Kouzina — κουζίνα
Named after the largest island in Greece, Evvia, serves food prepared using the freshest, season ingredients, combining traditional Hellenic flavors with a contemporary sensibility. Dishes are simple, yet flavorful, allowing the ingredients to take center stage.
We have modernized many Greek dishes while staying true to the signature tastes of the Greek table, respecting the pure flavors of sweet baby lamb, tangy homemade yogurt, and the woodsy scent of wild oregano.
While Greece is a country with dramatically varied landscapes and widely dispersed archipelagos, there is a singularly Greek flavor palette, a collection of ingredients and preparation, that define what we do at Evvia.
The appetizing aroma of wood smoke, coming from our open hearth, charcoal grill, and wood-fired oven, perfumes our dishes and enhances the of warmth of family and friends.
Our menu, showcasing seafood and game, features many of the most sought-after traditional Aegean dishes, as well as selections which have been modernized through the innovative blending of cultures and techniques. Horiatiki, the classic Greek salad is offered along side the Maroulosalata, a version of the chopped salad with a creamy feta dressing, pine nuts and Kalamata olives. Tender grilled octopus is garnished with lemon juice and olive oil; a classic Greek preparation, while calamari is stuffed with feta, fennel and orange; a more modern combination. Lamb chops are served straight from the mesquite grill with hints of garlic, oregano and lemon juice. While traditional soutzoukakia, or lamb meatballs, are enlivened with a hint of cumin and tangy Greek yogurt.
Olive Oil For Aroma And Body
Olive oil is more than just a cooking medium in the Kokkari kitchen. Its the foundation on which almost every savory dish rests. Used liberally, olive oil adds a silky body and lush richness to braised dishes and greens.
Tomatoes And Other Sweet Notes
Tomato sauce cloaks ground lamb in moussaka, ground beef in pastitsio, and adds sweetness to savory dishes. Green beans, zucchini, artichokes, fava beans and okra are routinely stewed with tomatoes.
Lemons And Other Tangy Flavors
Seafood requires lemon and our roasted meats are basted with lemon juice as its natural sugar helps the surface brown and crisp. Wine vinegar steps in with bolder tartness and yogurt supplies the acidity to marinades, dips like tzatziki, and simple sauces.
Oregano and Other Aromatics
Fresh herbs are everywhere in Greek cooking. We season braised rabbit with cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and cloves. We add cumin to meatballs and tripe. Our kitchen couldn’t function without dried oregano to scent roast chicken, tomato sauce, and summer vegetable stews.
Greens From The Field And Farm
From peppery dandelions and mustard to cultivated spinach, beet greens, and chard, we savor wild greens for fillings and preparation of horta, or cooked seasonal greens.
Feta And Other Salty Elements
Feta’s briny tang and creamy texture give many dishes their Greek personality. We rely on manouri when we want a milder cheese or myzithra as a firm option, yet feta is the cheese we sprinkle on roasted asparagus and peppers, blend with chiles for a spicy spread, and crumble over chilled watermelon.
Seafood
Whole fish, sardines glistening, octopus plump and meaty; Grilled, fried or baked plaki style with tomato? Fish tastes better when cooked on the bone, and we’re happy to bring a selection to the table when asked as we know many of our guests want to look the whole fish right in the eye.
Lamb, The Favored Meat
We’ve worked hard to find a source of lamb comparable to the mild lamb served in Greece. Our dry-aged whole lamb comes from a single source who deliverers to us personally. Whole lambs come with bonus parts; spit roasted or skewered innards that Greek diners adore.
Lemons, Aromatics, Greens, Feta, Seafood, Lamb photos: Credit Sara Remington