With Greek Day having taken place last weekend on West Broadway, I thought it would be a good idea to write about Greek food this week. Thank goodness my best friend is marrying Costa, but every time I ask where to get certain Greek dishes he always replies “my mom’s house.” Argh.
I know his mother makes a mean moussaka and his father roasts an incredible whole lamb in his backyard (which I’ve been lucky to try), but not everyone has access to top-notch Greek family cooking! A big thank-you to Costa and his family for helping with these recommendations.
• Mythos Greek Taverna – Start with cold appetizers (orektiká), which are all made in-house. The feta paté (made with roasted red pepper, olive oil and herbs), tzatziki, taramá (fish roe paté), and hummus (not traditionally Greek) are good but the melitzanosaláta (eggplant paté) is worth the drive alone. For hot dishes order their grilled squid, oktapódi skáras (charbroiled marinated octopus), roast lamb and lamb chops. Don’t forget to enjoy a glass or bottle of Lafazanis Nemea red wine from Nemea, which is considered the Napa Valley of Greece. Mythos has to specially order it from the BC Liquor Board.
1811 Lonsdale Ave. | North Vancouver
• Martini’s Restaurant – They serve soups, salads, burgers, and standard American food, along with whole-wheat pizzas they’ve become known for, but the souvlaki is where it’s at. It’s actually Greek family owned and operated and mom still makes one of the Greek community’s favourite tzatziki and Greek-style hummus.
1151 W. Broadway | Vancouver
• Minerva Mediterranean Deli – It’s good for Greek street food and lunch on the go. The chicken or beef gyros come optionally stuffed with fries. It is a modern Greek twist which is often seen in Athens. You can also do some shopping for Greek ingredients. For feta lovers, try the Dodóni feta from Epirus, northwestern Greece.
3207 W. Broadway | Vancouver
• Serano Greek Pastry – Kataífi (pastry roll made with crispy shreds of phyllo-like dough stuffed with nuts and soaked in syrup), melomakárona (egg-shaped cookie made from flour, olive oil, honey), kok (Greek-style cream puffs), galaktoboúriko (semolina-based custard in phyllo), bougátsa (sweet breakfast pie made of phyllo and semolina custard), tsouréki (sweet bread) and baklava. If you crave savoury, try the house made spanakópita.
3185 W. Broadway | Vancouver
Find Mijune scouting Whistler’s food scene with the Summit Lodge Boutique Hotel July 6-9, and at e.b.o Restaurant & Lounge at The Delta Burnaby Hotel and Conference Centre July 11.
Find out more about Mijune at FollowMeFoodie.com or follow her on Twitter and Instagram @followmefoodie.
