My Greek Cuisine, Culture, and Wellness Tour

There's a reason I continue to choose Greece as a destination on my culinary tour circuit.  Just hearing the words "Greece" or "Greek" make me happy. While it's true that you don't have to dig too deeply to find lovable aspects of the Greek culture to  admire, I do believe that my own affinity with Ελλάδα, (that's "Greece" in Greek) is particularly strong. I attribute my affection for the Hellenic Republic to my DNA (it was, after all, the people of Rhodes who were brought to populate Southern Italy) and to my step-grandmother or Yia Yia, as I called her, whose family hailed from the beautiful Byzantine town of Nafpaktos.

As a young girl, attending the festivals and ceremonies at our town's Greek Orthodox Church were the highlights of my social calendar. Enjoying cinnamon drenched- melomakarona cookies and lamb-broth infused roasted potatoes were holiday traditions that I loved.  At our town's annual festival Greek music, dancing, and  loukoumedes -making quickly became my favorite past times. To this day, no matter how stressed out or preoccupied I become, those are the sounds and aromas which have the power to elevate my mood like no others.

In essence, Greece is one of my happiest places, and I feel blessed to be able to share my love of its' enchanting culture with my students and readers. I am not alone in my ability to be able to achieve a blissful mental state effortlessly in Greece. The nation is home to Blue Zones, and the island of Ikaria, which we will experience whole-heartedly, is known for being a place where people forget to die! Many believe that it is the quality of life and happy go-lucky attitude among the locals, in addition to delicious and healthful foods that make living so long possible.

As I often preach, being physically active and enjoying food with others is the foundation of The Mediterranean Diet, whose modern ideologies were based on The Greek Diet, which was deeply rooted in Pythagorean and Epicurean philosophies. Both philosophers hailed from Samos, the other island we will enjoy on our tour. Epicurus himself was known as saying: "We should look for someone to eat and drink with before looking for something to eat and drink." The 4th century BCE  perfectly summed up the Greek notion that hospitality and camaraderie are paramount.

This year's Greek Cuisine, Culture, and Wellness Tour embarks on June 11, 2017. The registration deadline is on April 17, 2017, and spaces are limited to 12 participants.  My tour partner, Alex Safos, and I have put together an itinerary like no other - which will enable you to witness first hand all of the shining examples of Greek cuisine and culture, as well as give you the tools to be able to implement them into your busy lifestyle at home. We have chosen to spend our time in Athens, Ikaria, and Samos in order to provide a full-circle view of ancient and contemporary Hellenic flavor. We will experience everything from ancient culinary delights in Samos and agricultural treasures in Ikaria to modern fine dining hot spots and street food in Athens.

In Athens we will take part in a culinary walk to some of the city's best kept secrets, and also dine in what is considered to be one of the world's best restaurants. During the day, we will visit the Acropolis, and I will provide a lecture on Greco-Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Influences on Food. I'm also looking forward to my guided Greek olive oil tasting, full of hints and techniques on how to buy, store, and cook with EVOO for maximum health benefits and flavor!

“True Greece” is said to reside in the northeast Aegean, on the breathtaking,  authentic, wind-whipped island of Ikaria. Today, Ikaria is also known as “the island where people forget to die,” and the perfect place for us to discover just how delicious “culinary medicine” can be with my unique workshop. One of only a handful of “Blue Zones” around the world—a locale where inhabitants live measurably longer, more lucid, more active, and healthier lives—Ikaria will reveal its longevity formula during our four day stay here.  We will also take part in 2 cooking classes during our stay here: one with me which will cover Classic Greek Favorites...and another with with Ikarian chef and cookbook author, Diane Kochilas whose menu might include: “Kopanisti” (Ikaria’s soft cheese); stuffed zucchini fritters; lentil salad with fennel, onions, and herbs; longevity greens and pumpkin pie; “hortopita” (wild greens savory pie); and collard green dolmades filled with dried corn and herbs.

Next we're off to the legendary "wine dark" seaside island of Samos known for its striking natural beauty and UNESCO World Heritage sites. Samos is particularly important to me because it is the island where the goddess Hera and Pythagoras were from. My ancestral homeland of Crotone, Italy was were Pythagoras settled and taught - and we have a temple to Hera as well, proving a strong synergy between the two ancient colonies. In addition to exploring the amazing beaches, the Museum of Samos Wines (which were integral to some of the world's most luxurious modern brands)  and archeological sites, it is here that we will get right to the heart of the Mediterranean Diet and Greek wellness traditions and philosophies.  I will give a presentation entitled "The Philosopher's Kitchen" which will explain the ancient wisdom imparted by Samian thinkers which is still relevant in modern society.  We will also attend a cooking demonstration by a noted chef with featuring local specialties.

In my opinion, the only bad thing about this tour is that it will only last for 11 days! To access the full itinerary and register, click here. If you are in the Washington, DC area, consider attending my booksigning and tasting event at EVOO in Alexandria, VA on April 11, where I will give a detailed presentation on the tour! You may also reach out to Get Global Expeditions owner Alex Safos for more information here. Hope you can join us!