Gardens of Salonica Traditional and modern Greek cuisine

So, when Steve, who plays soccer with Lazaros came in for lunch today, he asked his server, "do you have the stuffed squash blossoms?" which was relayed to me and to which I answered, "No." By the end of the shift I was being asked if we would be serving them tonight, because if I were, he'd bring his wife! Well, I had exactly 12 blossoms in the walk-in, hardly enough to put out 3 orders. So I got on the phone.

To go back a bit, the Gardens catered the Walker Art Museum's Appreciation Dinner for their volunteer tour guides last Saturday, July 18. While the weather threatened havoc, good luck, charms or karma,

the passing of Michael Steinberg. We saw Jorja and Michael brunching at Spoon River when we were at the Mill City Farmers' Market a couple weeks ago. I came upon them announcing, "Twin Cities Paparazzi at Hand"....it had been some time, Michael had been ill and Jorja explained that they really didn't move far from their condo above the restaurant in response to my complaint that I missed their visits, particularly their Sat lunches with us at the Gardens.

What a beautiful day it was today....so many stopped by with whom our lives have intertwined...At about 4pm when the store was nearly silent, in came Sophia DeHoff, a darling waif of Scandinavian blond, a up close to hug me. I looked over and there was her dad, Rob, brother, Tobby and Rob's brother, Mike, and his friend, Meg....Anne, Rob's wife and mother of those darlings, came in late, one of the warmest people I barely know, but she always makes me smile. It was Rob's 40th and his family celebrated him at the Gardens. It seemed only yesterday when we catered their wedding.

It was good to see some of our favorite buddies yesterday at the Gardens, West and Calder, I guess you could say that they have grown up here starting even from with in utero ingestion....huh Dena? As you can see, they were exploring some of the new flavors of the Gardens, Mavromatika soupa, as well as their standard faves...Tyro, Fava, Patzaria. For dessert they were treated to our secret stash of Pagoto Fistikia, pistachio ice cream, waiting for its introduction on this summer's must try list!

You could also call them "squash blossoms" as in "flowers of the zucchini vine" picked first thing in the morning before the blossoms

Was it already two nights ago! Katrina and Fred hosted a fabulous reunion on their island home below the Mississippi bluffs in Cottage Grove. Everyone and their spouses/siblings came.

After months, even years of trying to snag a Squash Blossom supplier,

For the first time since their return, the group that toured with Anna in May '09 will meet to relive some of their favorite dining discoveries.

The pre-feature dinner for, "The Little Greek God Father," was held Saturday, April 25 at GOS. Between 25 and 30 theater goers were treated to Twisted Zucchini Pita Macedonian style, grilled octopus, Horiatiki salad (sans lettuce), piles of skewered meat (souvlakia) topped off with baked parcels of organic Prairie Spy apples in fillo with cinnamon sugar and Sonny's organic ice cream. The wine poured freely. Need we say more? $25 per person!