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During an engaging live demonstration, Chef Sperxos shared a story of heritage, sustainability, and cultural connection, introducing a captivated audience to the authentic and contemporary flavours of Greece.
Chef Sperxos, who moved to the UAE from Greece 11 years ago, began by exploring the connection between culture and food. “In Greece, we love olive oil and use it in most of our dishes,” he explained, emphasising a core aspect of Greek culinary tradition that prioritises health and flavour, often favouring olive oil over butter. This philosophy, he suggested, is linked to a deeper ingredient: passion and love. “The more you enjoy cooking and put love into what you do, this is carried through and produces a much better dish,” he shared, setting the tone for a demonstration that was as much about feeling as it was about skill.
The star of the show was a fusion dish, combining Greek and West Mediterranean/African flavour profiles known as “Youvetsi shakshuka”; mainly a Prawn dish with Orzo (a short-cut pasta shaped like a large grain of rice). Chef Sperxos described it as a favourite throughout the year that acts as a culinary map of Greece, blending produce from the northern mountains to the southern oceans. However, he connected this Greek tradition to his now adopted home, emphasising the importance of sustainability. “In the UAE, we always think about sustainability and we try to source our products from local farms and suppliers,” he noted.
Chef Sperxos demonstrated a meticulous process of layering flavours, beginning with sautéed onions in olive oil and caramelised sun-dried tomato paste, before toasting the orzo to perfection. He then simmered the pasta in tomato passata and vegetable stock until “al dente”, finishing by gently cooking prawns in the residual heat. His final touch was seasoning at the end, a sprinkle of salt, fresh parsley, and crumbled feta to balance and elevate the dish.
The workshop at SIBF 2025 showcased the culinary links between the Arab and Greek worlds, united by a shared passion for ingredients. Concluding the presentation and explaining how his journey embodies this connection, Chef Sperxos said, “One of the most amazing things about the UAE is how multicultural it is. I am proud to call it my home now and love to connect with cultures from all around the Arab world and the globe.”
Sharjah International Book Fair 2025 is a 12-day event organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) under the theme ‘Between You and a Book’. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience more than 300 cultural events led by 158 Arab and international guests, over 750 workshops in Arabic and English covering writing, editing, publishing, and creativity, and 85 stage performances from 12 countries.
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