Escape to the Greek Islands with 5 Savory Cookbooks 

The Complete Book of Greek Cooking, by Recipe Club of St. Paul’s Church
Greek festivals are well-known for their incredible food—sumptuous pastichio, mouthwatering moussaka, gyros galore, and of course bountiful baklava for all. Care to see what happens behind the scenes of Greek fests? To make this plethora of food takes an organized army of volunteer cooks, who give their time and talent to their local organizations. Written in 1958, The Complete Book of Greek Cooking has all the secrets to help you celebrate Greek fest at home. The recipes were compiled by the Recipe Club of St. Paul’s Church, with all proceeds going back to their local church. Decades have passed since they first wrote it, but the recipes are as delicious now as they were then. 

The Foods of the Greek Islands: Cooking and Culture at the Crossroads of the Mediterranean, by Aglaia Kremezi
As prolific in her books as she is in the kitchen, Julia Child Award-winning food writer, Aglaia Kremezi, takes readers island hopping through the Greek islands. Born in Athens, Kremezi moved to the Greek island, Kea, where she also runs a cooking school. For those who can’t escape to Kea for an in-person lesson, her book is like a trip for body and mind. The book tells both histories and anecdotes, then delves into delicious recipes like Tomato Patties from Santorini, Braised Lamb with Artichokes from Chios, and Rolled Baklava from Kos. 

The Greek Diet: Look and Feel like a Greek God or Goddess and Lose up to Ten Pounds in Two Weeks, by Maria Loi, Sarah Toland
One doesn’t usually associate the word ‘diet’ with Greek cuisine, but according to this book, it is possible. Beloved chef and restaurateur Maria Loi, teamed up with health journalist and professional athlete Sarah Toland, to write The Greek Diet: Look and Feel like a Greek God or Goddess and Lose up to Ten Pounds in Two Weeks. The food won’t give cooks the superpowers of gods and goddesses, so don’t expect to be throwing lightning bolts like Zeus or carrying the world on your back like Atlas, but it will impart the domestic powers of the goddess Hestia. The book is structured around 12 pillars, like yogurt or vegetables, that it then breaks into delicious recipes, like Lemon Verbena Yogurt Sauce and Fasolakia Lemonata. 

The Greek Vegetarian: More than 100 Recipes Inspired by the Traditional Dishes and Flavors of Greece, by Diane Kochilas, Vassilis Stenos, and Constantine Pittas
Greek food has a reputation for being very meat-centric, but many Greek dishes are actually vegetarian, and some are even vegan. Greek-American cookbook author and celebrity chef, Diane Kochilas, followed up her popular cookbook, The Food and Wine of Greece, with The Greek Vegetarian in 1999, focusing on meatless meals. Kochilas draws much inspiration from her father, also a chef, and his native home, the famous Blue-Zone island of Ikaria. This book present nutritious and palatable recipes like Pan-Roasted Potatoes, Zucchini, & Oregano, Everything Summer Vegetable Stew, and Noodles with Yogurt & Herbs. 

A Taste of Greece: Recipes, Cuisine & Culture, by Princess Tatiana and Diana Farr Louis  
Yes, princesses can cook! In this cookbook, A Taste of Greece: Recipes, Cuisine & Culture, Princess Tatiana of Greece and Denmark shows off her culinary chops and shares her love of Greece. Written with food writer Diana Farr Louis, an American living in Athens, the book also received contributions from famous Hellenophiles. Arianna Huffington shares a recipe for Melomakàrona cookies, and My Big Fat Greek Wedding producer Rita Wilson shares Vasilopita Cake. Given the economic and sociopolitical difficulties that Greece have faced in the last few years, this book gives proceeds to BOROUME!, a commendable non-profit organization that redistributes surplus food to those in need. 
What cookbooks do you turn to when you’re whipping up a delicious Greek meal?