Father's Day Advice On Family, Life, How To Grill Perfect Steak

EAST MARION, NY — For George Giannaris, owner of East Marion's iconic Hellenic Snack Bar & Restaurant, Father's Day holds deep meaning.

The business, long a mainstay on the North Fork, is not only known for its delicious offerings and welcoming ambiance, but for the family values reflected in every recipe, every mouthwatering meal served, every memory made.

Hellenic's history is rich with family ties and core values: When George Giannaris' Uncle Gus Hartofelis decided to buy "Brown's Cabin's" in 1976, he asked John Giannaris, George's father, to be his partner.

While his Uncle Gus was more interested in real estate and rentals. his father was dedicated to running the little snack bar on the east side of the property, Giannaris said.

Back in 1976, the Hellenic Snack Bar, a six-stool, four-table shack, was born, offering burgers, hot dogs — and a fresh-squeezed lemonade that had customers lining up around the block.

Although the eatery expanded in 1983, the Hellenic Snack Bar & Restaurant has always stayed true to its roots and core values espoused by John Giannaris and his wife Anna.

Today, George Giannaris and his wife Maria hold the restaurant's vision, core values and mission close: "The vision remains the same. We wish to offer you an outstanding, hospitable, comfortable dining experience. Our mission is excellence in food, service, presentation and cleanliness."

Core values, Giannaris said, include integrity, passion, consistency, and appreciation for the customers who have woven the Hellenic experience into the fabric of their family memories for decades.

And as the eatery has evolved, Giannaris has shepherded Hellenic into the next chapter of its history, with a focus on organic and a vision that includes shaping a future that brings Hellenic to the next level of excellence as the North Fork continues to emerge as a destination for foodies seeking farm-to-table fare.

Giannaris recently unveiled a project that symbolizes all the values and innate care he brings every day to the North Fork eatery that's been a mainstay for generations of countless loyal diners.

Giannaris launched a YouTube channel, AwareHouseChef, in April, inspired by the dream of teaching individuals how to prepare nutritious, organic meals at home, with a vision to "save healthy," at a time when the very concept is falling by the wayside in an all-too-often rushed society.

Each new episode airs on Thursdays at 7 p.m.

And just in time for Father's Day, there' a podcast that focuses on how to grill up the perfect steak for Dad.

"One of the best things that you can give Dad for Father's Day is a really nice steak," he said. "None are as impressive as a Tomahawk. But here's the question: Do you have the guts to grill a $200 steak? I'm going to show you how."

The podcast shows how to grill up that steak without fear of flareup or burning.

Giannaris, who grew up eating the simple, healthy fare cooked in his Greek family's kitchen, described the premise of his weekly podcast: "It's all about fresh, organic ingredients, and simple recipes and techniques," he said. "I want to teach you great and easy cooking methods, how to maximize the organic bulk ingredients you buy at club warehouses or online and spend enjoyable moments in the kitchen, creating phenomenal dishes."

On Father's Day eve, Giannaris reflected on the bonds he shares with his father and his own sons, Savvas and Yianni.

"The greatest influence my father had on my life was a strong work ethic," he said. "But he still managed to budget his time enough so that I never felt he wasn’t there for me."

He added: "The greatest advice my father ever gave me was when you talk to your children always take on their age, always remember how old they are." By doing so, it's possible to inspire respect and reverence but "they still feel you are their friend," he said.

Smiling, Giannaris shared the second greatest fatherhood tip his own dad passed on: "If you want to get to know someone, you have to finish a sack of salt." Meaning, he said, that no one is going to just pour a bag of salt down their throat; instead, they will sprinkle it on their food, leading to many hours of insight and conversation over shared meals.

"My dad has been very influential in my life," he said.

His father, now 82, is proud of what Giannaris' has accomplished in Hellenic's evolution — most recently, the eatery features a new outdoor garden bar, corn hole, and cozy fire pit table areas where overflow crowds can wait to be seated and children can play in the warm night air.

"He tells me he can't believe where I've taken the place," Giannaris said. "He told me that he never dreamed of it going where it is."

His father, Giannaris said, also taught him to read people, to develop an unerring sense of what the business would need to thrive. The original simple values upon which the restaurant was founded are still strongly ingrained as Giannaris has taken the eatery to another level for a new generation and shifting North Fork demographic.

(George Giannaris and his wife Maria/Photo by Lisa Finn)

Still, he said, the core, fundamental menu hasn't changed, with traditional favorites offered alongside organic, innovative fare.

When asked about his own sons, Giannaris' face lights up.

As they were growing up, he said, "I got a lot of flack for not teaching them Greek. They don’t speak Greek," he said. "But my main goal was for them to really focus on their studies. They're really steeped in Greek culture, though."

His older son Yianni now attends MIT and his youngest, Binghamton University.

As a father, Giannaris has always strived to impart invaluable life lessons to his own boys.

"One thing I always taught my kids is to go over what they did wrong, especially in school, because what you don’t know is what hurts you. I didn’t ty to push them to perfection but I wanted them to learn as much as they can."

Of raising children, he said: "In order to truly be free you need boundaries and those boundaries have to be healthy, and they have to be securing and comforting. A child has to feel safe and then, you corral them in the direction that their personality is taking them. You never push them in that direction, you steer them and let them have their own flow."

He's always told his boys that they are surrounded by a strong circle of love, Giannaris said. "No matter how far away they try to go, they'll never leave that boundary, there's no way to escape it, so they had that level of security in their lives — but the freedom to move around it."

As a father, the most important thing is to savor every moment, Giannaris said.

"Men tend to be overly busy in this world but every year they’re going to be a different father — so enjoy every moment that you can while you can and celebrate your fatherhood. Celebrate being a father."

That's why Giannaris, busy with the restaurant and his podcast, still makes time for his sons whenever they are home, taking them fishing, enjoying the everyday moments that mean everything.

Learning to celebrate the everyday moments with family are one of the main reasons the YouTube podcasts are so important; they aim to help individuals learn to cook healthy fare quickly, leaving time for memory making, he said.

"That's the whole goal," he said. "The busier we get, the less time we have to enjoy food and enjoy eating healthy. I intend to show people how to embrace life. Being Greek taught me how to love like a Greek, laugh like a Greek, and eat like a Greek — because all of that really makes you celebrate life."

To subscribe to AwareHouseChef on YouTube, click here.