About Us Here At Authentic Greek Recipes

Hello and welcome to Authentic Greek Recipes. My name is Maria and through our 'About Us' page I would like to take the opportunity to tell you a little about myself and AGR.

I was born in Greece and, like many unfortunate people during those difficult times, emigrated to Australia in 1967 with my parents and sister. We lived in Australia for 16 often hard but good years and returned to our home island of Zakynthos in 1982. Roots are a very strong bond for any Greek and I have lived here ever since and have never regretted it. Although I have always seen myself as completely Greek, and very proud of it, I believe I am fortunate to have absorbed the best of both the worlds I have lived in.

So, where is Zakynthos you ask? Well, if you have a map of Greece look to her west coast lines and you will see a number of islands just off the main lands. At the top is Corfu, then Lefkas, the Islands of Strofáddes, Kefallonia and last, but by no means least, Zakynthos. These are the magnificent 'Iónia Eptánissa' - or the 7 Ionian Islands. Quite justifiably my home of Zakynthos - or Zánte as it is still called by some - was nicknamed 'Fióro Dí Levánte' or 'Flower of the East' by the Venetians who occupied the island for 400 years up until the late 17th century.

AGR is a very personally run business which has been put together with a great deal of care and effort both from myself and my tremendous Agent/Publisher and good friend Joe Harris from whose years of experience and love for his work has made working on our site something I hope I can grow old in and never stop enjoying.

A lot of hard work has gone into what we have put together. I believe it shows and keeping in the belief that our members deserve only the very best quality we can possibly give them we both intend to continue giving you our very best efforts.

I first tried my hand at cooking when I was about 9 years old growing up in my mother's loving hands. Hands which could work small wonders out of scrap ingredients. Often was the time my father would also treat us with a hefty 'taste' of his considerable cooking abilities too. So much love and effort was put into whatever they could make for us because times were very hard and a little had to go a long way. The love on their faces was enough to make both myself and my sister always feel like princesses. So, following in their foot steps cooking gradually flourished into a passion for me with the same love and care they also showed no matter what they made. Thanks mum. Perhaps I don't say it often enough but you know how much I love you and I owe you so much. This is also a tribute to you and dad, God rest his sainted soul.

All the recipes are well tried and tested and, as you may have realised by now, many have been personally handed down through generations of my family eventually down to me. Most were handed down only by word of mouth and by just persistently nosing around every time we got wind that our parents were up to something in the kitchen. Many were the times that I can recollect that I did nothing but bug my aunties while they were scuffling about cooking just so I could pick their brains and pick up the 'little secrets'. The recipes have only now been put into writing which had been a personal dream of mine for many years.

Both Joe and I would like to feel that you consider yourselves at home when you are with us and that you are never on your own should you need anything whatsoever. Don't hesitate, I'm only an email away.

Greeks love big, closely knit families. It's not only a tradition but a way of life so I would like to extend that warm tradition to you in the hope that you will come to realise that once a member of Authentic Greek Recipes also a member of our family.

Kalí Órexi, fíli mou,
or Bon Appetit my friends,
Maria.

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