This week, 2 events were on my radar, the London International Wine Fair and Sani Gourmet 2011 in Greece.
All the pieces of the puzzle did not fall into place so they are taking place without me.
For its 2011 edition, Sani Gourmet chose the New Greek Cuisine theme.
"Sani Gourmet 2011 is launching a comprehensive introduction to New Greek Cuisine – a cuisine which combines creative originality with influences from a number of different cultures, thanks to the privileged position of our country in the heart of the Mediterranean, a crossroads where East meets West. Greece has a continuous and serious tradition of good cuisine, of subtle flavors, purity and incredible diversity of ingredients – a diversity which reflects the extraordinary variety of the country’s landscape; The Greek gastronomy is based on cooking which delights the sense of taste – not necessarily through the use of expensive ingredients or complicated methods of preparation. And this is the secret of haute cuisine: it is based on simplicity of ingredients and preparation – a long tradition of using the freshest and purest raw materials."
14 Greek chefs (locals and expats) share the limelight.
Amongst them Constantin Erinkoglou, for the past 13 years the ambassador of Greek cuisine in Brussels at Notos restaurant.
Amongst the new wave, count Nikos Karathanos who created the dish below.
One of the 2 women chefs featured is Argyro Varda who set up the restaurant Elia kai Dyosmos (Olive and Spearmint) in Skalani, Irakleio. She learned secrets of Crete cooking at an early age from her grandmother.
I won't feel bad. There is always next year.
(* Both photos from the Facebook Page of Sani Goumet 2011)