My Big Fat Greek Feast

You can create your own Greek feast with the help of the many authentic recipes in this easy-to-read cookbook.

My Big Fat Greek Feast is clearly an expression of love by chef/author George Kyrtatas. This celebrated young chef pays tribute to the family chefs that preceded him, his Greek culture, and the flavors from his past with a passion that shines through each recipe in this simple cookbook. You'll find recipes for the most popular and familiar Greek dishes such as Spanakopita, Dolmathes (stuffed grape leaves) and Mousaka. You'll also learn about the many ways Greeks interpret seafood, dips and, my favorite, desserts.

Beyond the authentic, delicious recipes Kyrtatas serves up another treat for the reader. He shares what he calls "Big Fat Greek Facts" on every other page. Here you'll learn about the history and culture associated with many Greek ingredients and recipes. Finally, Kyrtatas introduces each recipe with a cooking tip, serving suggestion, or fact about it's origin.

My only warning is that the novice cook might find a few recipes could use a little more instruction. For example, anyone who has worked with phyllo dough knows that it can be tricky. And yet the steps required to keep the phyllo from tearing or drying out are omitted in some of the recipes. However, this is only a minor drawback to what is otherwise a tasty addition to any cookbook collection.