A British Take on The Real Greek’s Menu

Simply Woman was delighted to visit The Real Greek in Marylebone to witness restaurant chef Tonia Buxton spin her UK take on Greek cuisine.

Tonia is the UK face of Greek cooking and has been making authentic Greek dishes for more than 20 years. Tonia has her own award winning series ‘My Greek kitchen’ on cable TV, and also a book ‘Tonia’s Greek Kitchen.’ She gave us a flavour of the dishes she enjoyed in her mother’s kitchen, which she’s now bringing to The Real Greek.

Tonia showcased– Beef stifado, – a central Greek style beef stew which uses shallots (high in vitamin C and iron, and aromatic aniseed). The ample sauce from this hearty dish that’s full of flavour can be mopped up with Greek bread or plain rice.

Dolmades – rice/lamb in vine leaves

Dolmades / Koupepia – A Cypriot spiced lamb and rice are rolled in vine leaves, and topped with tomato sauce. The Greek tradition is that during weddings local women would come out and roll hundreds of these eats for the ceremony! Vine leaves have the added benefit of being anti-inflammatory and they promote better circulation and strengthen blood vessels.

Garides me feta – Prawns with feta– Huge king prawns were cooked on the hob and in the over in a feta cheese sauce with white wine and garlic. We were impressed that the prawns held their size and that the sauce didn’t overshadow the delicate seafood. Very moreish.

Aginares a la Polita Artichokes City-Style – Something for the vegetarian among you. This delicious dish combines finest artichokes with carrots, dill, shallots, lemons and potaotes. Fragrant and tasty – filling without being overbearing.

Find Tonia’s dishes are now available at all branches of The Real Greek.

About The Real Greek

The Real Greek was founded in 1999 by celebrity chef Theodore Kyriakou, and his team. London restaurants opened as follows – Bankside (2004), Marylebone (2005), Covent Garden (2006), Westfield London (2008), Spitalfields (2008) & Westfield Stratford City (2011).

Visit the Marylebone branch at 56 Paddington Street, London, W1U 4HY. This restaurant is a short walk from Marylebone or Baker Street stations. Nearby attractions include Madame Tussauds and the University of Westminster.

Opening hours:  Monday to Saturday: 11:30 – 23:00. Sunday: 11:30 – 22:30.

• See www.therealgreek.com for more mouth-watering information.