A typical Greek meal comes with vegetable soup. Pasta, she says, became a Greek staple only about 20 years ago. The Greeks have a sweet tooth, hence Greek desserts are rather sweet. Specialities include baklava, halva, sweet breads and shortbread. You can't cut down the sugar or the desserts won't taste the same, insists Zaharopoulos.
Food is a way of living.
Everybody helps themselves at the dining table. Zaharopoulos is executive chef and co-owner of Manja Restaurant in Bangsar Baru, Kuala Lumpur, which serves Mediterranean cuisine. She recently gave a cookery demonstration to members of the media who were invited to sample some Greek fare as part of the promotion for the Greek Festival which starts tomorrow. The three-day festival will be held at the Palace Of The Golden Horses of Mines Beach Resort in Selangor. The festival features a trade exposition and a gala night, where chefs will be flown in from Greece to prepare authentic delights.