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Phaidon Global Cookbooks
Greece, The Cookbook
Vefa's Kitchen is the first truly comprehensive bible of Greek food in English. Rapidly increasing in popularity, Greek food is simple to prepare, healthy and delicious, and, more than most other cuisines, bears all the hallmarks of the rich cultural history of the land and sea from which it is drawn. It is the original Mediterranean cuisine, where olive oil, bread, wine, figs, grapes and cheese have been staples since the beginnings of Western civilization.
With hundreds of simple recipes by Vefa Alexiadou, the authoritative grand dame of Greek cookery, the book also includes information on regional specialities, local ingredients and the religious and historical significance of the dishes, and is illustrated with 230 colour photographs.
Vefa's Kitchen is the definitive work on the rich and fascinating cooking of modern Greece.
With hundreds of simple recipes by Vefa Alexiadou, the authoritative grand dame of Greek cookery, the book also includes information on regional specialities, local ingredients and the religious and historical significance of the dishes, and is illustrated with 230 colour photographs.
Vefa's Kitchen is the definitive work on the rich and fascinating cooking of modern Greece.
704 pages, Hardcover
First published May 30, 2009
18 people are currently reading
734 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 1, 2016
For anyone that loves authentic Greek foods this cookbook is a must have. The amount of recipes in this book is overwhelming. It is a beautiful coffee table book full of fantastic colored photos of Greece. The instructions are clear. But it can be a problem sometimes to find a recipe if you don't know the 'english' name. Also, some recipes ask for a white sauce but you have to look somewhere else to find and make it.
A good overall book with all these greek delicious recipes.
A good overall book with all these greek delicious recipes.
August 26, 2020
Vefa has amazing and authentic recipes! If ever I can't find one from my yiayias cookbook I just use this one. Her recipes are tried and true and will never disappoint!
January 23, 2019
The book is huge with more than 600 recipes and is divided into sections per food type.
The recipes are not just greek however. Many come from other mediterranean or middle eastern countries. We tried a few recipes for our cookbook club and i wasn’t particularly impressed by any. The recipes selected by my cousin were quite simple and easy to follow but didn’t spark any excitement or eagerness to cook them.
Yes, the cooked dishes mostly tasted good thanks to the people who cooked them.
The book has very few photos of the dishes which also makes it quite boring to go through or imagine the final result.
The cooking times are way off and there is no indication of the size of cooking and baking pans to be used.
The servings indicated were also very incorrect. It was obviously written for the experienced cook and is not recommended for a novice in the kitchen.
The mount athos monastery lentil soup was quite bland and surely the 500g of lentils required for the recipe served more than double the servings mentioned in the book.
The first batch of melomakarona burnt thanks to the indicated cooking time.
The hazlenut cake was plain and dry and in no way represents greece or greek food. I couldn’t even finish my slice and if you know me, you’d be surprised!
There are a few more recipes i’d like to try but in general i think the book is poorly edited and will not serve as my go to reference for greek food.
The recipes are not just greek however. Many come from other mediterranean or middle eastern countries. We tried a few recipes for our cookbook club and i wasn’t particularly impressed by any. The recipes selected by my cousin were quite simple and easy to follow but didn’t spark any excitement or eagerness to cook them.
Yes, the cooked dishes mostly tasted good thanks to the people who cooked them.
The book has very few photos of the dishes which also makes it quite boring to go through or imagine the final result.
The cooking times are way off and there is no indication of the size of cooking and baking pans to be used.
The servings indicated were also very incorrect. It was obviously written for the experienced cook and is not recommended for a novice in the kitchen.
The mount athos monastery lentil soup was quite bland and surely the 500g of lentils required for the recipe served more than double the servings mentioned in the book.
The first batch of melomakarona burnt thanks to the indicated cooking time.
The hazlenut cake was plain and dry and in no way represents greece or greek food. I couldn’t even finish my slice and if you know me, you’d be surprised!
There are a few more recipes i’d like to try but in general i think the book is poorly edited and will not serve as my go to reference for greek food.
January 22, 2019
I can't say I checked the whole book but it was the subject of our second cook book club meeting. All the recipes that were chosen and made were in the least very edible to downright delicious.the baking time given was too long and could easily burn you food. The book needs a home cook with some experience to notice such things. Some quantities need to be tweaked as well.
I'm hoping to look through the immense repertoire of recipes in the book and rewrite a more informed review.
I'm hoping to look through the immense repertoire of recipes in the book and rewrite a more informed review.
August 18, 2018
Poorly edited (rice was left off of the ingredient list for a pilaf dish, the page numbers for certain recipes in the index don't match the actual page numbers for the recipes), terrible photos, mediocre recipes.
I bought this so I could participate in a cookbook club, and this was a massive waste of $30.
I bought this so I could participate in a cookbook club, and this was a massive waste of $30.
March 8, 2021
A culinary classic - this is the book I should have read years ago. On par with Julia Child’s ‘Mastering’ for providing an understanding of a nation’s cuisine - recipes are written for experienced European & North American cooks, and any substitutions can be made by experienced cooks (don’t like squid? Leave it out for another - but tasty - dish entirely;)
This book is so gorgeous I could cry. Food, and scenery are illustrated through a few excellent photo plates.
The recipes are bang on; this is the Anna Del Cona or Julia Child of Greek cooking - featuring simple, flavourful cuisine. Baked goods & sweets are mildly challenging but simple enough for a competent home cook to pull off & recipes are engaging enough to ‘teach you’ the basics of excellent Greek cooking (recipes for marzipan, veal stew, & sweet cheese tarts come to mind.) Other meals like vegetable stews and salads are simple enough for beginning cooks.
At first I thought Vefa Alexiandou used a ghost writer for this encyclopedic tome, given her warm & down to earth persona on Greek TV programs, then in reading through it I found she has a chemistry degree , which explains the concise & accurate recipes & analytical overview of the history of Greek cuisine. Much like Child’s analytical approach to French cooking; this is an overview of the food & history of a nation.
Brilliant cookbook.
A must-have classic for the home cook. I wish I’d owned it years ago.
This book is so gorgeous I could cry. Food, and scenery are illustrated through a few excellent photo plates.
The recipes are bang on; this is the Anna Del Cona or Julia Child of Greek cooking - featuring simple, flavourful cuisine. Baked goods & sweets are mildly challenging but simple enough for a competent home cook to pull off & recipes are engaging enough to ‘teach you’ the basics of excellent Greek cooking (recipes for marzipan, veal stew, & sweet cheese tarts come to mind.) Other meals like vegetable stews and salads are simple enough for beginning cooks.
At first I thought Vefa Alexiandou used a ghost writer for this encyclopedic tome, given her warm & down to earth persona on Greek TV programs, then in reading through it I found she has a chemistry degree , which explains the concise & accurate recipes & analytical overview of the history of Greek cuisine. Much like Child’s analytical approach to French cooking; this is an overview of the food & history of a nation.
Brilliant cookbook.
A must-have classic for the home cook. I wish I’d owned it years ago.
April 9, 2011
Fantastic cookbook. We made the Meat stuffed apples which sounds a little dubious to me, but they were great. Can't wait to delve deeper into this cookbook. I camped out waiting for the prices at our Borders to come down so I could buy it. So glad I was able to. Now I think, I should have just paid the whole price...well almost!
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June 23, 2021Love IT! All the traditional greek cuisine that most don't know. It reminds GRECCE! ZHTO H ELLAS STHN KOYZINA THS!!!! Whoever want to learn real Greek-Mediterranean cuisine, this is the book.
Vefa, used to be in the morning shows and also bring the recipes from all around Greece. Take it, Read it, Learn it. It's the Greek-Kitchen Bible.
KALI OREXI!
Vefa, used to be in the morning shows and also bring the recipes from all around Greece. Take it, Read it, Learn it. It's the Greek-Kitchen Bible.
KALI OREXI!
October 19, 2024
This book was pressed into my hands with enthusiastic recommendation by a friend. And (boy oh boy!) was she ever right. This is an almost encyclopedic volume of 600 and more recipes of fabulous Greek food. I am looking forward to trying as many as possible soon. Thanks Henrii!!!
May 2, 2023
Great cookbook, portions are massive
July 20, 2021
A must have cookbook for cooking lovers!
The bible of Greek cuisine with authentic and traditional recipes that cover the entire pluralism of the magnificent mother of the Mediterranean Diet. The recipes and dishes surprise people, as most only are familiar with 5%-10% of Greek cuisine, so when they see the vast similarities to Italian, West Balkan and Southern French cuisine they think that aren't Greek...
The bible of Greek cuisine with authentic and traditional recipes that cover the entire pluralism of the magnificent mother of the Mediterranean Diet. The recipes and dishes surprise people, as most only are familiar with 5%-10% of Greek cuisine, so when they see the vast similarities to Italian, West Balkan and Southern French cuisine they think that aren't Greek...
July 18, 2009
I think this may become Frankie's new food bible - I think he was Greek in a past life. UPDATE: Gave it to him for his b-day and I was right, it is his new food bible and he has already made several scrumptious meals from it. The book probably weighs 25 pounds - everything you'd EVER want to know about Greek cooking and lots of mouth-watering, glossy pictures.
December 19, 2012
Top notch Greek Cook Book. More like an encyclopedia of Greek cooking. Loved the background information on the different regions and how the cooking styles and ingredients used evolved. I think I need a copy for myself to explore and test some of the recipes.
July 6, 2009
Wonderful translation of a book handed down to me by mother originally.A must have for anyone who wants to learn to cook and eat like a Greek.
August 1, 2009
This looks like THE last word on Greek cookery. Wonderful reference.
March 19, 2011
I just received Vefa's Kitchen as a gift and I'm reading it practically cover to cover. Not really. But it is so good, I might actually cook something. Really.
January 10, 2010
MY FAVORITE COOKBOOK EVER.
January 19, 2010
I love the recipes in this book. Some are challenging, all tried thus far are delicious! The photos are amazing too. I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys Mediterranean cooking.
August 12, 2016
There are a lot of recipes in this book so I am sure there is something for everyone. Among there are some fantastic, simple, quick and delicious gems.
August 21, 2012
One of the best cookbooks I've ever seen. Very detailed, stunning photos and appealing layout, clear writing... It's perfect!
February 24, 2013
Om te weten hoe het echt moet!
October 22, 2013
Clearly I'm into blue cookbooks this month.
Definitely worth a flip through; some interesting dishes, and the recipes are all nice and concise.
Definitely worth a flip through; some interesting dishes, and the recipes are all nice and concise.
May 7, 2015
Excellent and almost encyclopedic work on Greek cooking. The pictures help, too
November 20, 2020
Encyclopedic. Constantly excellent. Will keep you experimenting, and coming back for more brilliant recipes time after time
May 6, 2021
I love meditation food so much and got this cookbook from Christmas and made meditation food all week. It has good recipes.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews