My mother always said love comes through the stomach, and she gave a tremendous amount of love to her family, which included six children, a devoted husband, and an extended village “family” who often stopped in to share a meal and a laugh. It was in my mother’s kitchen that I developed my own love of fresh food, prepared with simple, seasonal ingredients. Whether it was the savory fresh tomatoes and herbs in summer, or the sweet oranges, figs and nutty flavors of pistachio and walnuts in the fall, I learned that every season has a taste, and food is best enjoyed when shared with friends.

 

I can think of nothing more enjoyable than gathering with family or friends to prepare and share a meal, whether it is a simple bowl of chicken lemon soup, or six-courses starting with Greek salad ending with sweet baklava and strong coffee.

I hope you will join us at the Kalamata Greek Kitchen soon to experience a bit of Greek Filoxenia (Fil-ox-a-ni-a): much more than hospitality, literally meaning the state of being a friend to strangers it is an unspoken cultural law that shows generosity and courtesy to strangers.