Perfect Potatoes - Roasted Greek Style

Everyone loves potatoes. And of course, the Greeks know how to make them perfect - every time. This fool-proof recipe is a tried and true tradition of tastiness.   Some handy tips on these potatoes - when cooking, don't worry about overcooking - some extra minutes will just add extra flavor and yumminess. And, you should not skimp on the garlic.

What you'll need:
 

8 large potatoes, peeled, sliced into large wedges
4 garlic cloves, minced (more is OK! OPA!)
1 cup water
1 tablespoon dried oregano (get the Mediterranean, it's the best!)
1 lemon, juiced 

1/2 cup olive oil
sea salt to taste
fresh coarse ground black pepper to taste

Directions:
 

Fire up the oven to 420°F and prepare your baking pan. Pick a large pan, and spray it with a little no-stick spray.  Place all the ingredients into the pan and season with sea salt and black pepper. 

 

Either with your hands, or some salad tongs - toss everything around to mix it up.  The garlic will form droplets in the water & oil, but those are like little flavor bombs - let them land where they will! This will keep moist flavor without burning. 

Bake at 420°F for 40 minutes.

By this time, a golden-brown crust will appear on the potatoes. This is when you should flip them and season again on the other side. Dash a little oregano at this time too.

If the pan appears to be getting dry, it is OK to add up to 1/2 cup more water and put back into the oven.

 

Bake other side 40 more minutes.

A Greek Lunch In Dallas

We've been having so much fun since opening The Greek at One Arts Plaza, Dallas. It's our newest restaurant concept: pitas, meze and wine - small Greek wonders and larger delicious dishes too - from a pool of your favorite Mediterranean cravings from Ziziki's - Dallas Premier Greek Dining.

It's a little different for us - in that it's in a really hip nightspot and 'urban' area - in the Dallas Arts District - which is a 19-block, 68.4-acre neighborhood in the northeast part of Downtown Dallas. 

And, if our patrons are looking for a full night  or something to do after lunch or dinner - there's GREAT entertainment in this area incuding the Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Theater Center/Arts District Theater, Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, Nasher Sculpture Center,and so much more.

And - being in the downtown area - we get a GREAT lunch crowd at this location. We also have a hoppin' and happenin' Dallas Happy Hour as well.




Visit One Arts Plaza Online - Click here.  Read their blog here.

Greek Luck In The New Year

In America, and especially in the South, folks scramble to cook up some black eyed peas on New Year's Day - for a bit of luck in the coming year.  Of course - black eyed peas are not a typical part of Greek cuisine. It's a folktale, or superstition - but it's not uncommon and Greece has it's own 'Good luck' traditions for New Year's.

In Greece, the Squill (sea onion) is a common plant - mostly found around the island of Crete. It grows wild and is actually quite disagreeable to some. It's poisonous to animals and can cause a rash if it makes contact with the skin.  It is a unique plant; it will continue to bloom and grow even after it's pulled.

Since the 6th Century BC - The Greeks believe that it's strong survival to grow after being pulled can benefit and be transmitted to people and inanimate objects - so one might find a sea onion hanging in a home or worn around the neck at the New Year.

Visit us at Ziziki's, Ziziki's Taverna, and The Greek -  Dallas Greek Restaurants.  We don't cook with sea onions, by the way. OPA!

Wine about it!

When you think of opening up a bottle of wine, do you opt for a fine French Bordeaux or a rich, yet fruity, Italian Chianti or even a Cabernet Sauvignon from one of the most popular non-European vineyard - that of say - Napa Valley in California?

What about Greek wines? You know - they have been doing it LONGER than anyone! Greek wines have been dated to over 6500 years ago. The Greeks were known to worship Dionysus, the god of wine, It has been said Hippocrates used wine for medicinal purposes. Viticulture (the science, production and study of grapes) originated in Greece with domestic cultivation becoming widespread throughout Europe. Greek wines and their varieties were well known and traded throughout the Mediterranean and across the world.

The importance of wine in ancient Greek society can be summed up best by a quote from the Greek historian Thucydides: "the peoples of the Mediterranean began to emerge from barbarism when they learned to cultivate the olive and the vine". I know I feel more at “peace” when I am indulging on a tasty glass of vintage Lantides Aenaon, Merlot from Greece.

Be sure to visit us for Dallas Best Wine Selection at Zizikis or Ziziki’s Taverna to taste any one of our great ports and wines from Greece and other regions in Europe - as well as Dallas Best Greek Cuisine.

Ring in the New Year At Ziziki's, Ziziki's Taverna and The Greek One Arts

Opa! All three of our restaurants will be celebrating and welcoming 2013 with a special dinner menu. Visit our websites for more information.

• Click here to visit ZIZIKI'S special events information and download the New Year's Eve menu.
• Click here to visit ZIZIKI'S TAVERNA's special events information and download the menu for New Year's Eve.
• Click here to visit THE GREEK's special events page and download the New Year's Eve menu.

Advance reservations are recommended - so give us a call today to reserve your spot. Hours, phone numbers and maps are also available on each individual website. We'll have champagne, full bar, and the best food in Dallas!

We'll also be open for our award-winning champagne brunch on New Year's Day.

Either way - ring in the New Year Greek-style with Ziziki's, Ziziki's Taverna and The Greek! OPA!

Ziziki's Holiday News

Giving to others is an amazing way to start the holiday season!  This year, we are celebrating our 11^th year of providing Christmas dinner and toys to the families of Family Gateway’s shelter.  Last weekend we purchased gifts for the 61 children and had a gift wrapping party with some of Ziziki’s staff at our Ziziki’s Preston/Forest location. 

 We are so thrilled to be sharing Christmas dinner with the families at Family Gateway on Sunday, December 16^th, 2012.   If you want to get involved, go to the Family Gateway link below…they need your help!

  Ziziki’s Holiday Hours

Ziziki’s Closed

CLOSED Christmas Eve          Mon         12/24/12              Closed all day (AM+PM)

CLOSED Christmas Day         Tues         12/25/12              Closed all day (AM+PM)

Ziziki’s Open

New Years Eve                         Mon         12/31/12              Open all day (AM+PM)

New Years Day                        Tues         1/1/13                  Open all day (Brunch + PM)

Greek Chic - Food Trends in Athens, Greece

Relative to the rest of Greece, Athens tends to be a somewhat cramped city with many people packed into a relatively small area. In fact, over 40% of the Greek population resides in Athens. The upside of that fact is that many who live there actually hail from another region of Greece who brought their family cooking traditions and recipes with them. This makes for Greek restaurants that offer more eclectic cuisine than you might realize.

Over the years, adaptation has been the name of the game in Athens. European influences swung into style during the 90s but more recently, Greeks have gone back to their roots. At heart, they never quite embraced any food other than that served in the families that raised them. Today, Greek tavernas offer a modern spin on the old-fashioned, smoke-filled venues of the past, paired with creative Greek cooking. Popular cuisine trends heavily emphasize healthy Cretan inspired offerings. Fun fact: Greece’s largest island, Crete claims the country’s highest life expectancy!

The recent financial crisis definitely played its part in this return to traditional eating. Tavernas offer tapas-style appetizers, and the Athenian custom is to order plenty to share around. But Athenians are still open to trying new things! The latest food craze in Athens is frozen Greek-style yogurt. Frozen yogurt bars are springing up like mushrooms. The taste is a bit like ice cream but with more character and flavor.

Here are a few bonus tips if you're planning a trip to Greece any time soon. The Greek capital is easy to navigate by foot or the metro; the upside of being a traveler in a country that lives on tourism is that most locals speak English and they are usually happy to help. When dining, beware of opening and closing times, as Athenians eat late lunches and dinners. Most places open for lunch at 1 p.m., although most locals don’t eat lunch until 2 or 3:00. Dinner time is very late: Athenians usually go out for dinner after 9 p.m. and most restaurants serve food up to 11 p.m. or midnight. And if there’s one last piece of culinary advice for Athens, it’s this: explore the downtown area where the locals eat. You will not be disappointed.

Don't have a trip to Greece planned? Come on down to Zizikis! Our menu is full of traditional Greek cuisine favorites!