Vegetarian Traditions
Stories • Recipes • Travel • Farms • Traditions
A Culinary Journal by Chef George Vutetakis
For more than fifty years, I’ve explored the people, places, and traditions behind remarkable plant-based food—from
San Diego and Michigan farmers’ markets and the Inn Season Café to villages in India and tropical farms in Peru.
I invite you to discover recipes, culinary travel, farming traditions, ingredient histories,
and the joy of cooking with nature’s abundance.
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Latest Stories
New recipes, culinary journeys, farmers, traditions
and stories from my kitchen.
Skordalia With History
During the peak of summer in August, when the hot Sahara-born Sirocco winds blanketed the countryside, Aloni-sites were where families gathering for the cool breezes coming off the sea from Kalathas. Men would sip on cafes, while women would sometimes bring a bowl of fresh-picked almonds to crack and catch up on the seemingly endless tasks of the day.
Fire Roasted Poblano Chile & Pepita Pesto
Nutty toasted pepitas with crushed garlic, freshly squeezed lime juice, brightly flavored cilantro and smokey fire-roasted poblano chiles provocatively meld together to create an explosion of flavor in any dish that it is served with.
Kypopita-A Cretan Garden Roulade
When planning my gardens, I always consider the ancient Cretan tradition of foraging wild greens. This is one of the secrets of Mediterranean cuisine which adds a special culinary touch and superfood vitamins and minerals from the earth. Some of the greens I plant are different kinds of sorrel, green amaranth, lamb’s quarters and Swiss chard. Fresh fennel also grows wild all over Crete. The Greek name is Marathi. This is the root word for marathon, since the plains of marathon were likely populated with the delicious herb and root.
Pumpkin Walnut Baklava
This dessert was first introduced to the public in 1997 when I was chef and owner of Inn Season Cafe in Royal Oak, Michigan. It quickly became a favorite, especially in the Autumn when Michiganders share a collective passion for all desserts crafted with pumpkin, sweet spices and maple syrup.
Cranberry Bean Ragout
For this recipe, I used fresh cranberry beans at Food Field Farm’s stall in Detroit’s Eastern Market. Similar to pintos, they cook to a tender creamy texture. This recipe is a simple medley of vegetables and beans. If you can’t find fresh beans, cooked from dry or canned may be substituted.
Awe-Inspiring Bourbon Pecan Pie
Looking to wow them for the Holidays, or a dish to make any random occasion special? Here is a recipe that is sure to please and satiate the cravings for the comforting foods of our youth.
Asparagus En Papillote
En papillote (baked in parchment) cooking method infuses flavor and helps retain nutrients. Stuffed parchments can be made ahead and stored in the fridge. Cooked just before serving, this method highlights the wonderful flavor and slight crunch of fresh-cooked asparagus.
Alu Methi Tikki
The art of Indian spicing is legendary. My kitchen arsenal for preparing sub-continent cuisine contains a number of masala dabars and other vessels to hold over forty spices. In addition, there are grinders, mortar & pestles, grinding stones and tawas for roasting the various masalas*; however, there are many simple dishes from India which do not require elaborate combinations of spices, hard-to-find ingredients and equipment. Simple, fresh and sattvic*, Indian food can be a delightful and exciting addition to any home cook’s repertoire
New Mexican Black Bean Soup
Quality of ingredients can make a difference for any recipe--the outcome can go from good to fantastic. New Mexico chiles are worth the extra effort, but also consider the beans. Steve Sando of Rancho Gordo searches the world for heirloom bean varieties. His beans not only have provenance, but the varieties are cherished for their delicious results. This recipe uses Chiapas Black Beans, a rare, rich and dense bean locally farmed in Mexico.
Stuffed Globe Squash
This is a wonderful summer recipe developed as a colorful side dish to present for a demonstration. It is simple, easy to make and highlights the beautiful traits of the baby globe zucchini frequently found at farmers markets.
Maple Carrot Halava
Outside of carrot cake and muffins, carrots are rarely used for desserts here in North America. Traditional Indian carrot halava is prepared using two different methods. The first is to cook the carrots in clarified butter (ghee) and sugar until only the sweetness of the carrot remains and the sugar slightly caramelizes.
Kale Wrapped English Peas
The Royal Oak Farmers Market is the story of people who spent decades nurturing both the soil and the community around them
Kumquat Marmalade
Delicious homemade kumquat marmalade with our easy recipe, featuring fresh ingredients from San Diego farmers markets. Perfect for toast, pastries, or as a glaze, this kumquat and blood orange marmalade is inspired by memories of our family orchard in Mission Hills. Explore practical uses and enjoy the sweet, tangy flavors that will elevate your culinary creations.