Pappou Andoni

Meet Pappou Andoni, the definition of family. Born in July 1935 in the village of Ammochori, Florina, he was incredibly proud of his Pontian heritage and carried that pride with him in everything he did, from the stories, traditions, music and dancing to his favourite dessert - the Perok. During a transitional period in my life after university, Pappou and Yiayia Vaso opened their home to me without hesitation. For several months, they gave me a place to reset, regroup and enjoy being surrounded by family again, something I’ll always be grateful for. Pappou Andoni taught me what a strong marriage and devoted family life looked like. The love and respect he had for Yiayia Vaso never changed, and it was something I always admired growing up. After Yiayia passed away, Pappou actually became quite the cook himself, although this page is less about his recipes and more about the meals he loved most from the women around him ; Yiayia, his daughters, sisters, aunties and eventually me too. In February 2024, Pappou Andoni passed away, but not before meeting our son Thomas, something I’ll always be grateful for. I know he would have absolutely adored our daughter Amelia too. The recipes here are a small tribute to him, the family he loved so deeply and the meals that brought everyone together around his table.