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What’s in Store with Marissa Papaconstantinou: Select Bakery Toronto

Hey everyone, it’s Paralympic medalist sprinter and Canadian record holder Marissa Papaconstantinou! I’m proud to continue exploring my Greek heritage in partnership with Krinos Canada by visiting some amazing spots around the country spreading #FetaCulture. 

Just off the Don Valley Parkway you’ll find family owned and operated Select Bakery (405 Donlands Ave, East York, ON M4J 3S2). Celebrating their 20th anniversary, the bakery was inspired by family patriarch and former bakery owner Manolis Katsamakis’ vision of creating a one-stop destination for the finest Greek & Eastern Mediterranean products in Toronto. I caught up with Manolis’ eldest son, Kosta, who runs the business along with his sister Areti and his brother Nicholas. 

My family actually shops here often, so I’ve come to understand why Select is a top bakery in the city. As soon as you walk in, you’re greeted with a warm smile and the smell of Greek pastries crisping up in the ovens. “We want to offer the best quality product for our customers,” Kosta says, “we work with companies like Krinos that share that same philosophy. It’s a brand that Greek Canadians grew up with and the name is synonymous with quality.” 

The Barrel-Aged Feta and Kefalograviera Hard Cheese are the most popular products at Select. But what keeps customers coming back is the taste, consistency, flavour, and versatility of the cheeses. “I like making my own Saganaki at home,” Kosta mentioned when asked about how he uses Krinos cheese, “grating it (Kefalograviera) over my pasta, to even last year with the big TikTok trend of pasta, tomato, and Feta in the oven.” 

After munching on a spanakopita and an iced espresso freddo freshly prepared at the bakery, we got right back to thinking about the simple & tasty possibilities of Krinos products stocked around the store. Call me crazy (or Greek), but I snack on Krinos Olives straight out of the jar when I’m craving a salty burst of flavour. Kosta has a more civilized approach: “I warm it (olives) up with a little olive oil in the pan and finish with some oregano for a perfect side.”

If you got hungry reading this blog, make sure to check out Select Bakery and try out some of the different ways to add a little taste of Greece to your meal!

That’s all from me for now! Make to stay tuned for my next visit on the Krinos Canada Kitchen Blog.

 

Select Bakery
405 Donlands Ave, East York, ON M4J 3S2
Online Shop: https://greek-food-shop.com/shop/

Hours:
Mon, Tues, Wed : 9am-6pm
Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun: 9am-7pm

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Quick & Easy Family Meals – Roasted Pepper Pasta

It’s September and back to school mode is on! With all of the drop-offs, pick-ups, homework and extracurriculars we know you are looking for quick and easy meals that satisfy the fam! Did you know Krinos has an amazing line of premium jarred items that can go a long way in a pinch? These products will become your new pantry staples and we guarantee this recipe will be on repeat all year long. Our Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Pasta is prepped and served in 15 minutes!

First, choose your favourite pasta shape and cook according to the directions on the package. When the pasta is almost done, reserve ½ cup of the pasta water. Pro tip: don’t rinse your pasta! The starch in the water is what allows sauce to stick to the pasta properly.

Are you ready for the quickest pasta sauce ever? Grab a blender or food processor and add one jar of Krinos Roasted Red Peppers, 1 cup heavy cream, fresh basil, and salt. Blend until smooth. In a saucepan on medium heat, add some olive oil and the red pepper sauce base. Stir in ½ cup of preferred stock and warm through. Then mix in ½ cup parmesan cheese.

When pasta is al dente, drain and add straight into the sauce, tossing to coat. Slowly add the reserved pasta water until your desired consistency is reached (you do not need to use all of it). Garnish with basil, more parmesan and serve!

Click Here for Full Recipe

 

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Balsamic Glazed Chicken Skewers with Tzatziki

We’re midway through summer, and if you’re running out of ideas for the grill here’s a super easy Balsamic Glazed Chicken Skewer recipe that will keep the summer sizzle going. Featuring our sticky and sweet Krinos Balsamic Glaze along with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, a mix of herbs and spices with a touch of brown sugar. Follow along for your next favourite summer recipe.

Prep and a good marinade are the keys to the getting the most flavour packed into the meat for these skewers. In this recipe we call for chicken thighs – why? Dark meat stands up to higher heat cooking and retains its juiciness and flavour.

First, cut the boneless, skinless chicken thighs into roughly 1-inch chunks and set aside in a large bowl. In a medium bowl, create the marinade by combining the extra virgin olive oil with the balsamic glaze, lemon juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, onion and garlic powder, salt, fresh parsley and rosemary and Greek oregano. Mix until combined and reserve ¼ cup of the marinade for basting on the grill.

Pour the marinade over the chicken, toss to coat well. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour for the chicken to soak up all of the deliciousness in the marinade. Pro-tip: At this point consider that if using bamboo vs metal skewers ensure they are pre-soaked in water for at least 30 minutes before grilling to avoid burning.

Next, preheat BBQ or grill pan to medium-high heat.  Thread 4-5 pieces of chicken onto each skewer.

Place the skewers onto the grill and cook for 9-10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Using the reserved marinade, use a brush to baste the skewers frequently to reinforce that flavour and keep them extra juicy! Continue to cook until an internal temperature of 165° F degrees is reached. Baste one more time before serving, and enjoy with a hearty helping of Krinos Tzatziki Dip. Add warm grilled pitas, and a fresh salad for an easy summer dinner al fresco.

Enjoy your outdoor entertaining – cheers!

Click here for full recipe

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What’s in Store with Marissa Papaconstantinou: Longo’s Leaside

Hey everyone, it’s Paralympic medalist sprinter and Canadian record holder Marissa Papaconstantinou! I’m proud to continue exploring my Greek heritage in partnership with Krinos Canada by visiting some amazing spots around the country spreading #FetaCulture.

First up, Longo’s Leaside (93 Laird Dr, East York, ON M4G 3V1), just southwest of the Ontario Science Centre where I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of the bionics exhibit. This Longo’s location actually used to be an old locomotive shop for the Canadian Northern Railway. The character of the store comes through as soon as you walk in as they kept a lot of the historical elements like the original wooden ceiling.

I thought there would be no better place to start my conversation with store manager Steve Gigis than at the deli counter. Feta cheese is at the top of my list of favourite foods, it’s a super tasty topper to many of the meals that fuel my busy schedule as a professional athlete. Lucky for me, Longo’s Leaside carries all sorts of Krinos feta varieties like Greek Barrel Aged, Sheep’s Milk, or Goat’s Milk, and in all different shapes like wedges or ready-to-use crumbled feta.

“Krinos products are special to us because they provide us product from Greece, it’s DOP, and because of that the cheese just has a different texture than anything else produced elsewhere,” Steve noted when asked why he carries Krinos feta. “Krinos feta is creamy & soft, and comes in different sizes for all families.”

At the core of Steve’s store is a commitment to freshness, quality, and catering to the community they operate in. “We only offer products to our customers that I would be proud to offer my own family,” he says. “We’re just north of the Danforth so we have a large Greek customer base looking for products made in Greece.”

Steve showed me around to even more Krinos products dotted around the store like the Attiki Honey, Roasted Sweet Red Peppers, and the Fillo Twisters which he mentioned were a customer favourite.

In the end, everything comes back to the feta. “It has to be the feta cheese,” when Steve was asked about his favourite Krinos product, “it’s a phenomenal product, a homerun for me!”

That’s all from me for now! Make to stay tuned for my next visit on the Krinos Canada Kitchen Blog.

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Grilled Halloumi Panzanella Salad

Summer is here and we know you are ready to enjoy the fresh bounty that it has to offer. A bright, fresh, and super satisfying summer salad is the perfect way to do this! Panzanella is commonly known as the salad that uses chunks of day-old bread to add body and crunch to a juicy salad. In our version, juicy seasonal heirloom and cherry tomatoes are paired with cool cucumber, pickled red onions, then tossed and topped with our creamy, fragrant grilled Halloumi. A simple Greek honey & balsamic dressing drapes the top of this stunner for the perfect summer meal that comes together in a pinch.

First, combine Krinos extra virgin olive oil, balsamic, Attiki honey, salt and pepper for the dressing and set aside to allow the flavours to come together.

Second, the base to this salad is a beautiful sourdough loaf that has been torn or cut into cubes. Place on a baking tray lined with parchment and drizzle oil over top and sprinkle with salt and pepper then toss to coat evenly. Bake until gold and crisp, about 10-15 minutes.

Next, preheat your grill, or grill pan to high heat. (a regular non-stick pan can be used, you will get a more even golden colour vs grill marks). Slice halloumi, roughly 1 cm thick and set aside. Brush grill with olive oil to prevent sticking. Reduce heat to medium and grill until well-charred but not burnt, this will only take 1-2 minutes.

To assemble the salad, place cucumbers and tomatoes on a plate, top with halloumi, your homemade croutons and pickled onion. Garnish with basil and drizzle with the prepared dressing and enjoy!

Click here to discover the full recipe!