I’m receiving a lot of messages where people ask me questions regarding my cooking workshops, therefore I decided to make a blog post that answers most of your questions. I have a passion for cooking since I was a kid. I really love to cook and eat, but I also love to be creative in the kitchen. One of my favorite ways to relax after difficult day is cooking. Slicing vegetables for my meal really brings me joy. The steady chopping sound of my knife against the cutting board quiets my mind and soothes my soul.
A lot of mental health clinics and therapists’ offices suggest the cooking as a therapy especially for depression and anxiety. Cooking is being used as part of the treatment for a wide range of mental and behavioral health conditions.
One obvious link between cooking and mental health is nutrition. It’s easier to control the quality of your diet when you prepare the food yourself. Research has established a link between brain health and several nutrients, including omega-3 fats, B vitamins, iron, zinc, magnesium and amino acids. To make sure that your brain is getting enough of these vital nutrients, it helps to know exactly what you’re feeding it.
One nice way to reduce the stress is also mindfulness. And by concentrating on your meal preparation is one very good way to accomplish that. Mindfulness is the psychological process of bringing one’s attention to experiences occurring in the present moment. With simple words, when you are busy preparing something in the kitchen, you don’t have time to think about anything else.
For me, cooking is an outlet for creative expression. For example, you don’t always have to go by the book. You can make changes and adjust every recipe on what you have at home at the moment, or on your eating preferences.
Please don’t get stressed in the kitchen. Stress and anxiety tend to be barriers to creativity. So always feel free to develop your own recipes. The sense of accomplishment you feel afterward can be a boost for your self-esteem.
Some people say to me, that if I don’t follow the recipe by the book, at the end it is going to be something else. So, what? Maybe it is not going to be ”The Musaka”, for example, but is going to be ”Your Musaka”. The one you are totally going to enjoy it and love it and share it with your favorite people, your family, your friends, your guests, or just eat it yourself. It doesn’t mater if it is not by the book. As long as it brings you joy.
Anyway regarding the Musaka, a very famous dish in Greece, believe me every Greek woman has her own way of doing it. And since we learned those recipes and eating habits from our mothers or our grandmothers, if we happen to try some other Musaka elsewhere we always believe that our mom’s Musaka is the best one, because we are used to it. Yes it’s true.
When we reach a certain age, we have to be careful regarding our eating habits and we have to make some changes.
It is well known that metabolism is faster when we are younger, because we‘re generally more active and have less fat mass compared to when we age. As we get older, our metabolic rate generally slows because the ageing process results in a decrease in muscle mass and an increase in the amount of fat stored.
So, when we realize that we can not fit in our favorite jeans any more, instead of changing the entire outfit it is better to start searching for some healthier ways of living and cooking and stay in shape.
It is never too late to change your eating habits. It is absolutely reasonable to change the way we used to cook with the time, and to adjust some of our mom’s favorite recipes to our new way of life. The healthy way of life.
Therefore I decided to start organizing cooking workshops. On my workshops you will actively participate in creating of a complete gourmet and healthy, mainly Greek meals. Regardless if you are a beginner or experienced cook, you can expect to enjoy an evening of cooking, learning, eating, great music and a lot of laughter.
You can enjoy with friends, family or colleagues gathered around your kitchen or in one of ours at different locations. We will all together prepare a customized meal before your eyes. No class, notes & no recipes! Just a lot of fun and improvisation accompanied with good vibes, excellent food and wines.
I am working with groups of 8 to 20 people. My cooking workshops – table events, are held in different venues, if you like to form your own group and you wish the event to be held at your own space for different purposes, such as friendly gathering, birthday celebration, baby shower, etc., then get in touch with me.
The meal’s ingredients and recipes can also be adjusted to your own preferences, such as vegetarian, vegan, meat or fish and of course desserts. You will learn how to prepare healthy dishes very easily. I truly enjoy what I do and it makes me proud and happy seeing all these people around me having a good time while creating and enjoining beautiful meals together with my special guests stars and me. I will teach you how to cook amazingly delicious dishes with affordable ingredients that can look and taste better than those at your favorite restaurants.
I’m always surprised by the diversity of people that are coming to my workshops. So many different people with so many great ideas, imagination and motives to be there, with different levels of knowledge and interest. A common feature for everyone is that they are all happy and willing to learn, to create, and eat. All of my students are nice, totally normal and smiling fellows, so my job is surely one of the most beautiful jobs in the world.
Embrace yourself, embrace the world 