The land of olives and honey, comes alive in a new way in Jim Botsacos' New Greek Cuisine. A generous book of 150 recipes, Botsacos has compiled the recipes he created at New York's top rated Molyvos Restaurant. This book, like the restaurant, has its starting place with the best of Greek home cooking, but put in the hands of a master chef, it is elevated to gourmet standards.
Botsacos was hired by owner John Livanos to fulfill Livanos' dream of a restaurant dedicated to his origins. Though Botsacos is of Greek-Italian descent, Livanos sent him to the fishing village of Molyvos to experience the peasant cuisine first-hand. Greece was a revelation and an inspiration to Botacos' and his challenge was to maintain authenticity while still pleasing the sophisticated palates of New Yorkers.
And please he does with recipes that are clearly written and easy to follow so the home cook can experiment with a guarantee of success. For a true Greek flavor, you can start with those tasty tidbits called mezede such as classic Melitzanosalata or Greek Fava Beans with Arugula, Spring Onions, and Capers. There are sections for savory pies, as well as chapters for soups and salads. He includes Moussaka and Chicken Magiritsa to represent the classic, familiar Greek dishes, but doesn't overlook new ideas such as Warm Manouri Salad with Baby Beets and Pickled Pearl Onions or Pork Spareribs Marinated in Ouzo and Greek Spices. And no Greek meal would be complete without desserts like semolina cake with yogurt and spoon sweets or easy pinwheel-shaped baklava.
There are photographs throughout, some of Greek landscapes that will have you booking a ticket, others of the food.
About the authors: Jim Botsacos was the ‘21’ Club’s executive sous chef before becoming executive chef at Park Avalon when he was just twenty-four. He has been chef at Molyvos since it opened in 1997, and has appeared on The Early Show, Today, Martha Stewart Living, and the Food Network. He lives in New York City.
Judith Choate is the award-winning author of twenty-one cookbooks and the coauthor of The Tribeca Grill Cookbook and The Art of Aureole, among others. She lives in New York City.
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