Diane Kochilas facts for kids

Diane Kochilas (Greek: Κόχυλας, Kóchylas; born May 17, 1960) is a famous Greek American chef, cookbook author, and cooking school owner. She has appeared on many American TV shows, including Throwdown! with Bobby Flay and Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern. In Greece and Cyprus, Diane hosted a cooking show called Τι Θα Φάμε Σήμερα Μαμά; (What Are We Going to Eat Today, Mom?). She also runs a cooking school called Glorious Greek Kitchen on the Greek island of Ikaria. Ikaria is known as a "Blue Zone" because many people there live very long and healthy lives.

Diane Kochilas has won several awards for her books. In 2002, her book "The Glorious Foods of Greece" won an award for great research. In 2015, her book "Ikaria: Lessons of Food, Life & Longevity from the Greek Island Where People Forget to Die" was named the best cookbook in its category. It also won other awards and was listed for an Art of Eating Award.

Early Life and Food Journey

Diane Kochilas was born in New York City. Her father was from the Greek island of Ikaria, and her mother was Greek-Italian-American. She grew up in Jackson Heights, Queens.

Her father was a professional chef. He greatly influenced her love for cooking before he passed away when Diane was 10 years old. When she was 12, Diane visited Greece for the first time. She went to her father's village in Ikaria. This trip made her even more interested in food and cooking. She later studied journalism at New York University.

Cooking Career and Consulting

As a consulting chef, Diane Kochilas has helped open many Greek restaurants. These include Volos in Toronto, Canada, and Avli in Winnetka, Illinois. She also worked as a consulting chef at Pylos Restaurant in New York City. This restaurant received a special mention from Michelin while she was there. She also helped Harvard University and the University of Massachusetts Amherst create healthy Greek meals for their students.

In Greece, Diane hosted the TV show "What Are We Going to Eat Today, Mom." For 20 years, she also wrote a food column and was a restaurant critic for a Greek newspaper called "Ta Nea." Every summer, Diane and her husband, Vasilis Stenos, teach at their Glorious Greek Cooking School on the island of Ikaria.

Writing About Food

Diane Kochilas has written for many famous American and international magazines and newspapers. These include "The Washington Post", "The New York Times", "Saveur Magazine", and "Food & Wine".

For 20 years, from 1993 to 2013, she wrote a weekly food column for Greece's daily newspaper, "Ta Nea." Her column covered topics like cooking, food history, and restaurants. She also helped start a magazine called "GreekGourmeTraveler."

Television Appearances

Diane Kochilas has been on many TV shows in both America and Greece. Some of her appearances include:

• Martha Stewart Living (April 7, 2001)
• Anderson Cooper 360° on CNN (April, 2009)
• PBS NewsHour (August, 2010)
• Throwdown! with Bobby Flay – Moussaka on the Food Network (February 2, 2011)
• Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern – Greece on the Travel Channel (February, 2011)
• The Today Show on NBC (January 26, 2012 and May 12, 2015)

Since 2012, Diane has hosted "Ti tha Fame Simera, Mama" (What Are We Going to Eat Today, Mom?), a Greek cooking show. She also hosts a show called My Greek Table with Diane Kochilas on PBS and Create TV.

Cookbooks

Diane Kochilas has written 18 books about Greek and Mediterranean cooking. Some of her popular books include:

• The Food and Wine of Greece (1990) – ISBN: 978-0-3120-5088-7
• The Greek Vegetarian (1999) – ISBN: 978-0-3122-0076-3
• The Glorious Foods of Greece (2001) – ISBN: 978-0-6881-5457-8
• Meze: Small Plates to Savor and Share from the Mediterranean Table (2003) – ISBN: 978-0-6881-7511-5
• Mediterranean Grilling (2007) – ISBN: 978-0-0605-5639-6
• The Country Cooking of Greece (2012) – ISBN: 978-0-8118-6453-4
• Ikaria: Lessons on Food, Life, and Longevity from the Greek Island Where People Forget to Die (2014) – ISBN: 978-1-6233-6296-6

Family Life

Diane Kochilas married Vasilis Stenos in 1984. They have two children together. The family spends their time living in New York City, Athens (Greece), and on the island of Ikaria.