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My Greek Kitchen

Tonia Buxton
  • Posted at 12:57pm
  • 23 November 2007
  • by RhodriMarsden-RT
  • 22 comments

While those of us who don't class ourselves as eye-candy have probably tearfully given up on the idea of television presenting, there's still a way in. Become a TV chef. You don't have to be beautiful. Fans of Antony Worrall Thompson are unlikely to have posters of him on their bedroom walls. I'm not privy to the contents of Clarissa Dickson Wright's postbag, but I'm guessing that lustful notelets from potential suitors are pretty thin on the ground.

In fact, I have a theory that the uglier or more overweight the TV chef, the more we implicitly trust their opinions. "They must know what they're talking about," I ponder, "because there's certainly no other reason for getting them on the telly."

When a dowdy Nigella Lawson used to be a guest on Nigel Slater's television programmes about ten years ago, her recipes for grilled mushrooms would carry great weight and untold significance. Today, now they've completed her transformation into a pouting starlet, I can't take her seriously.

Which brings us to My Greek Kitchen, presented by an impossibly beautiful British Greek Cypriot called Tonia Buxton. On her website, she describes herself as an author, historian, cook, athlete and television presenter.

The woman is clearly a superhero. Her capabilities know no bounds. She is clearly not of this world. At the same time, for all I know, she might be a living nightmare to spend time with. She might involuntarily begin projectile vomiting when she gets upset, for example. But going by My Greek Kitchen, she's the pinnacle of human perfection.

As for my theory above, well, I don't particularly care about what she's cooking, because I'm too busy staring at the almost filthy way she massages a spicy marinade into raw pork fillets.

At one point on Wednesday night's show, she introduced us to her husband, at which point any male viewers will have emitted a hilarious groan of disappointment as their elaborately constructed fantasy of cavorting on a Cypriot beach with Ms Buxton evaporated into the ether.

Oh, but hang on a minute. Their conversations are stilted and devoid of affection! Oh, thank you, God! She doesn't really like him! There's still hope to cling to. Along with a recipe for a black-eyed pea and marrow stew.

This isn't her first foray into food-related TV. She used to co-present a programme called Beauty and the Feast, alongside an equally beautiful doctor called Simone Lester. They would invite three men who had a particular occupation - and this could be rugby players, accountants, mechanics, firefighters - to come over to what was notionally "their house", cook them a meal, and subject them to beauty treatments.

It was a terrible premise for a show, and executed in the most toe-curling fashion imaginable. It was awful. But it didn't matter. Because Tonia Buxton was on it.

This has all probably marked me out as supremely shallow, and I suppose it's possible that you'd like to hear more about My Greek Kitchen instead of me going all moon-eyed over some woman. Well, there's not a lot else to say. She cooks a few Greek dishes and, like all TV chefs, she says "literally" a lot.

"Then you literally add two tablespoons of crème fraîche," she might say. As opposed, presumably, to all the other secret hidden meanings behind "adding two tablespoons of crème fraîche". Indeed, the use of "literally" has become so endemic among TV chefs, that if they don't say it while reciting their recipes, you wonder what on earth you're supposed to do next.

Anyway, I will now literally post this blog.

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Comments

  • Posted on 18 October 2009
  • at 4:47pm
  • by Jean

I love the programme, we go to Cyprus every year and the programme has helped me be more adventurous with the food, because i now know whats in it and how its made. Keep up the good work the programme is fab

  • Posted on 31 July 2009
  • at 10:30am
  • by LauraPledger-RT

FAO Barbra Krystyna - We got in touch with a contact at Discovery who was able to put your query to Tonia herself. Here is the recipe you wanted:

Galadoboureko (Milk pudding pie)

Use the same glass for measurement throughout)

Syrup:

4 glasses of sugar

2 glasses water

juice of 1/2 lemon

1 stick of cinnamon

Filling

6 glasses of milk

1 glass cornflour

1 glass sugar

3 eggs

1/2 glass of rosewater (or orange-blossom water)

1lb (450g) filo pastry

6oz (180g) unsalted butter or 1/2 glass of ground nut oil

1 - First make your syrup, put the sugar, water, lemon juice and stick of cinnamon into a pan and bring to the boil for 10 minutes. Allow to cool

2 - To make the cream filling, beat the eggs and mix with the cornflour to make a paste using a bit of the milk.

3 - Heat the rest of the milk to boil.

4 - Pour a little of the hot milk into the paste, stir well then pour it all back into the pan. Stir continuously until the cream is smooth, taking care not to let it burn the bottom as this will taint the flavour.

5 - Add the sugar and rosewater.

6 - Take off the heat

7 - Take 5 or 6 sheets of pastry, butter or oil in between each one and place at the bottom of a deep baking dish.

8 - Then pour in the milk mixture

9 - Cover with 5 or 6 sheets of pastry again, buttering in between each one.

10 - Place into a moderate 150C oven for 1 hour, turning up heat a little at the end if it needs browning.

11 - Take out of the oven and while still hot, pour over cold syrup.

12 - To serve cut into wedges, can be eaten hot or chilled.

  • Posted on 30 July 2009
  • at 6:33am
  • by Barbra Krystyna

ToniaI have been trying to find a recipe for Galombrama cake since I first saw you make it on My Greek Kitchen Beach BBQ episode I have tried various sites with Greek food recipes & also tried googling it to no avail I sure hope you can help I tried to email you DO not know if it got through You have three beautiful children, I bet your son will break girls hearts later in life Many thanks Barbra in Sydney Australia

  • Posted on 19 June 2009
  • at 6:39pm
  • by olu

there is no longer a channel 276 on sky,so where can i watch the repeats

  • Posted on 13 June 2009
  • at 12:42pm
  • by joy olsen

Thats wonderful news. I have written it all down including the name of the taverna. We are going to live right across the Larnaca Promenade. Thanks so much for your quick reply. You have been so helpful and I really appreciate it.

Best wishes to you and your family

  • Posted on 12 June 2009
  • at 5:25pm
  • by LauraPledger-RT

FAO Joy Olsen -

We got in touch with a contact at Discovery who was able to put your query to Tonia herself. Here is her reply:

The name of the hair salon is Halo and it is in Larnaca.

Also the Taverna which we filmed in is called Ayia Anna, which is in a village of the same name just outside of Larnaca.

Hope that helps & you are well,

best wishes ,

Tonia x

  • Posted on 12 June 2009
  • at 9:49am
  • by Joy Olsen

Hi I'm from Singapore and watched the re-run of My Greek Kitchen this week on Discovery Travel & Living Singapore.I love cooking too. We are Singapore Eurasians, with European ancestry.My husband is presently working there with the Cyprus Port Authorities and we will be living in Larnaca. I am very keen to know the name of your friends Jo & Andrew's hair salon and if it is far from where we will be. Its not mentioned in yr programme. Any other general will also be very much appreciated. Thanks Tonia. Hope to read you reply soon.

  • Posted on 26 May 2009
  • at 1:56pm
  • by Marino

Tonia i have watched your program and love it.Cyprus the scenery the food other islands and you put it in a way that is understandable.It reminds me of watching talking and cooking when we were all not as busy as we are now .I hope it inspires a new generation to carry on the greek recipes and stop moaning that it takes to long!

  • Posted on 10 May 2009
  • at 4:45am
  • by Adele

Fiona, Look at the shows then find out the name of the recipe she made and look it up on a greek recipe site.

  • Posted on 26 March 2009
  • at 8:30pm
  • by fiona king

i am trying to find a recipe for the cigar shaped meat and cracked bulgar wheat that were made for the hairdressers party can anyone help.

  • Posted on 25 March 2009
  • at 9:46pm
  • by joanna

My dad is cyptiot, i was born in manchester, watching the show with my husband, reminds me when i was a child and going to kypros for the school summer holidays.wonderful memories,and the food is the best in the world.

  • Posted on 12 March 2009
  • at 10:07am
  • by robert

where in cardiff area can i easily purchase the desert wine "comandria st john" cyprus?. thank you.

  • Posted on 11 January 2009
  • at 6:19am
  • by Andy

Katerina- Thankyou for your reply..Any ideas where i can find Mastixi..Thanks.

  • Posted on 04 January 2009
  • at 5:45pm
  • by Katerina

Andy - Are you're thinking of mastixi? The tree resin stuff? It's also spelt mastic or mastix, but yes, tree resin. Little translucent droplets..

  • Posted on 03 January 2009
  • at 8:22pm
  • by London

Absolutely Marvelous Show! Only wish that I could find your recipes online! (I must say so refreshing from watching the overkill "Celebrity Chefs" on Telly)

  • Posted on 01 January 2009
  • at 12:17pm
  • by ANDY

Tonia made an ice cream with some ingredient that looked like crystals..she also used it in galombrama cake..can anyone help me because i can't bloody remember what it was..Many thanks.

  • Posted on 25 December 2008
  • at 4:59am
  • by mick from ireland

great program watch it all the time everytime i watch it it reminds me of satorinne a few years back stunning island,, tonia great series

  • Posted on 15 December 2008
  • at 8:42pm
  • by lyndyloo

I have just come to live in Cyprus but watched My Greek Kitchen in England before moving here. Tonia is a refreshing change from the boring tv chef's on English tv and her knowledge of Cypriot food is just out of this world! Carry on Tonia, you are superb!

  • Posted on 20 November 2008
  • at 10:00am
  • by Ade

I have been watching your cookery program for ages now. Is ther a site where we can download some of you recipe's

  • Posted on 14 November 2008
  • at 12:17pm
  • by Jennifer

My Greek Kitchen and Tonia Buxton are amazing - the best cookery show on telly! Seeing all that gorgeous scenery and delish food helps me get through the British winter. Jen

  • Posted on 23 September 2008
  • at 3:09pm
  • by Paul Buxton

Back off buddy, she is my wife

  • Posted on 18 September 2008
  • at 4:37pm
  • by Tonia Buxton

Your blog made me smile, Thank you for your very kind words.

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