Miss Tasty, Maria Patsia discusses about authentic home-cooking flavors using Greek local products for our everyday’s table.
Η.Α: Graduate civil engineer, wife, mother and foodblogger. What got you into food blogging?
M.P: I studied civil engineering and continued my postgraduate studies in the field of Urban Planning. However, this scientific field did not seem strong enough to keep close to it. The economic crisis, which affected whole construction activity in Greece, definitely contributed. It’s not only that, from a young age recipes collection was of a great interest to me. I always absorbed all the knowledge that my mother could offer me in the kitchen… When I became a mother, food blogging seemed the perfect way out to my creativity. Both cooking and food styling were a great joy for me and creation along with the role as a new mom.
H.A: What is the gastronomic level in Larissa and Thessaly’s wider area? Do you believe that it can be compared to the level of a corresponding European city?
M.P: Larissa is one of the largest provincial cities in Greece. It is located in the center, not only of Thessaly, but also of the country. It is the administrative and financial centre of Thessaly’s region and therefore its gastronomic level follows a similar development compared to other country’s cities.
Nevertheless, expressing my personal opinion, I believe that many steps can be made forward.
Larissa, but also the wider area is endowed in terms of the primary production sector. The products produced are of high quality and could, not to say should, give the direction towards the evolution of our region’s gastronomic field.
Products of protected designation origin, and so many others, which are accompanied with distintions abroad I take for granted to obtain a primary position in restaurants’ menus, but also of catering, in a more general context. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
Therefore, I think that there is still a long way to go in order to reach a level worthy of a European city in gastronomy.
H.A: What are your favorite local products? Share with us some typical moments you recall while executing a recipe.
M.P: In Larissa, but also in Thessaly in general, there is a great tradition in cheese products. The tradition is long deep in our history when we were invloved with stock-breeding, initially, and then we were led to cheese production. Momentarily, cheese products are produced, with feta cheese on top of it, with great distinctions abroad and fanatical consumers all over the world.
There are so many other products, which I fear I will definitely do wrong if I do not mention. The almond produced in Sykourio of Larissa covers a significant percentage of worldwide production and is of an excellent quality. The apples of Agia Larissa but also in Zagora of Pelion, the chestnuts in Melivoia of Larissa and many more.
Real treasures if utilized and promoted properly!
Many times, I believe that everyone, who is involved in the kitchen is aware of it, unexpected incidents happen while executing a recipe.
To me most of these unexpected incidents happen when I am involved in confectionary. So, when I decided to try a traditional recipe coming from a village in Larissa with feta and cream cheese the results, unfortunately the results were not as expected… However, I posted the recipe on my website www.misstasty.gr more like a test for all of those, who follow Miss tasty, to improve and really emerge a successful recipe. Because when the materials are great and suitable, you only need the right portions to provide you with something phenomenal.
When the materials are great and suitable, you only need the right portions to provide you with something phenomenal.
Miss Tasty/ Maria Patsia
H.A: How easy or difficult is Food Blogging/Youtube in Greece and to what extent do you consider that it can be included in the gastronomic advertising plan of the country?
M.P: Like all things food blogging is easy or difficult depending on the professionalism of everyone. Personally, I entered this field very recently and I must admit that there are several remarkable professionals in the field, who affect me in a positive way.
I enjoy fair competition with them and for some of them without having met in person I have a very good opinion and I would be happy to meet and collaborate. I think that food blogging plays a key role in the country’s gastronomic advertising plan.
Most food bloggers are women, who have a great deal of responsiveness to the average housewife.They are, I believe, the best channel so as our country’s products are integrated to everyday’s table and not only. Most of them have included other than food blogging and travel blogging thus highlighting local products even more through the safe path that is the natural wealth and our country’s beauty.
Most food bloggers are women, who have a great deal of responsiveness to the average housewife.They are, I believe, the best channel so as our country’s products are integrated to everyday’s table and not only.
MISS TASTY/MARIA PATSIA
H.A: What are Miss Tasty’s future plans and goals?
M.P: When I actively started as a civil engineer and after I had completed my post gradute studies we were faced with the great finacial crisis. Completely changing my professional direction and making a big turn, sadly we are up against another crisis; I believe worse, that of health. I hope it is overcome quickly and repercussions will be controlled because the financial ones are already visible both in catering and other fields that are drawn together, such as the producers and advertising field. I will continue Miss Tasty with the same love and dedication as when I started.Constantly committed to creating simple recipes, for the average reader without culinary knowledge, to the presentation and promotion of Greek producers, but also to the promotion of catering businesses.I wish the dreams we all have, in the back of our minds, to be able to fulfill them.
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