Part cookbook, part travelogue, Ikaria is an introduction to the
food-as-life philosophy of the Greek island blue zone and a culinary
journey through luscious recipes, gorgeous photography, and captivating
stories from locals.
The remote and lush island of Ikaria in the northeastern Aegean is home
to one of the longest-living populations on the planet, making it a blue
zone. Much of this has been attributed to Ikaria's stress-free lifestyle
and Mediterranean diet: daily naps, frequent sex, a little fish and
meat, free-flowing wine, mindful exercise like walking and gardening,
hyper-local food, strong friendships, and a deep-rooted disregard for
the clock.
No one knows the Ikarian lifestyle better than Chef Diane Kochilas, who
has spent much of her life there. Capturing the true spirit of the
island, Kochilas explains the importance of shared food, the health
benefits of raw and cooked salads, the bean dishes that are passed down
through generations, the greens and herbal teas that are used in the
kitchen and in the teapot as medicine, and the nutritional wisdom
inherent in the ingredients and recipes that have kept Ikarians healthy
for so long.
Ikaria is more than a cookbook. It's a portrait of the people who have
achieved what so many of us yearn for: a fuller, more meaningful and
joyful life, lived simply and nourished on real, delicious, seasonal
foods that you can access anywhere.
