Greek families have long been drawn to the art of cooking as an integral part of their culture and heritage.
Eugenia Pantahos, a passionate Greek Australian author, has embarked on a fascinating journey in connecting her past with her present through her cookbook Greek Life.
Her journey started on a warm summer’s day at South Australia’s York Peninsula, while preparing for the Greek Orthodox Easter celebration.
“While the rest of the family was down at the beach, I was going though my recipes in preparation for baking Easter koulourakia together with my daughters later in the day. I suddenly realised that although my three daughters had observed and helped me cook on numerous occasions, in essence, I was a custodian of the knowledge I had received from my mother,” Eugenia tells Neos Kosmos.
With that on her mind, the author put her heart and soul into creating a timeless collection, honouring the culture and traditions of Greece for future generations.
“Greek families celebrate everything, and the book celebrates everything Greek,” she explains.
“I originally wrote Greek Life for my children, and it was only ever going to be a family book; therefore, the place I have written it from is a place of love. Its intent was to pass on those traditions and customs without any idea of it becoming a commercial product.”
But when members of the wider Greek community saw her progress on the project, their response was overwhelmingly positive, inspiring her to go one step further and formally publish her work.
It took five years to write and develop the book, and decades to record the family history and traditions, all while studying for an MBA and working part-time as a business manager.
The recipes in the book are purposefully simple, reflecting the healthy benefits of the Mediterranean diet and the much-desired relaxed Greek lifestyle that includes socialising, enjoying meals with family and friends, philosophy, laughter, spirituality, meaningfulness, and storytelling.
“Like most Greek women of that generation, my mum was an intuitive cook. I always think back to her words of wisdom when I asked her for measurements and quantities to make a dish, and she would encourage me to use my senses of touch, smell and taste, often saying ‘you will know when it’s right by feeling it and smelling it’.”
Feasting through the beautifully captured images, it quickly becomes apparent that Greek culture is unique, and not to be compared to any other in the world.
“Apart from my mum’s recipes, each section of the book starts with a relevant philosophy, and goes through a year of celebrations. With each recipe comes a symbolism and explanation, so that the reader can gain a vast understanding of the Greek traditions and customs. For example, the reader can find the recipe for wedding bread on one page as well as what to make with left over grape juice from winemaking,” she explains.
On numerous occasions during our conversation, Eugenia can’t help but make reference to her beloved mother, who passed away suddenly, one month after she finished the final draft of her book.
“It took our family a long time to recover from my mother’s passing, and we miss her so very deeply. The loss left my father with a broken heart. They were together for nearly 60 years.
“I will never forget the day my dad came to me and asked me to include a poem he had written for my mother in my book,” she says.
Greek Life is not merely a cookbook – within its pages lie recipes attached to unforgettable people and memories. It is an anthology of Greek customs and way of life.
Since its official launch at the SA Writers Centre in March earlier this year, Eugenia says the response has been overwhelming.
Readers have been enquiring from the US, Canada, and the UK, with the book appealing not just to those of Greek heritage, but just about anyone who has visited Greece and embraced its traditions.
As for the talented and tireless Eugenia Pantahos, who admits to having another three unfinished books and numerous poems in the works, there is certainly no sign of slowing down.