In ancient times, Greek ambrosia was believed to be the food of the gods. Here at last is a collection of modern, traditional, and most importantly foolproof Greek recipes by renowned chef Loulla Astin. For Loulla there’s nothing quite like the feeling one gets when descending the aeroplane’s stairs arriving in Cyprus and Greece; from the nostalgic aroma that engulfs the senses as the hot air wraps itself around your body like a cosy blanket, to the natural kind gestures of the locals that warms everybody’s hearts. The Greeks have a unique word for it: ‘Philoxenia’. More than just hospitality, it translates as ‘a friend to a stranger’, but is actually deeper in meaning. These beautiful recipes are intertwined memories and stories from Loulla’s childhood in Cyprus and her visits to Greece both professionally while filming 52 programmes of ‘Simply Greek’ for Granada’s Sky Breeze, and as a tourist in various locations. With this book, Loulla will take you back to the warm inviting times spent in the tavernas and family homes of Cyprus and Greece. Yiamas!
Loulla Astin came to fame in the early 90s as a bubbly and passionate Greek and Cypriot Chef. She made her debut on BBC1 TV in ‘Eggs ‘n Baker’, and following this she appeared in many other food related shows. Loulla was then given the opportunity to host her own series, ‘Simply Greek’. Her vibrant and rustic approach to cookery was soon noticed and she was asked to appear regularly on ‘This Morning with Richard and Judy’, through which their families bonded and became close friends. In addition, Loulla was the resident chef on ‘The Afternoon Show’ where it was noted that she was a ‘breath of fresh air’. Since opening her family restaurant ‘The Kosmos Taverna’ in Manchester (1981), she has developed an army of followers through social media, all of which pleaded for her to release her own cookery book. Here it is.