MEDITERRANEAN DAYS

After nearly a year exploring South East Asia, Australia, New Zealand and that part of the globe we made our way to the Mediterranean a couple weeks ago. The lush, green, wet heat of Bali became the arid white breeze of Folegandros. P and I first went to Folegandros, a sleepy island in the Greek Cyclades, on our honeymoon years ago and we fell for this island with its steep cliffs crashing into dark Mediterranean waters. Not much has changed. In the evenings people still stroll around the whitewashed old town square, then eat delicious suppers under almond trees strewn with lights. I didn't think I could love a place as much as Bali, but Folegandros is equally dreamy for me. This may sound silly, but I think my half-Greek blood has me feel instantly at home in the Mediterranean. The smell of grapevines toasting in the sun, the stunning light, the flavors at the table. I love it here.

Every day last week, Paul, Otis, Lilah, and I took the funky white and blue striped public bus to a little pebbled cove a few miles from town. Paul taught the kids to skip rocks while I devoured Keith Richard's autobiography. 

I apologize for not having a recipe to share with you today. I haven't cooked since we left our Bali house, though we have eaten like royalty - actually more like happy peasants. My favorite Greek food is the rustic, grandma-style cooking that still seems to dominate taverna menus. We scarfed succulent meats, long stewed in local tomatoes, olive oil, and herbs. Greek salads filled with tangy local feta, juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and fragrant red onion, and a generous drizzle of olive oil were a daily necessity at our table. Sweet stuffed tomatoes with rice and oregano and thyme were perfect, as were the tatziki and fava spreads. We snacked on local almonds, firm red cherries, and plump apricots with plenty of creamy yogurt drizzled with honey.




I am itching to get back to my Berkeley kitchen, bust out my grandmother's old dogeared Greek cookbooks and get cooking.

Do any of you have any Greek recipes or cookbooks you adore? Please share with us if you do! For a while now, I've been eying Vefa's Kitchen. I'd love to hear from anyone who has tried it.

We are heading to Istanbul in a few days - more to come soon...