- Words by Joanne Peters Photography by Lia Crowe
Sisters Nora Iliakis and Jenny Siormanolakis have shared a love of food for as long as they can remember. When they weren香蕉视频直播檛 cooking by their parents香蕉视频直播� sides while growing up, they were helping out at their family香蕉视频直播檚 Greek restaurant. Time and again, customers and friends would ask them, 香蕉视频直播淲hat is it that makes Greek lemon potatoes so good?香蕉视频直播� If you香蕉视频直播檝e ever been to Greece or dined at a taverna, you香蕉视频直播檝e likely had the deeply flavourful dish of citrusy-garlicky golden-roasted spuds.
Greek lemon potatoes are so delicious because they soak up all the juicy flavours of the aromatic broth in which they香蕉视频直播檙e cooked. They香蕉视频直播檙e not especially hard to make, but home cooks often simply don香蕉视频直播檛 have the time or the know-how. But Nora and Jenny are making it easier for people to whip up the dish that香蕉视频直播檚 as much a part of their culinary roots as tzatziki, souvlaki and moussaka. The two form the entrepreneurial duo behind , a Vancouver-based company that crafts a line of fine seasoning blends.
Greko Lemon Roast Potatoes Seasoning is Grandpa J香蕉视频直播檚 signature item. All it takes for people to make the namesake dish at home is to dissolve some of the seasoning in a mix of olive oil and water, pour the liquid over chopped potatoes in a pan, and bake. It香蕉视频直播檚 foolproof.
And the seasoning salt essentially saved the company from falling prey to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
香蕉视频直播淭he pandemic was our silver lining,香蕉视频直播� Nora says.
Here香蕉视频直播檚 the back story. The women香蕉视频直播檚 parents hail from Veroia, Imathias in northern Greece and came to Canada with strong connections to their culture, including its cuisine. The family ran their Greek restaurant for some 40 years, selling it in 2014. In 2004, the two women were given the chance to take over Grandpa J香蕉视频直播檚 Seasonings Inc., which was founded by Jim Voulides, their late Uncle Jimmy. A former master chef with more than three decades香蕉视频直播� experience at steakhouses across Canada and the US, he was a visionary at the time, having been the first locally to make a versatile, wholesale no-MSG-added seasoning, launching the company in 1995.
At the time, Grandpa J香蕉视频直播檚 consisted of a single product: the original All-Purpose Seasoning Salt. The all-natural product can be used prior to grilling or roasting and to flavour sauces, dressings, marinades, soups, stews and more; it can be sprinkled on French fries or potato wedges. The OG seasoning was and still is a hit: it香蕉视频直播檚 the company香蕉视频直播檚 bestseller.
The pandemic, however, upended everything. Prior to the spring of 2020, Grandpa J香蕉视频直播檚 was primarily a wholesale business. The then-unfathomable era of lockdowns and isolation meant the team had to pivot, quickly, to retail to survive. While stores were keen to carry Grandpa J香蕉视频直播檚, they needed more than a single item. That香蕉视频直播檚 when the women香蕉视频直播攂oth working moms香蕉视频直播攖urned to the dish they know so well and love.
香蕉视频直播淎ll of a sudden it hit me,香蕉视频直播� Jenny says. 香蕉视频直播淚 said, 香蕉视频直播榃e need to do Greek lemon potatoes.香蕉视频直播� But because the flavour comes from soaking up the juice, I thought, 香蕉视频直播業t can香蕉视频直播檛 just be a seasoning you shake on. It香蕉视频直播檚 got to dissolve in water and olive oil to make the juice, then you pour it over and bake.香蕉视频直播� I still have the piece of paper that I wrote my notes down on that say, 香蕉视频直播業t has to have tang香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播業t has to be the perfect colour.香蕉视频直播� That was the aha moment. I told my sister: 香蕉视频直播楾his is a winner.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 turned into so much more than a seasoning for potatoes,香蕉视频直播� she adds. 香蕉视频直播淵ou can cook your proteins with it; you can add it to prawns. You can add it to one-pan meals. You can use it for chicken breasts or lamb or tofu. I香蕉视频直播檝e used it to fill samosas. I香蕉视频直播檝e mashed the potatoes with it; I香蕉视频直播檝e done savoury pie tarts. My mom adds it to hummus. You can do rice香蕉视频直播� You name it.香蕉视频直播�
The product is also a boon to people who follow plant-based diets because香蕉视频直播攚hile conventional Greek lemon potatoes are made with chicken stock香蕉视频直播擥randpa J香蕉视频直播檚 seasoning is suitable for vegans.
The also team created Vancity Grind, a coarse rub perfect for steak and other grilled foods, as well as an excellent rim for Caesar cocktails.
The launch of the product line exceeded the women香蕉视频直播檚 expectations, initially being stocked in 30 stores.
香蕉视频直播淭he momentum didn香蕉视频直播檛 stop until 90,香蕉视频直播� Nora says.
Now, the blends are in more than 125 stores in Metro Vancouver and the Okanagan, without any distributor on board香蕉视频直播攁nd that香蕉视频直播檚 just through the two women香蕉视频直播檚 efforts. Next up is Vancouver Island, and then: who knows? Grandpa J香蕉视频直播檚 may make its way all across Canada. The 100 per cent female owned- and -operated business is also reinvigorating its wholesale division, with many restaurants adding it to their pantries.
香蕉视频直播淥ur seasonings are always in season,香蕉视频直播� Jenny says.
Grandpa J香蕉视频直播檚 Greko Lemon Roast Potatoes Seasoning was a top-10 finalist for BC Food and Beverage香蕉视频直播檚 2022 Product of the Year. Another fan of the blend is Michael Varga, Chopped Canada winner and MasterChef Canada finalist.
The company has received other high praise.
香蕉视频直播淩yan Reynolds posted our Vancity Grind to his Instagram,香蕉视频直播� Jenny says. 香蕉视频直播淗e posted a picture of the Vancity Grind with a little caption that said, 香蕉视频直播業f this wasn香蕉视频直播檛 so good, I香蕉视频直播檇 be upset about the name.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈ウ.I felt like I had won the lottery. It was insane. Stores sold out immediately.香蕉视频直播�
Adds Nora: 香蕉视频直播淩yan Reynolds sent people into 125 small businesses, because that香蕉视频直播檚 where we香蕉视频直播檙e mostly stocked. That香蕉视频直播檚 what matters most.香蕉视频直播�
Then there are so many everyday cooks who have fallen in love with the products.
香蕉视频直播淲e get a lot of potato pictures sent to us,香蕉视频直播� Jenny says. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 such a compliment to us. We love it. We香蕉视频直播檙e honoured when people share what they香蕉视频直播檝e made with us.香蕉视频直播�
Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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