Chef Peter Minaki
Photo Credit: Kalofagas

One of the best things about food blogging is connecting with interesting people. One of these interesting people is Chef/Author/Blogger Peter Minaki. Peter’s based in Toronto, Canada and his niche is Greek food, libations and travel. You can read his popular food/travel blog at: www.kalofagas.ca

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Peter several times, both in New Jersey/New York where I live and also a couple times in his beautiful hometown of Toronto. For selfish reasons, I kept telling Peter he had to come host some of his cooking classes/pop up dinners in my area and a few years back, he did just that. Greek food is by far my favorite cuisine, so Peter’s food is right up my alley.

I’m part of a 4-couple wine group that meets every 6-8 weeks for dinner over glasses of stellar wines. A couple years ago, I proposed to the group that we have Peter cook for us when he came down to teach cooking classes and to host pop up dinners, and, to my pleasure, all loved the idea. Peter cooked at my home and we shopped for food together. The evening was a huge hit and thus, we decided to do it again in early summer this year.

Peter and I shopped for the food items together again, a fun activity in itself, and he cooked at fellow wine group friends Jen and Harry’s home. We voted on our favorite dishes and I worked with Peter to create a very extensive menu for the evening. Some of the dishes featured were: my favorite – grilled octopus, grilled lamb chops, branzino baked in a salt crust and Peter’s signature chocolate ganache tart. There were MANY other memorable dishes that evening with some spectacular wines.

I highly-recommend this experience, ideally with Peter. The cost per guest is very affordable, especially when wine comes from our cellars and not a pricy restaurant.

Get to know Peter on social media (yes, you’ll be drooling on your keyboard over the amazing food and travel photography he shares):

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kalofagas1

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kalofagas

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kalofagas  

Opa,

Veronique