1 head of tender lettuce (red leaf, bib, Boston, etc) torn in piecesArrange attractively on a large platter and dress with best olive oil, wine vinegar, fresh or dry oregano, coarse salt & freshly-ground black pepper. Serves a large group on a buffet table.
1 large ripe tomato, cut in wedges
1-1/2 lbs small new potatoes boiled, chilled, quartered
1 cucumber, peeled and cut into rectangles
1 green pepper, cut into bite-size pieces
1/2 lb feta, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
6 pepperoncini (brine-cured) seeded, halved
6 oz ripe Greek olives
1/2 c red onion, thinly sliced
1 15 oz can garbanzos (chick peas), rinsed, drained, and chilled
4 artichoke hearts, marinated in oil, quartered
Showing posts with label Greek. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Greek. Show all posts
Friday, August 12, 2011
Greek Village Salad
Inspired by Taverna Nikos, a venerable Greek restaurant in Durham, NC, now sadly closed. Recorded June 28, 2005.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Crispy Pita Points
 |
| Pita points, dolmas, tabouli, & hummus |
white pitasHeat a skillet or griddle over medium heat. Spread a little olive on the hot surface. Refresh each pita with a light mist of water, place top down on the hot surface, and grill for about 2 minutes until lightly browned. Turn over, and grill another 2 minutes. Remove and dust lightly with salt and granulated garlic. Cut each pita into 8 points with a sharp knife, and serve immediately. Great as platform for range of dips and salads, or with a mezze platter. Hint: A trigger sprayer filled with water is often handy in the kitchen.
olive oil
coarse salt
granulated garlic
Monday, July 25, 2011
Tzatziki (Cucumber-Yogurt-Garlic Sauce)
Recorded July 11 2000; revised July 24, 2011.
Great on felafel, a topping on cottage cheese, on a pita sandwich or as a dip for crispy pita points.
1 c plain Greek yogurtMix grated cucumber with a 1/2 t salt. After 10 minutes press the cucumber through a sieve to shed excess water. Make a paste of garlic and salt and add it to a bowl. Stir in the oil, and then the yogurt. Stir in cucumber, a 1/2 t of salt, the dill, and vinegar until well combined. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Thin with a bit of milk if too thick but the sauce should not be runny. Chill and serve.
1/2 cucumber, peeled, seeded, grated
2 T olive oil
2 t mashed garlic
1 t kosher salt, divided
1/2 t dried dill weed
1 to 3 t red wine vinegar
Great on felafel, a topping on cottage cheese, on a pita sandwich or as a dip for crispy pita points.
Friday, December 18, 2009
REVIEW Bergama Cafe Durham NC [Closed August, 2013]
Bergama Cafe
3520 Hillsborough Road
Durham NC
(919) 383-0300
http://bergamacafe.com/
In a word, delish!
3.5/5 stars - $$ (to use Greg Cox 's shorthand ratings)
Recorded 12-17-09
[After dragging myself to the finish line on a very burdensome writing project last night, I was exhausted, unkempt, grizzled, and hungry. I took son Jon to Tommies for smokes and a Coke, and easily determined we were both hungry, and a Middle Eastern supper at a new neighborhood restaurant was appealing. About 8:30 we were seated. The place was empty. Sad, and so unfitting. They have wonderful food and are lovely and interesting people. He's from Chechnya and his wife is from Turkey.}
The venue: Was a Burger King for many years on heavily traveled Hillsborough Rd near I-85 and US 15-501. Was converted to a "serious" sit down place a few years ago, and has yet to foster a place for a great restaurant, although the need is real for that part of town.
Me: Dolmas and Roasted Potatoes with vegetable gravy - Excellent $12, including sides. Glass of Sutter Home White Zin, $4.25, $20 with tax and tip.
Sides Pizza Bread Sticks/herb-seasoned EVOO - V. Good
Salad Bar One Trip - Limited but Excellent
The stuffed cabbage rolls (5 were presented) were lovely, as were the roasted potatoes. The whole was covered with a flavorsome gravy of cooked cabbage, onions, and the pan gravy. The seasonings were subtle, peppery, and aromatic. The salad bar was limited in offerings but all the ingredients were fresh and crisp. Very tasty ranch dressing. The bread sticks were baked from pizza dough, and so were nicely chewy. A plate of flavored oil on the side for dipping was provided. More bread was offered later in the meal. Service was friendly and attentive (we were initially the only diners) although our waitress seemed new and knew little about the menu.
Wine list (on a Corona placard!) is brief and laughable with the odd surprise. Greek vin ordnaire at $8/glass. "Straight from Greece" it says. Where else for Greek wine?
Jon: Gyro platter. Very attractively sliced and folded roast meat, arranged on a bed of grilled pitas. $10.95; $16.00 with tax and tip. Sides: Bread sticks, salad bar, rice pilaf, steamed vegetable medley - Jon pronounced it all excellent. He drank ice water. A Best Buy.
This place needs some changes to succeed. It would be a shame if tasty ethnic fare doesn't succeed. Bergama needs menu design advice; a better web presence; a better street impact to attract diners from heavy traffic on street. Better wine list. Ethnic clarity of offerings. Pizza? Italian? Greek? Turkish? "Middle Eastern". Menu needs to educate better.
3520 Hillsborough Road
Durham NC
(919) 383-0300
http://bergamacafe.com/
In a word, delish!
3.5/5 stars - $$ (to use Greg Cox 's shorthand ratings)
Recorded 12-17-09
[After dragging myself to the finish line on a very burdensome writing project last night, I was exhausted, unkempt, grizzled, and hungry. I took son Jon to Tommies for smokes and a Coke, and easily determined we were both hungry, and a Middle Eastern supper at a new neighborhood restaurant was appealing. About 8:30 we were seated. The place was empty. Sad, and so unfitting. They have wonderful food and are lovely and interesting people. He's from Chechnya and his wife is from Turkey.}
The venue: Was a Burger King for many years on heavily traveled Hillsborough Rd near I-85 and US 15-501. Was converted to a "serious" sit down place a few years ago, and has yet to foster a place for a great restaurant, although the need is real for that part of town.
Me: Dolmas and Roasted Potatoes with vegetable gravy - Excellent $12, including sides. Glass of Sutter Home White Zin, $4.25, $20 with tax and tip.
Sides Pizza Bread Sticks/herb-seasoned EVOO - V. Good
Salad Bar One Trip - Limited but Excellent
The stuffed cabbage rolls (5 were presented) were lovely, as were the roasted potatoes. The whole was covered with a flavorsome gravy of cooked cabbage, onions, and the pan gravy. The seasonings were subtle, peppery, and aromatic. The salad bar was limited in offerings but all the ingredients were fresh and crisp. Very tasty ranch dressing. The bread sticks were baked from pizza dough, and so were nicely chewy. A plate of flavored oil on the side for dipping was provided. More bread was offered later in the meal. Service was friendly and attentive (we were initially the only diners) although our waitress seemed new and knew little about the menu.
Wine list (on a Corona placard!) is brief and laughable with the odd surprise. Greek vin ordnaire at $8/glass. "Straight from Greece" it says. Where else for Greek wine?
Jon: Gyro platter. Very attractively sliced and folded roast meat, arranged on a bed of grilled pitas. $10.95; $16.00 with tax and tip. Sides: Bread sticks, salad bar, rice pilaf, steamed vegetable medley - Jon pronounced it all excellent. He drank ice water. A Best Buy.
This place needs some changes to succeed. It would be a shame if tasty ethnic fare doesn't succeed. Bergama needs menu design advice; a better web presence; a better street impact to attract diners from heavy traffic on street. Better wine list. Ethnic clarity of offerings. Pizza? Italian? Greek? Turkish? "Middle Eastern". Menu needs to educate better.
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