Meze: Small Bites Big Flavors from the Greek Table [Paperback]

Rosemary Barron (Author), David Roth (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2002

As timeless as the azure waters of the Aegean, the little Greek dishes known as meze are perfect for todays way of eating. Author Rosemary Barron has compiled 65 of her favorite recipes- full of flavor and good health- from traditional small bowls of marinated olives and little cheeses to more substantial meat-filled pastries and grilled seafood. Meze gives advice on stocking the shelves with essential basics and offers helpful hints on preparing spectacular Mediterranean buffets or casual outdoor get-togethers without spending all day in the kitchen. Meze celebrates the art of slowing down, of savoring the simple, distinct flavors of Mediterranean ingredients, and of sharing the experience with friends and family.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Healthful as well as delicious, it's easy to see why the little Mediterranean dishes called meze work perfectly for cocktail parties, as part of a buffet table, or for a relaxed weekend dinner with family or friends. Greece-based cooking teacher Rosemary Barron's Meze: Small Bites, Big Flavors from the Greek Table focuses solely on that country's contribution to this delectable repertoire, and does so with an eye to their simple virtues--versatility and preparation ease. Her 60-plus recipes, which range from cold plates and salads to hot dishes, savory pies, and grilled specialties, feature the direct, zesty flavors of the Greek Islands; the result is easy-to-enjoy food like Peppered Greek Oregano Pork, Piquant Almond Figs, and Eggplants in Spicy Tomato Sauce--dishes most cooks can readily accomplish.

Part of the meze "plan" involves creating a simple Greek pantry from which the dishes can be quickly assembled. Following a section devoted to that setup, and a useful list of particularly quick and simple dish "sketches" (sprinkle drained canned tuna with sliced raw onion, olive oil, sea salt, and the tangy spice sumac and there's your meze), the book then presents other alluring recipes like Thyme-Scented Fish Souvlakia with Roasted Pepper Sauce, Savory Honey-Pear Pies, and Yogurt Chicken with Beets and Greens. An unusually detailed glossary includes not only ingredients but characteristic preparation methods like clay-pot cooking and equipment, such as sfongata skillets, a traditional iron pan for which readers can substitute more familiar equivalents. Illustrated with color photos throughout, Meze stands out among other similarly themed books for its concise thoroughness, clear instruction, and simple good taste. --Arthur Boehm

About the Author

Rosemary Barron is a respected cooking instructor and founder of the acclaimed Kandra Kitchen cooking school on Crete and Santorini. She writes about Greek food, wine, and culture for numerous magazines and newspapers. She lives in Somerset, England.

David Roth 's photographs have appeared in magazines, including Travel & Leisure and Bon App tit, and in the Grill Pan Cookbook (0-8118-2417-9). He lives in Los Angeles.

Product Details

• Paperback: 132 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (February 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811831485
• ISBN-13: 978-0811831482
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,328,841 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #92 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Regional & International > European > Greek

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Meze small bites,big flavors by Rosemary Barron, August 14, 2005

By 

S. B. Whitwell "cookery concoctions" (York,England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Meze: Small Bites, Big Flavors from the Greek Table (Paperback)

Very clear instructions.Gives alternative ingredients for the more unusal ones.Nice photographs.Gives a nice write up to each recipe.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good buy., June 4, 2007

By 

Helen Calvert Carter "Helen." (Guadalajara, Mexico.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Meze: Small Bites Big Flavors from the Greek Table (Paperback)

This is an excellent little book. Could have used a few more pictures, but those that there are are inspirational. I have begun, since I received it, to work my way through, and my husband definitely noticed the difference in his dinner a couple of night ago! There are very few recipes that call for items difficult to obtain, and there was a great section on yoghurt-making and the making of little cheeses one can store in olive oil - very simple, and great for Christmas gift ideas. There's an excellent little conversion page @ the back of the book as well. This is the first meze book I've bought, but I'm definitely inspired to buy more. As the dishes are small and easy to make and most of them are served at room temperature they're really good for preparing beforehand and then you don't have to worry about synchronizing the food being ready with people's arrival. I'm looking forward to making many more items from this book. Recommended.