Diane Kochilas, author of, IKARIA: Lessons on Food, Life, and Longevity from the Greek Island Where People Forget to Die (whew! that’s a mouthful!) brings us a seductive glimpse of the remote and lush island of Ikaria in the northeastern Aegean; home to one of the longest-living populations on the planet. Established as a “blue zone,” much of this has been attributed to Ikaria’s lifestyle and diet – daily naps, frequent sex, a lot of fish and little meat, free-flowing wine, gentle exercise, hyper-local food, strong friendships, and a deep-rooted disregard for the clock. Sounds idyllic to me!
No one knows the Ikarian lifestyle better than Molyvos collaborating Chef Diane Kochilas, who has spent much of her life on the island. In her latest book – IKARIA, Kochilas brings to life the remarkable spirit of this remote island with delicious and healthy recipes and interviews with colorful locals about the often quirky secrets to a long life, making this a special treat – a cookbook and travelogue in one,
For all the travel I have done in my life, Greece seems to have escaped me – however it is on the TOP of my list and I love everything about Greek Cuisine so this book was a delight to read and I’ve tried two recipes so far – the potato-cheese croquettes (delish!) and the Winter Soufico with Pumpkin and Dried Chiles – this dish disappeared so fast – we LOVED it!
Some of the recipes include: Ikarian Fish Soup with Avgolemono, Taro Root Salad, Fish Cooked over Winter Greens, Hake Baked with Okra, Potato Cheese Croquettes, Pan-Fried Fish in Vinegar and Rosemary Sauce, Pork with Wild Fennel and Barley Rusks, and Chicken Stifado with an Urban Touch, Spicy Oven-Braised Beans and Pumpkin, Winter Soufico with Pumpkin and Dried Chiles, Small Summer Pies with Amaranth and Scallions and Walnut-Olive Oil Cookies Dipped in Honey. So many dishes perfect for that special romantic meal for two.
With over 100 recipes the cookbook also shares insights to the nutritional wisdom that has kept Ikarians healthy for so long. Diane sheds light on the enigmatic lifestyle of Ikaria as she introduces us to locals who embody the Ikarian way, such as a 101-year-old weaver who has never stopped working or creating, and another robust and vigorous 83-year-old man who still works, socializes every night in his small mountain village, and he’s the most sought-after dancer at local celebrations.
More than a cookbook, IKARIA is a portrait of the people who’ve achieved what so many of us yearn for: a fuller, more meaningful and joyful life, lived simply and nourished on real, delicious, seasonal foods that you can access anywhere. And didn’t they say with lots of sex? Can’t be that lifestyle…
For foodies like me who LOVE Greek food, an adventure awaits you. Each summer, Diane welcomes avid cooks from around the world to her Glorious Greek Kitchen cooking school on the island of Ikaria in Greece. 2015 Dates: June 21 – 27 / June 28 – July 4 / July 5 – July 11.
More about Diane Kochilas
Diane Kochilas is an award-winning author of 18 books on Greek cuisine. She divides her time between New York, Athens and her family’s ancestral land, Ikaria. Host of Greece’s most popular cooking show, “What’s Cooking Today, Mom?,” Diane is on the forefront of bringing healthy, delicious Greek cuisine to as wide an audience as possible. She works regularly with Harvard University in developing healthy Greek menu options for student and retail dining services, and has developed menus for popular Greek restaurants all over the U.S.
For more information, please visit: www.dianekochilas.com, www.facebook.com/dianekochilaschef.
