Step into Christina’s welcoming kitchen in Athens and discover the centuries-old tradition of Greek pie-making - a practice so culturally significant, it’s recognized by UNESCO as part of the Mediterranean diet on the Intangible Cultural Heritage List. This unique cooking class specializes in phyllo, the delicate, paper-thin dough at the heart of Greece’s beloved savory pies. Begin your experience with a traditional treat of Greek coffee and loukoumi (a local sweet), then roll up your sleeves for a hands-on lesson in making spanakopita, a quintessential Greek dish. Christina will guide you through every step of the process, starting from scratch with just flour and water. You’ll use seasonal ingredients like wild spinach, local greens, and a mix of Greek cheeses to craft your filling. On Christina’s dining table, you’ll knead and roll your dough into impossibly thin sheets, learning the art of layering to create a light, flaky crust with a perfectly golden finish. Christina shares not only her technique, but also the rich history and cultural significance behind each step. You’ll leave with printed recipes so you can recreate the experience at home. The cooking portion lasts around two hours, followed by a shared meal featuring the spanakopita you made - alongside other seasonal and traditional dishes Christina has thoughtfully prepared. Enjoy your meal with Tsipouro (a traditional Greek spirit) and a glass of white or rosé wine, finishing with a delicious Greek dessert.
Join Christina for a delightful walking tour through her favorite neighborhood shops in Athens. Visit a local cheesemonger to sample freshly made cheeses, explore a charming deli specializing in olive oil, dried herbs, and other traditional Greek staples, and stop by her go-to bakery for a taste of local life. As you browse, Christina will share insights into the origins and stories behind the products you see, offering a deeper appreciation of Greek culinary culture. After the tour, you’ll head to Christina’s nearby apartment to begin your hands-on cooking experience.
Please note: Christina’s neighborhood is hilly, so comfortable walking shoes are highly recommended. The walking tour lasts approximately one hour.
Christina serves a vibrant, authentic Greek meal that highlights seasonal ingredients and creative, home-style preparations. You might begin with a selection of local cheeses, artisanal cold cuts, and traditional spreads, followed by her signature handmade phyllo pies. Main courses may include pistachio-crusted chicken with a rich molasses glaze or olive-crusted lamb paired with a tangy yogurt sauce. Enjoy fresh, seasonal sides such as a salad of anthotyro (a soft Greek cheese), cherry tomatoes, and toasted bread, or foraged wild greens from the countryside.
This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
Bouyiourdi | Baked feta with tomato and spicy peppersGraviera | Yellow Greek cheese with dried figsDessert | Authentic Greek yogurt with homemade bergamot spoon sweetYouvetsi | Orzo with sausage and veggiesDolmades | Stuffed vine leaves with rice and herbsDakos | Salad with rusks, tomatoes, olives, and katiki (soft white cheese)Fakosalata | Lentil salad with marinated anchovies, cherry tomatoes, and spearmint Christina grew up in a farming family in a small village in western Greece, where she still gets her local eggs, cheese, organic extra virgin olive oil, dried herbs, and hand-collected sea salts. Christina is passionate about baking traditional phyllo pies made with hand-made dough, a technique she first learned from her grandmother. After attending culinary school, Christina perfected the phyllo technique by working in a local bakery where she expertly created a wide variety of phyllo pies from scratch. Christina is also a licensed tour guide, so if you need any help planning your trip, she is the right person to speak to! She joined Traveling Spoon with the mission to share her knowledge of Greece’s phyllo traditions with as many people as possible in order to help preserve these age-old cooking methods.
Christina lives in a simple apartment in Pangrati, a central yet quiet neighborhood, located about 20 minutes by subway from the historic center of Athens and easily reached by taxi. Her apartment is located on the 5th floor of her building and is accessible by elevator.
"Oh my God! This was by far the most fun I have had in Athens. Christina taught my husband and I (and 3 others in our group) how to prepare authentic Greek phyllo dough from scratch in her kitchen. She will teach you to make the ubiquitous flaky Greek dough - starting with flour and water! - and together you will prepare a traditional pie. She will teach you, step by step, how to make the pie filling using seasonal ingredients like wild spinach and other greens and a variety of fresh cheeses (you might mix the filling in the sink since it is her biggest receptacle!). You mix the dough, learn to roll it into paper-thin sheets on her dining table, and layer the pie with the filling. She will show you how to carefully lay the delicate sheets of phyllo in the pan, which results in a light, crispy pie."
"Christina was an excellent hostess with expert knowledge of traditional Greek cuisine. Her lesson on making phyllo dough from scratch was so thorough and inspiring it compelled my wife to seek out a phyllo rolling pin to try to recreate the pastry at home. In short, A++++. Would cook with again."
"Christina is undoubtedly a very talented chef. One of the best spinach pies I've ever eaten.
It was really fun to participate in the preparation."
"Great experience! The hostess was very warm and made us feel welcome, like we were friends cooking together. The lesson was fun and we all participated in every step. I liked how we ensured the perfect crust for the phyllo, by slicing the pie for moisture to escape, but sprinkling the top with water as well. I will try it at home to impress my friends, especially Greeks who I don't think had a perfect spanakopita in a while. The meal Christina prepared was also beautiful. Overall highly recommended."
