Browsing Tag Michael Kaminer
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10 October 2026 at 16 : 07 PM
A Taste of Home
Classic town squares inspired Fournos Greek Café & Eatery’s design. Ioannis Papatherapontos shares Greek Cypriot flavors at New Jersey’s Fournos Greek Café & Eatery. By Michael Kaminer While he may be a first-time restaurateur, Ioannis Papatherapontos is anything but a novice in the world of hospitality. • Estiator ...
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10 September 2026 at 21 : 35 PM
A Chicago Chef on a Mission
COVER STORY Avli on the Park’s Eleftheria Sioulas champions her heritage—and her industry. By Michael Kaminer Eleftheria Sioulas is a chef on a mission. Part of that mission involves food, of course. At Chicago’s acclaimed Avli on the Park, where she’s executive sous-chef, the 32-year-old kitchen star is striving to share Greek culinary ...
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10 September 2026 at 21 : 29 PM
Kyria Plays the Classics
Proudly traditional, Athens-born chef Maria Lachana turns Kyria into a new dining destination in Harrison, New York. By Michael Kaminer “Remarkably authentic.” That’s how Westchester magazine described the cooking of Chef Maria Lachana, who leads the kitchen at Kyria, an acclaimed newcomer in New York’s Westchester County. Born and ...
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11 July 2026 at 13 : 28 PM
Upscale Greek Gets a Reboot
COVER STORY NYC’s Nostos is run by women, with an all-star team of partners. By Michael Kaminer Even though their restaurant’s name means “homecoming” or “return,” Stefania Papadopoulos and her partners wanted anything but a rerun of familiar Greek restaurant concepts. So when they opened Nostos—νόστος, in ...
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14 June 2026 at 16 : 48 PM
The Peter Pan Diner Soars Again
COVER STORY After a devastating fire, a beloved family-owned restaurant returns. By Michael Kaminer In Greek mythology, the phoenix is a legendary bird that rises from its own ashes, stronger and more resilient. Bay Shore, New York, has its own phoenix. And while it may be a local legend, it’s not a myth. After a devastating fire that shut it ...
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13 May 2026 at 21 : 08 PM
Chef Nikol Zarbalas Goes Big with Hellenic
COVER STORY Chef Nikol Zarbalas Goes Big with Hellenic: The Food Network star conquers Coral Springs, Florida. By Michael Kaminer “Hands down, the best Greek food I’ve had.” That’s how television personality Guy Fieri raved about Chef Nikol Zarbalas’ cuisine after her 2022 appearance on his Food Network “Diners, Drive-Ins, ...
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13 May 2026 at 21 : 32 PM
For Greek Restaurant Franchises, a Bright Future
“Authenticity and adaptability” are key to success. By Michael Kaminer Restaurants are feeling the pinch as consumers reel in spending, whiplashed by economic headwinds and global instability. But while they face the same challenges, franchise restaurant brands are finding themselves uniquely positioned for the era of pared-back budgets and ...
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15 March 2026 at 17 : 20 PM
Beyond Blue and White
COVER STORY Next-gen restaurant designs offer a cool, confident take on tradition. By Michael Kaminer Even for consumers with zero knowledge of Hellenic culture, blue and white signifies Greece. As a result, Greek restaurants have mimicked the galanólefki—the Greek flag—as an easy way to telegraph their menus. But a new generation of ...
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15 February 2026 at 19 : 49 PM
Meet the Mayors of Gyro City
RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT Meet the Mayors of Gyro City This new fast-casual brand showcases prime ingredients and Greek pride. By Michael Kaminer Nearly two decades into a high-flying career in hospitality and nightlife, George Karavias was craving a taste of home. “I love gyros,” Ikaria native Karavias tells Estiator. “It’s my go-to. ...
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15 January 2026 at 19 : 37 PM
Watch These Trends
COVER STORY Little luxuries and giant flavors will shape menus in 2026. By Michael Kaminer Boot up your AI agents, welcome the flexitarians, crank up dipping sauces, zhuzh up your textures, and “freak up” your salads. ’Tis the season when forecasters dig into data, surveys, and consumer sentiment—and maybe consult an oracle or two—to ...
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