Growing up with a Yia Yia, enjoying a cup of Greek coffee always meant that she had to tell you your “fortune” when you finished.
No matter what the cup looked like to you, she always saw the same things: money, a ‘good luck’ bird, a stenahoria (aka something bad, like the ‘mati’/evil eye) that she always “took away,” and a Greek boy.
This is for all the Yia Yias and their magic coffee-reading abilities to whom we owe hours of dinner-table conversations.
A HUGE thank you to better than yia yia’s for the beautiful (and delicious!) Gingerbread Cookies and Baklava. I have been gifting plates to clients and friends this past week and the reaction has been tremendous.
So good. So addictive. So festive!
The baklava is flaky and nutty, with the subtle sweetness of honey. It is not too sweet or dripping in syrup like most Greek pastries from the store. Large pieces of almonds, walnuts, and pistachios are wrapped in the delicate spice of cinnamon, complimented by the buttery pastry. I challenge you to limit yourself to one piece.
The Gingerbread Friends are the perfect type of gingerbread cookie – soft and chewy, and filled with festive holiday spices, they taste just like the holidays. Again, they are not too sweet and have a perfect texture. Almost like a cookie mixed with a cake – dense with a good chew. For the gingerbread lovers on your list, there is nothing better.
Check out better than yia yia’s website and their holiday menu here. Best of all, you can make any of their sweets into a beautiful gift platter! Beautifully wrapped and even topped with a bow.
