Akis Petretzikis is the young and hip Greek celebrity chef that every household knows and loves on television. But what many do not know is that Akis has started his own business and is the CEO of Akis Petretzikis Ltd. We met and interviewed the first Greek “Master Chef”.
Aki, people love you for combining everyday ingredients into delicious, quick and inexpensive dishes. How important is that to you?
There is nothing more important than making a delicious meal with simple ingredients you find in your kitchen. The taste of a food is not measured by quantity but by quality. Fortunately, the Mediterranean diet provides us with everything our bodies need – and in Greece, we are lucky enough to find the appropriate ingredients in abundance.
What ingredients do you use most in your cooking?
I love tahini, chocolate, honey and peanut butter, ginger, fresh spices and of course fresh fruit.
How did you discover your love for cooking?
When I was young, I loved watching my grandmother and mother cook. The smells and aromas in the kitchen flooded our house every day. That’s how it all started.
You lived abroad for a few years. What was your experience living in those countries?
I lived and worked in England for a while. As for Germany, I’ve been there a few times for professional reasons and I really liked it. I would like to travel there again to discover the country and its people.
The topic of healthy eating plays an important role in today’s society. What does it mean to you and what do you look for when preparing your food so that it is not only delicious but also nutritious?
My meals are – first and foremost – very simple. I am always looking to cook something that is rich in protein and fiber. Of course, there are times when I eat whatever I feel like. The secret to being healthy, in my opinion, is always to consume everything in moderation!
How do you feel about vegan cuisine and what are the new trends in Greek gastronomy?
Every day I discover something new in my kitchen, that’s what drives me, that there are no limits in gastronomy! Vegan cuisine and healthy eating have been on everyone’s lips lately. In my opinion, both of them are a kind of lifestyle that you can adapt or not. As for the new trends in Greek gastronomy, I don’t think there are any particular ingredients that are “fashionable” right now. Rather, I think ingredients become trendy by the way you use them.
What recipe do you recommend to our readers that will bring them closer to authentic Greece?
This is a very simple question and easy to answer: the Greek farmer’s salad, of course! It’s a unique dish – pure Greece! And the best version of this recipe is here, of course: https://akispetretzikis.com/el/categories/salates/chwriatikh-salata
Akis Petretzikis is a Greek celebrity chef, born and raised in Thessaloniki. At 18, he moved to Athens to study accounting at the TU. At the same time, he enrolled in a culinary school. In 2006, he moved to the UK and returned to Greece in 2010 to participate in the cooking show “The Master Chef.” Six months later, he was named 1st Greek Master Chef. Petretzikis is the managing director of Akis Petrezikis Ltd, a company that publishes cooking magazines and books, produces cooking shows, runs restaurants and an e-shop with various gifts and self-designed kitchen products. More information about Akis Petretzikis can be found here: https://akispetretzikis.com/
