Yiayia Vaso

Meet Yiayia Vaso, the woman I got my middle name from, Victoria. Gentle, loving and always quietly taking care of everyone around her, she showed her love through food, family and the little things she did for others every single day. Born in 1938 in the Peloponnese region of Greece, Yiayia Vaso left her home at just 18 years old to start a new life in Australia after the war. Leaving Greece and her family behind was something that stayed with her forever, but Australia became the place where she built a beautiful life alongside my Pappou. Together they raised three children and created a home full of love, resilience and really good food. Their relationship was the kind built on true partnership. Through all the challenges of immigration, learning a new language and starting from scratch, they always faced everything side by side. Yiayia Vaso’s kitchen was where everyone gathered. She was an incredible cook, although probably the messiest one imaginable, something that used to drive Pappou mad. Still, somehow they’d always end up cleaning it together in the end. In 2012, Yiayia Vaso passed away, but so many of the recipes and traditions on Anne’s Appetite come directly from her kitchen. Her cooking, love and quiet strength still live on through every dish we make and share today.