Canio's Presents Owner Of Iconic Hellenic Snack Bar & Restaurant

SAG HARBOR, NY —For years, the iconic Hellenic Snack Bar & Restaurant in East Marion on the North Fork has kept scores of loyal patrons coming back not just for healthy delicious fare prepared from locally sourced bounty, but for an eatery that spotlights family values, loyalty, and an atmosphere that feels like the best of home.

George Giannaris, owner and chef, is passionate about eating healthy — and will share his tips and secrets with the crowd at Canio's Books, during a Canio's Cultural Cafe set to take place Saturday at 5 p.m.

A chef and restauranteur for 34 years, Giannaris recently launched a YouTube channel, "AwareHouseChef" that teaches viewers how to buy organic ingredients in bulk — online and at club warehouses — and how to use those ingredients in healthy, simple and easy recipes. His short videos are filled with time-saving, professional kitchen techniques, geared toward the average home cook.

On Saturday, not only will he show the crowd how to prepare a meal for 50 in 50 minutes, but he'll discuss his books, Ferry Tales I and II.

Registration for the event is required; call 631-725-4926 to sign up.

Reflecting on his vision, Giannaris said he hopes to instill the same love of food and family he found in his own childhood home.

"I am trying to remove fear from the kitchen," Giannaris said. "The fear of cooking in volume, sticking to basic ingredients and simple recipes that come from the heart, not always a book. I want people to be extremely conscious of the ingredients they use and I want them to take advantage of club warehouse/online pricing so that cost never interferes with quality. I also want to make the cooking experience an event to look forward to; we have to eat every day."

Cooking, he said, should be something to look forward to.

On Saturday, he said, he will be telling stories from his books, "while attempting to dish out a meal for fifty on a 36" square table in 50 minutes! By the time I finish, anyone who attends will be able to do the same."

Giannaris unveiled AwareHouseChef in April, inspired by the dream of teaching individuals how to prepare nutritious, organic meals at home, with a mission 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.

A natural born story teller with two books — "Ferry Tales" and "Ferry Tales II: When Hellenic Freezes Over" —about his life and his family's odyssey on the North Fork, from the restaurant's beginnings as a snack bar known for its fresh lemonade, Giannaris takes to the podcast format with ease, speaking to viewers about his passion for preparing fresh, organic food that satisfies not only the appetite but the soul.

(Courtesy George Giannaris)

Podcasts already posted include a wide array of topics such as "Greek Yogurt Two Ways," "Best Salmon Recipes," and critically important episodes on how to use, and sharpen, a knife properly, knowledge Giannaris said is sorely lacking in most kitchens and that can save a cook both time and money on unnecessary gadgets.

With his life already busy running the restaurant with his wife Maria — the couple has two sons — some have asked how Giannaris found the time and sheer will to tackle a YouTube channel, teaching himself how to film, edit, and produce the entire series single-handedly. The answer is simple: It's a project of the heart.

"One of the things that my friends don't understand about me is why I love to cook on my day off," he said. "That's my favorite time to cook."

Part of the reason why many don't eat well, Giannaris said, is because they believe they don't have "the talent or the techniques that I have as a chef, that make my life really easy. I was thinking about this idea for a really, really long time — about showing people how to eat healthy."

His reference point has always centered on his grandparents, all four of whom lived to their 9os, ate really simply, and never consumed pre-made foods, he explained.

"They ate butter, olive oil, olives, fresh vegetables, fresh meats. Simple. That's my idea of eating healthy," he said.

For many years, Giannaris has put the focus on organic at Hellenic. "At first I thought eating organic was a big gimmick. It's not. Organic food is just better for you," he said.

The problem, however, is the cost, so his YouTube videos teach individuals how to shop at club warehouses, buy in bulk, and then prepare meals using organic ingredients for families of four, two, or even one, without waste.

"You want to integrate it into your daily life and make it fast — that's the key," he said. "So you can spend two hours on a Sunday doing prep for the whole week and then crank out great organic meals."

Longtime diners at Hellenic know that Giannaris has been serving organic options, including eggs, for more than 16 years.

Simple tips are everything: Just keeping a bowl of chopped lettuce and cherry tomatoes in the fridge mean the fixings for a healthy meal, with a little chicken tossed on top, he said. "We need that roughage, we need those minerals," he said.

The primary goal, Giannaris added, is creating something that will help people to change their lifestyles. And already, the results have been positive, with emails flooding in from longtime supporters and new viewers alike, thanking him for sharing his tips and detailing the specifics so that they can be successfully executed at home.

The tips themselves, Giannaris said, include teaching people about temperature and cooking concerns. He's created episodes about the best way not to ruin a pricey $200 Father's Day steak on the grill — and an eye-opening Thanksgiving episode on the hazards involved in cooking the bird properly.

Looking ahead, Giannaris is committed to creating 250 videos, with 70 episodes already lined up; some will be shot out on the East End.

At the heart of all he does is Giannaris' dedication not only to his family and loyal clientele, but to his staff, who have been with him from 6 to 43 years. "When I die one day, what is going to be my legacy?" he asked, adding that he would rather sacrifice himself than see his employees go without. Every recipe is crafted with aim of providing more than just food for customers. "Eating is a personal thing," he said. "If I don't make it personal, I don't want to be here."

All of the recipes featured on the podcasts are also available on Giannaris' website.

To subscribe to AwareHouseChef, click here.