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Connect What is your signature dish?

Mt. Parnassus Pita Sandwich due to its height. It is named for the famous mile high mountain near Delphi, Greece. This party sandwich is 8 layers of pita with fillings of smoked ham, Grecian chicken, roasted red peppers, heirloom tomatoes, pepperoncini, green onions, with tzatziki sauce between each layer. The entire sandwich is covered with a thick tzatziki and feta cheese spread, and Embellished with cucumber Delphian columns, topped with heirloom cocktail tomatoes.

Who is your culinary inspiration?

My mother, was my primary culinary inspiration. As a young girl in Greece she was taught Greek cooking by her mother and grandmother. With her marriage to my dad she was also introduced to the spicy recipes of Asia Minor. Upon their arrival in America, my mother embraced traditional American cooking. She incorporated Greek flavors and Asia Minor with the traditions of American Cuisine. It is this fusion which she passed down to me and became my inspiration.

What would you do with the $25,000?

From 1985 I’ve been the founder, director and primary instructor of several Greek American Fusion Cooking Schools. The Covid pandemic brought about their closure. Subsequently it has been very difficult to re-establish these schools. The recent dramatic increases in ingredients costs together with the general financial situation have severely hampered my endeavors. In the event I receive the award it is to be used to partially subsidize ingredient costs, tuitions, and needs of the school.