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Greek Spices

Greek Spices

What is the best meal you have prepared yourself?

Forget take aways, they are so bad for you, what do you like to prepare yourself? I love cooking greek food, with all the garlic and spices and lamb, I love lamb.
isfjinfj- your funni! lol

Lamb is my favourite too and the best meal I think I made was Welsh cawl with neck of Lamb and celeriac....I was so proud as I has invited the in - laws round

Greek Grapes Make A World-Class Glass Of Wine

When thinking of Greece, many images come to mind, including the Acropolis, the Olympics and the beautiful Greek Isles. With Greece joining the European Union, it opened doors to the world to introduce this beautiful country and its rich culture.

I must confess my knowledge of Greek wines was fairly limited until recently. My friends and I have been exploring Greek cuisine and wines at several newer local restaurants, including Basils, Kostas, Tasso's and the CityGate Grill. I was delighted to find that the quality of Greek wines has dramatically improved from prior tastings, which prompted some delightful research.

Greece
With early signs of winemaking traced back 6,500 years ago, Greece is clearly one of the oldest wine regions in the world. Wine played a role in spreading Greek culture throughout the Mediterranean, as their wines were in demand. Dionysus, the Greek God of wine, developed a loyal following with wine lovers. Greek wines were also favored by the Roman Empire, which further developed their wine trade. Greeks helped pioneer wine production in Spain, southern France and Italy.

In the 1960's in the U.S., Retsina and Roditis symbolized Greek wine. They were not the best ambassador for Greece, as these high volume wines were lower quality. Today, the Greek wine industry is undergoing change, where both new winemakers and established wineries are emphasizing lower yield, higher quality wines. Combining Greece's wonderful climate, distinct Terroir (the volcanic soil on Santorini) with modern winemaking techniques, helps the new breed of winemakers produce world class wines. These winemakers are moving to an international style, by also producing wines with Cabernet, Merlot, Chardonnay and Viognier. Important winery names to keep in mind include Boutari, Skouras, Lazaridis and Sigalas.

There are hundreds of grape varietals used in wine production in seven major wine regions. These include wine regions on the mainland (Peloponnese, Macedonia Thessalia, Epirus) and several island groups (the Aegean Islands, Crete and the Ionian Islands). There is inadequate space to do this justice, so I decided to focus on some wines included on local restaurant's wine lists and also available for sale at local wine merchants.

Greek Wines and Food Pairings
One of the enjoyable and rewarding aspects of writing this column is to meet other people in the food and beverage industry who share a passion for this business. I recently met up with some friends at Basils, in the Fox Valley Mall. We wanted to patronize this business as they signed on to donate food for The Rotary Club of Naperville's Soup's On! fundraiser (we believe in supporting businesses that give back to their community).

While sitting in their delightful patio dining area, we had a chance to discuss Greek wines and cuisine with Jimmy Petsas, the Managing Partner for this fine establishment. One way Basils help introduce patrons to Greek wines is to offer wine flights, a sampling of several wines at once. We discussed Greek wines on their wine list. On the white wine side, Jimmy recommends Moschofilero, an aromatic, crisp light white wine that reminds him of Pinot Grigio. He likes to pair this with seafood and chicken dishes. Being a Greek restaurant, our conversation turned to lamb dishes. He recommends the Kokkinisto Hilopites, a Rosé style wine, with braised lamb cooked in a cinnamon flavored tomato sauce. For broiled lamb chops, Jimmy prefers Skouras's St. George Aghiorghitiko red wine (what would a column on Greek food and wine be without some long words?). This aromatic red is full-bodied yet easy drinking. He likes Rosés in general with Greek food, as they pair well with most Greek dishes, pasta and grilled meats. Greek dessert wines are under-appreciated and Jimmy has a goal of introducing them to his customers. We tried Nama Byzantino, a ruby port style wine, and found it very appealing. This grapey, sweet port pairs well with fresh apples and pears.

With Jimmy's assistance, we found that Greek food and wine was no longer Greek to us.

Bill's Wine Picks - with suggested retail prices

White Wines
Boutari Moschofilero - 87 pts. Wine Spectator - grapefruit and mineral flavors  $13
Boutari Santorini - 88 pts. Wine Spectator - apple, pear, powerful minerality  $17

Red Wines
Skouras Saint George Nemea - 86 pts. Wine Spectator - juicy, crisp red fruit, spice $13
Boutari Naoussa - 2006 rated 88 pts. Wine Spectator - age worthy, earthy, fine fruit $15

Wine of the Month:
Sigalas Sontorini White Wine; suggested retail $20
Peter Sigalas is an up-and-comer on the Greek wine scene. His strength is Greek whites. Wines made from the Assyrtiko grape tend to be dry, have good acidity, offer citrus aromas and mineral flavors from the island's volcanic soil. The Wine Spectator rates the 2009 vintage 89 points and states it is a crisp, well-structured white with flavors of Fuji apple, kiwifruit, anise, a touch of honey. It pairs well with fresh fish and seafood

The Spice Hunter Greek Seasoning Blend, 1-Ounce Jars (Pack of 6) List Price: $26.70 Sale Price: $19.75 You save: $6.95 (26%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Greek Seasoning Blend is all natural, salt-free and contains no MSG or preservatives. The Spice Hunter offers every spice and seasoning imaginable!

Cavender's All Purpose Greek Seasoning, 8-Ounce Shakers (Pack of 12) List Price: $42.24 Sale Price: $32.49 You save: $9.75 (23%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description A tantalizing taste treat. An ancient Greek formula. Perfectly prepared blend of 13 ingredients. No other spices necessary. Cavender's seasoning is as distinctive in the foods of today as those prepared for the feasts of the ancient Greeks. Excellent on steaks, chops, roasts, meat loaf, chicken, fish, turkey, hamburgers, seafoods, and wild game. Features Pack of twelve, 8 ounces each (total of 96 ounces) An ancient Greek formula Perfectly Prepared Blend of 13 Ingredients no other spice necessary

A Touch of Spice List Price: $29.95 Sale Price: $26.99 You save: $2.96 (10%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Studio: Passion River Films Release Date: 05/18/2010 Run time: 108 minutes Rating: Nr

Pepper Mill Imports, 11" Traditional Brass Pepper/Spice Mill List Price: $76.00 Sale Price: $64.96 You save: $11.04 (15%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Originally designed for the Greek Army to grind coffee in the field, these mills are strong, beautiful and work great. The patented grinding mechanism cleaves the pepper to maximize the exposed surfaces of the peppercorn that results in more pepper flavor. Pepper can be ground into the attached collecting cup to add measured amounts to your favorite recipe or directly onto food. Hand crafted in Greece. Features Hand made to exacting standards Can be used for grinding coffee beans or other spices Grinding mechanism cleaves pepper to maximzie exposed peppercorn surface Traditional style grinds into cup at the base Durable all metal body

Cavender's All Purpose Salt Free Greek Seasoning 7 oz (NO MSG) Sale Price: $4.39   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description Cavender's Salt Free Greek Seasoning is an all purpose seasoning mix that is based upon an ancient Greek formula that was passed down from generation to genreation. It is carefully blended using 13 spices. It is an excellent addition to meats, seafood, vegetables, eggs, soups, salads, and even popcorn! Features Based on an ancient Greek formula A perfect blend of 13 spices All purpose, but especially good on meats Salt free & MSG free

HERBS GREEK OREGANO SPICE KITCHEN DRAWER PULLS KNOBS Sale Price: $2.99   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 4-5 business days See Reviews For This Product Features $4.95 Flat Shipping for Unlimited Items Wood - Completely Sealed for Lasting Durability & Shine 1 3/4" Diameter Installation Screw(s) Included Adds A Nice Finishing Touch To Any Room

Spices - Oregano Greek Cut & Sift Sale Price: $9.30   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 3-4 business days See Reviews For This Product Description Spices - 1 Pound unless otherwise noted. - Oregano Greek Cut & Sift UPC: 049347011423 Front Label Panel: Spices Oregano, Greek Cut & Sift 1 Pound Ingredients: 100% Oregano, Greek Cut & Sift

Vista Point CAIRO Egypt Sale Price: $2.99   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product

The Holland Grill Private Stock Mediterranean Greek Pepper Seasoning - New Sale Price: $3.99   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description Holland's new Mediterranean Greek Pepper is an exotic blend of seasonings that's good on any food! Add flair to your grilled fish, steaks and burgers. Try it on whole pork loins, sirloin roasts and talapia. Perfect indoors for casserole dishes, vegetables and salads. 3.2 oz. Jar