generation migrants reveling in the atmosphere, dancing to the international acts and embracing Hellenism.

Ms Dimitra Rozaklis | Teacher of Greek

Free Calendar from Greek Lifestyle

Welcome to Greek Lifestyle!

I’ve had some wonderful days at my beach house, dipping my toes into the sea, soaking up some sun, enjoying the salt on my skin, and sipping the amazingly delicious Greek style icy cold coffee frappe.

I’ve spent time with my husband, prepared delicious meals and enjoyed the ‘catch of the day’ from his many hours spent fishing. Long walks by the sea helped center my thoughts and my spirit. I ate, drank and celebrated the festive season with our neighbours and indulged in a few too many treats! I planned my year ahead and reflected on the year that was. I quietly celebrated within my heart the joys and accomplishments for me, both as an author and as a professional, and took the valuable time to reflect on the beautiful man my late father was and just how much I’m missing him.

This meant that I was a little late in creating my calendar. So here it is, and I’m absolutely thrilled to be bringing you the first free, downloadable and printable calendar for 2018. You can find the link at the bottom of this post.

As you know, I love thought inspiring philosophy, and I simply love to be organised. As a way to say ‘thank you’ for joining me in the celebration of Greek Life, this simple yet sophisticated calendar will add a touch of glamour to your home or office. I like to put mine on a clipboard in my office and I also keep a copy on my fridge.

The free calendar from Greek Lifestyle offers an inspiring quote, it has plenty of room to make notes for each day of the month, includes a list of the 3 things on your weekly to-do-list, plus a little space for the things that you mustn’t forget.

I do hope that you enjoy this gift from me to you!

Spread the word, and let you family and friends enjoy the experience too.

You can download your free printable calendar here.

Enjoy!

Eugenia xox

Greek Life Television Interview

Welcome to Greek Lifestyle!

I enjoyed some ‘on-air’ fun with Malcolm Haslett on the ‘Our Time’ program on Channel 44 discussing the story behind Greek Life.

This television interview was an amazing experience and one that I felt quite surprisingly relaxed with. I loved sharing some of the beautiful images and favourite recipes from my book Greek Life as well as the story of family and explaining just why this book is considered an important anthology by those for whom Greek culture means something, but also the wider community here in Australia and overseas.

The journey so far has been amazing, and one that I was blessed to share with my late father, my husband, my children, and extended family.

Since doing this television interview, I have had a great response from those who already have the book and from those who wished to add it to their collection.

Greek Life is stocked in around 30 stores nationally, and has been embraced with warmth and love. Join those who have added this award-winning book to their collections.

There is limited stock available of the exclusive hardcover that is in it’s second print run. I won’t be doing another self-published print run….so really….now is the time to secure copies for yourself and your loved ones. Pass on the lessons, recipes and traditions to the future generations of your family.

Email me to place orders for multiple copies, or single copies can be purchased here.

Sending you my love!

Eugenia xx

Gourmand Cookbook Awards – Australian Competition

Gourmand Cookbook Awards

I have some amazing news, actually its really, really exciting news that I’m just bursting to share with you.

My book titled Greek Life (family, culture, food) won two, yes, two categories, one for MEDITERRANEAN and the other for SELF-PUBLISHED, in the prestigious Gourmand Cookbook Awards national competition for Australia. This is a defining moment in the journey of Greek Life and for me, as a first time author.

My self-published book that was put together with so much love and with a vision to pass forward the beautiful and meaningful Greek traditions and mouthwatering recipes, threaded together with the story of family, thought inspiring philosophy and full colour photography, will now compete in Gourmand International Cookbook Awards in the same categories against other countries for the Best in The World.

As a Greek Australian cookbook writer and publisher I could only have imagined the journey that would transpire, from being a freelance contributor to a magazine, the recipient of a leadership scholarship, and and invited MC and speaker at various events, and now the recipient of the Gourmand International Cookbook Awards in Australia.

Having come this far with my journey as an author of a book that I envisioned to be the best book on Greek culture to exist, is amazing, but to be acknowledged in this way is even more amazing.

Now I’m waiting for the Gourmand Cookbook Awards certificate to arrive together with those lovely red stickers with the words ‘winner’ that I can proudly place on my book, but I think I’ll place them on the first page, beside my signature!

Greek Life is a high quality hardcover edition that is now in its second and final print run. That means stock is limited, so now is the time to place orders for this keepsake edition. It is a beautiful and meaningful gift for those for whom Greek culture means something, the foodies, the cooks, the thinkers, the travelers, and the coffee table book lovers. Order your copies at my online shop or email me.

Wish me well in the International competition.

Fingers crossed!

Eugenia xx