Reply to "5 Greek food blogs you should follow"

Chicago native Elena Paravantes' love affair with cooking was sparked by her mother, who cooked exclusively Greek food for her family.

She's now a registered dietitian, nutritionist and writer specializing in the Mediterranean diet and has lived in Athens with her family for the past 15 years.

With OliveTomato, she aims to spread the word about the real Mediterranean diet, combining her professional knowledge with her own experiences. Authentic recipes from the Mediterranean diet, personal antidotes, tips on cooking the Greek way, updates on new research and food guides for those visiting Greece are all on the blog's menu .

Green beans (fasolakia lathera) and roasted okra (bamies) are her go-to recipes in summertime.

"Consumed at room temperature, ideally the next day of cooking, they pair perfectly with feta cheese and are ideal for the summer," she says.

Her recipe for tender Greek roasted beans in tomato sauce (gigantes plaki) is among the blog's most popular.

Peloponissos, which boasts simple Greek cuisine and quality products such as the world famous Kalamata olives, is her top food tip for anyone visiting Greece.

Among the region's cuisine-related highlights are the traditional casserole dishes of Arcadia, the fir tree honey of Vytina village, the eggplants of Leonidio, traditional cured pork (known as syglino) of Mani and the Nemea wineries with the popular Agiorgitiko grape for the wine lovers.

In Athens, Paravantes' favorites include the savory pies of Lykavittos Bakery in Kolonaki, Vlassis for traditional, casserole type Greek dishes, Café Avissinia for meze, fun and people-watching and the restaurants 2Mazi and CTC for creative dishes with a strong Greek influence.