ataraxia food productions

02/10/2025

Is there anything a cheese iceberg can’t fix? Especially floating in a pool of Greek extra virgin olive oil.

This is not feta!

Did you know Greece has at least 60 kinds of cheese and 22 of them are officially PDO (Protected Designation of Origin)? Unofficially the number might be closer to 100.

Here I’m trying skotyri for the first time. It’s a traditional Cycladic cheese spread from Ios made with aged myzithra, chunks of graviera/kefalotyri, and flavored with θρούμπι (savory) .
Spreadable but textural, with bits of firmer cheese inside. The flavor is sharp, aromatic, and intense.

What fascinates me most is the regionality of Greek cuisine: even within Greece, people often don’t know the cheeses or dishes from another region. Which means the rest of the world has only seen the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Greek gastronomy.

Everyday food in Greece is built around vegetables. What’s a side dish elsewhere is the hero here.
On the side you’ll have a little cheese, some cured meat, or fish.

You probably wouldn’t have guessed the cheese but do you know what dish I had for lunch?

29/09/2025

27/09/2025

Moments from the first Sunday Trapezi, focusing on the cuisine of my beloved island, Crete.
Niche? Yes. Popular here? No.
I know a pita gyros would sell more. I love those too, who doesn’t.
But I’m here for more. Greek food is by no means lesser than Italian or French.
We Greeks are not the best at marketing our strong points strategically and collectively.
I know patience is needed and a lot of risk-taking, but I believe in Greek gastronomy and eating culture as something to be shared and preserved.
It is not without reason that even visitors who don’t fit into the all-inclusive profile fall in love with the way of life that is so closely intertwined with, and evolves around, food.
Lifestyle is changing in Greece too. People are busy and the time for sourcing ingredients and cooking has dropped.
I’ve been away for a bit over 8 years and in that time products similar to the ones here in Finland, ready meals, have emerged. That means there is a market for them.
To be honest, and so you understand how fast the culture is changing: when I moved here I was genuinely shocked at the amount of ready-made meals.
Also, hearing things like: “Why cook? I don’t have time. I’m alone.”
Well, it has now even caught up with me, a bit embarrassing to say.
Okay, being in the profession presents its own unique challenges, but nevertheless we are very much influenced by our environment.
The moment I land in Greece, most conversations I overhear revolve around food. What people ate, what they are going to eat, where the good food was, all that lovely stuff.
The change I try to bring comes from lived experience. Some of the most meaningful moments are those shared around a table. The seasonality, the pause to eat not in a hurry, is something that grounds us and gives such subtle feelings of being and belonging.
A lot of our constant rush, tiredness and loneliness stems from the lack of these moments.
A big thank you to my dear friend Vaimomatskuu who came to take some snaps when I asked for support. Some of her photos are even on my website. Small entrepreneur life is still on the poor side, but it reminds me that sometimes we just need to open our mouth and ask for support.

26/09/2025

4K 🤯 Efharisto, kiitos, thank you 🫶 for following along, showing up at my events, and helping me spread Greek food culture up here, far away from where it all began.

For years I dreamed of doing what I’m doing now, and last year I finally took the leap. There’s still a long way to go, but things are moving forward .
It feels amazing & rewarding to be building a community of great people here in Helsinki, both online and in real life.

🎉To celebrate, I’m giving away 2 seats at my Cooking with the Seasons course 🌱✨

At Ataraxia Cooking Club, I want to bring people together to share what I’ve learned from growing up in Greece, studying cooking professionally, and working 10+ years in kitchens.

Cooking is an empowering skill, one that elevates everyday life, and when we do it together it becomes joyful, social, and a way to bond.

🫒 Giveaway rules
– Like this post
– Follow me .food
– Tag a friend who’d love to cook at Ataraxia Cooking Club 👩‍🍳, more tags more entries.
– Comment which course theme you’d like to attend the most
– Bonus entry: share this post to your stories ✨
Winner announced 01.10.
Instagram/Facebook are in no way part of this giveaway.

⚡ And if you don’t want to wait on luck, seats for the upcoming courses are open now.

Link to my website in bio!

Thank you again for being here. You are helping me achive my dreams & i couldn’t be more grateful.

My dream is to keep cooking, building community, traveling to share Greek food, and creating memorable food experiences that stay with people long after the meal.

Maybe one day a cookbook, maybe recognition among other food creators… here’s to the next chapter 💛

22/09/2025

Join us for a spectacular culinary evening at Työpajankatu 2, Helsinki! 🌿 Embrace the flavors of the Mediterranean on October 29th, 2025, from 5:00 to 8:30 PM, as we explore how to create seasonal dishes bursting with natural goodness. 🍅🫒 Our event, 'Cooking with the Seasons,' invites you to learn how to transform seasonal ingredients into gourmet meals, gaining confidence to cook without recipes—all amidst an atmosphere of fun and connection. 🥖✨ Reserve your spot now and be part of a vibrant community connecting through the art of food.

21/09/2025

👀Sorry for the pastitsio p**n 🤭
But come on… how could I not?

That golden béchamel, the cinnamon & cheese in the sauce making the whole room smell like love.
The layers….. need i say more?
Pure comfort food 🇬🇷✨

Reel with the recipe is coming soon 👀
👉 And if you’d rather cook it with me in person, my new courses in Helsinki are live
Book from link in bio.

But tell me… are you Team Pastitsio or Team Moussaka? 👇

🇫🇮
👀 Anteeksi tästä pastitsio-p**no postauksesta🤭
M***a miten tätä voisi olla jakamatta?

Se kultainen béchamel, kaneli ja juusto kastikkeessa, koko huone tuoksuu rakkaudelta.
Ne kerrokset… tarviiko edes sanoa enempää?
Täyttä lohturuokaa 🇬🇷✨

Reseptivideo tulossa pian 👀
👉 Ja jos haluat kokata tätä mun kanssa livenä, mun uudet kurssit Helsingissä on nyt auki.
Varaa paikkasi linkistä biossa.

M***a kerro mulle… oletko Team Pastitsio vai Team Mousakas? 👇

21/09/2025

Calling all food lovers! Enjoy a delightful 10% off your purchase with coupon code VEGANTREATS. Treat yourself today! Limited time only! Visit us at https://wix.to/uBfzHiG.

Discover Ataraxia Life in Helsinki—where authentic Greek food, cooking classes, and private catering turn meals into moments of connection, culture, and joy.

20/09/2025

Join us on September 29, 2025, for 'Naturally (Greek) vegan' in the heart of Helsinki! Experience the rich flavors of traditional Greek dishes that put vegetables at the center. Let's explore the wisdom of Greek cuisine together! Don't miss out - register now! https://wix.to/vaWiB9s

More courses & events https://www.ataraxialife.fi

14/09/2025

Plates passed around the table while stories about Crete filled the air. Strangers who walked in alone were laughing together by the end. Cretan music in the background, mixing with the little mmm’s of good food. That’s what our Sunday trapezi felt like.

Pilafi was the centerpiece, like always. Later I tried a vegan version just to see if it works — shiitake, veg trimmings, a touch of truffle oil. It surprised me with how much depth it had, and it can stand as a version of the classic pilafi if the occasion arises.

The price of the vegetables for the horta though might need to change the narrative, with a food cost of over €5 per person. It’s not just a salad ,not something inferior to pilafi.

Some were familiar with Crete, some weren’t. I really appreciate adventurous eaters , not that there’s anything odd about the food, but because I enjoy exploring tastes myself, and it means a lot when people share that curiosity.

Thinking about it more… it’s actually an honor when people come to eat your food just from something you’ve posted online. Humbling, really.

Thank you to my first guests for filling my new workroom with life , you made it feel like home.

A slow Sunday trapezi that left us full and happy, maybe even ready for a siesta… but instead I washed a mountain of dishes with a smile. I can’t wait for the next time we gather around the table.

Shall we set the table again soon?

#ｓｕｎｄａｙｍｏｏｄ

13/09/2025

Yasas! 🤗
halusin kertoa, että minulla on nyt oma työtila Helsingissä, Teurastamolla. Se antaa mahdollisuuden toteuttaa monenlaisia ruokaan liittyviä palveluja ja elämyksiä – esimerkiksi:
• cateringia
• business-lounaita
• tiimipäivien kokkauselämyksiä
• yksityisiä illallisia
• pikkujoulut


Olisi hienoa, jos pitäisit minut mielessä, jos teillä tai verkostossanne tulee tarvetta tällaiselle. 🙌

Otta yhteyttä [email protected] tai whatsapp 0413157157 niin järjestetään teille ainutlaatuisen ja ikimuistoisen tilaisuuden.

Terveisin,
🫶Aino