Opa! Your Passport for Greece has Arrived

Once again, Central Market hosts a culinary expedition into the cuisine and culture of a faraway destination. This two week passport reveals the delights of one of the world's ancient cuisines and makes them available at our fingertips.

In putting together an in-depth exploration of the food and wines of Greece, the Central Market staff researched the culture, food products, and traditional recipes of the peninsula and island country, consulting culinary experts and experienced winemakers in their mission to provide shoppers with an authentic experience. For the next two weeks, the fruits of those labors will be revealed in every section of the store, from the wine department to the cooking school, and the cheese case to the olive bar.

Passport Greece will provide much more than olive oil, the liquid gold basis of the Mediterranean diet. Look for the intense flavors of jams and spoon sweets made with Greek fruit, luscious honeys, and several brands of salty Feta cheese. Of course there will be baklava, but also braided egg bread, pitas, cookies, and custard-filled pastries in the bakery. Look for whole branzino from Mediterranean waters in the fish case, as well as meatballs with lamb and several varieties of fresh salads in the prepared foods cases. Six of the top winemakers and importers from Greece will be on hand to enliven the passport experience with expert advice on pairing their wines with Greek as well as American dishes. Learn more about reds and rosés that will make harmonious matches with hot climate foods.

The cooking school schedule offers expertise in the preparation of Greek dishes. On Thursday, May 7, London-based restaurant chef and cookbook author Maria Ella will present recipes inspired by her Greek-Cypriot heritage, and although the title of her most recent book is Smashing Plates, we're assured no crockery will be damaged during the class. On Friday, May 8, Christina Boutari of the respected Greek wine family will host a dinner in the cooking school with pairings from her family's vineyard. Renowned cooking school owner and cookbook author Rosemary Barron finishes out the series with a midday class on Sunday, May 10, that could make a tasty and original gift for Mom.

Passport Greece runs at both Central Market locations from Wednesday, April 29 through Tuesday, May 12.