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Yvonne’s holy grail

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Yvonne Kaponis. Greek cookbook.

Yvonne Kaponis in Kastellorizo, where her family is from.

13 Feb 2011
Laura Burgoine

Growing up in a household of 23 extended family members, the kitchen was never closed in Yvonne Kaponis' home.

"The aromas that filled our house became ingrained in me and in a way it was then that my appreciation for food started," Mrs Kaponis said.

It's this passion for cooking Greek cuisine that made Mrs Kaponis the ideal candidate to write the recently released Greek Bible. Mrs Kaponis' daughter Nicolette, a publishing manager at Penguin, approached her Mother to write the recipe book, which is one of a series including Italian, Thai, Moroccan, Indian and Middle Eastern.

"My Mum and I got together and in six months put together 140 recipes; it was a wonderful opportunity," Mrs Kaponis told Neos Kosmos.

Having grown up working in family cafes and running her own cafe, Terrace Deli in Melbourne, for three years, Mrs Kaponis said cooking is in her blood.

"We're Greeks; we've always loved cooking.We used to have 200 to 300 people over for my father's name day celebration, or 100 people for Easter, and catering for those numbers was no big deal," she said.

Many of Mrs Kaponis' cafe customers are now trying their hand at recipes from the Greek Bible.

"A lot of customers know me really well, everyone comes in and tells me what they've cooked and if it works," she said. "I'm really proud I'm teaching all the Aussies how to cook Greek food."

Absolutely anybody can cook Greek cuisine, Mrs Kaponis insists.

"The book is very easy to read, and I tell people if they have trouble with anything just come and ask me."

The Greek Bible, which was released in August last year, is on sale at all leading booksellers.

Customers can purchase a personally signed copy at Mrs Kaponis' cafe, Terrace Deli, 459 Lt Collins St, Melbourne.

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Comments

Once a year we yearn to become Greek! Each Greek Easter the Kaponis family open up their hearts and home to family and friends and have been doing so for more than 30 years. We know what stunning Greek food the table will be laden with, yet each year brings renewed excitement and awe at the fantastic flavours of the freshest food produced in the traditional Greek way. So it is wonderful that Yvonne has published a traditional recipe book. 'The Bible' has been personally signed for us by Yvonne, and is now a source of great pride in our home. For me, it simply means that the authentic Greek dishes, and the sense of hospitality that is so sincere and full of love, can now be shared in my own home, with my family and friends. Thanks Yvonne, or should that be Opa!
Submitted by Di Vermeeren on Tue, 2011-02-22 09:33.
Loved this article, Yvonne Kaponis like many Greek Australian women of her generation have been inspired by their amazing mothers and those wonderful Greek recipes, her influence came early and at a time when food preparation was more labour intensive. Her book is a wonderful capture of traditional Greek food and recipes with a modern Australian twist, I have brought a few for my daughters hoping that they too, will enjoy cooking the food as much as they enjoy eating it.
Submitted by zogs4 on Thu, 2011-02-17 09:39.

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