THE GRANDMA-APPROVED GIRLS TRIP
A love letter to Greek hospitality
Words
ANASTASIA MIARI
Photography
PHILIPPA LANGLEY
Over the decade I’ve been cooking with grandmothers for my Matriarch Eats project, one factor that unites the elderly matriarchs I cook with has been their ability to make me feel at home and at ease. I am certain that it’s more than just great weather that has people from Northern Europe returning in their droves every summer to Greece. Hospitality is an important part of eating in my region, so much so that it’s written into our history as far back as the ancients.
In Greek mythology, Zeus famously punished anyone who would not show kindness and generosity to strangers. The Ancient Greek concept of ‘Filoxenia’ (quite literally translated to ‘love of foreigners’) is still an essential touchstone of our lives here in Greece. My Yiayia always has extra food in the fridge and a stash of koulourakia (orange biscuits) and ouzo in the cupboard ‘just in case’ someone happens to drop by. It is practically blasphemous to refuse a ‘kerasma’ from a Greek grandmother and there is absolutely no point in trying.
The need to be a good host is in my bones and I take it very seriously. It’s probably why my work has evolved to also include my Flavours and Foundations retreats, in which I welcome guests to Greece and do my very best to wine and dine them as I would my friends. In the Mediterranean, feeding goes far beyond nutrition. It is affection, passion for our produce and a love of what we make with it.
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I have an entrenched need to share the joy of eating with others and my culinary retreats are a culmination of all the things I love and hold dear. I have the privilege of sharing my Greek grandmother and her cooking, my beautiful island home of Corfu or bustling city life in Athens with a group of like-minded women from all over the world, seeing my home through new eyes. The exchange of cultures goes far beyond others peeking into my own life, I also gain valuable insights into the food culture of each of those attending. This year, for example, I hosted a dinner in which we all cooked a dish inspired by our grandmothers. I ran a writing workshop alongside that, in which we wrote poems to evoke the memories of these women in their kitchens and we read these aloud as we presented our dishes. Somehow, between ten women from all corners of the globe, we created a harmonious and emotional dinner, fuelled by memories of our grandmothers.
In person retreats take what I do to a more personal level, in which I can directly engage with my reader. Writing can be a lonely profession and I’m a very sociable person, so it makes a lot of sense for me to host retreats. Gatherings like this also encourage women to embark on a trip they might not otherwise want to make on their own. According to a new report, 30% of solo visa applications were filed by women in 2024 and the figures for solo female travellers are projected to rise this year. Retreats are a great option for those women wanting to go for it, while also offering an element of community and possibility for new connections – if I can offer that chance for someone to come on the trip to Greece they’ve always dreamed of and learn something along the way, I’m happy.
Anastasia Miari is a writer and author based in Athens. You can join her and her Yiayia on Corfu for this year’s Flavours and Foundations retreat.