Brian the Greek

Anonymous Food brings people together in Greece. It is just as much so here as it is in other countries I've traveled to. Every place does it their own way. If there was anything about Greece that has made me more Greek, it's their passion for food. One of the things I love about Greece is that people not only come together at the dinner table, but in the kitchen as well. Earlier today we traveled to the island of Symi where we ate at a restaurant called Aris. I snuck my way to the back to observe the cook's technique and he and his sister were gracious enough to share some secrets to the dishes he served that afternoon. It reminded me so much of the Philippines where sharing recipes and secrets was commonplace in cooking for meals and fiestas. It was a treat to be back in the kitchen learning something new. When I trained to cook in a restaurant it wasn't a casual conversation of stories and pearls of wisdom, it was more of a get the recipe right and don't stray from it. I found out that much of what he knew was learned from his mother and grandmother who passed down their knowledge of cooking. It was much the same case for me where both my parents cook well. Being in the kitchen and sharing one's passion for food is an important part to the dining experience. It builds relationships and brings people closer together. That's not always a bad thing, right?