The Hungry Bites

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Efthimis Koukakis (Makos)

Name: Efthimis Koukakis (you can call me Makos).
Location 📍: Athens, Greece (Born and raised in Crete).
Expertise: Greek & Mediterranean cuisine, recipe development, food photography, content creation.
Experience: 30+ years in cooking Greek meals, 10+ years in food blogging, finalist for Saveur's Best New Voice award, featured in top publications.
Connect with me: Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok

Makos, the creator of The Hungry Bites in front of tree eating a slice of watermelon.
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My Story

I grew up on the island of Crete, where food is more than just a meal-it's a way of life. Watching my grandmother and mother cook from scratch, I learned the value of fresh ingredients, bold flavors, and the Mediterranean way of eating.

My mom was always in the kitchen, spatulas and spoons in hand, tirelessly chopping vegetables, leafy greens, and fresh fruit while preparing traditional Greek dishes - like this easy Spanakopita - Greek spinach pie recipe - with incredible skill.

Other times, I watched my grandma knead dough among bags of flour, making sweet pastries and cookies like these Cretan kalorizika paximadia (almond biscotti) or this Greek Easter bread (Tsoureki).

From an early age, I learned to appreciate the value of the Mediterranean diet, widely regarded as one of the healthiest in the world!

In 2016, I started The Hungry Bites to document my family's traditional recipes and share my love for Greek cuisine. Today, the blog is a go-to destination for anyone passionate about Greek and Mediterranean food, from home cooks to food enthusiasts worldwide.

A woman making stuffed vine leaves (Greek dolmades).
A photo of my mom making the best stuffed vine leaves (dolmades). The filling can be with or without ground beef.

My Expertise & Experience

  • I've been learning and cooking Greek recipes for over 30 years. Most of them have been passed down from my grandma to my mom and then to me. Others were shared with me by friends and colleagues.
  • Food Blogger & Recipe Developer: Over 10 years of experience creating, testing, and perfecting Greek and Mediterranean recipes.
  • I also enjoy exploring other cuisines, often through cookbooks and resources like Harvard University's lecture series on science and cooking.
  • Food Photography & Styling: I capture the essence of each dish, making recipes both visually appealing and easy to follow.
  • Media Features & Awards: My recipes have been featured in Buzzfeed, EverydayHealth, Well+Good, Livestrong, Marie Claire, and more. I was also a finalist in Saveur's Blog Awards for Best New Voice.

Here's a video of me making Easy Greek Baklava Recipe with Walnuts and Honey:

In 2017 I had the honor to be one of the six finalists for Saveur's Blog Awards in the Best New Voice category.

I have also been included in the 9 Mediterranean Diet Food Bloggers and Influencers to Follow by VerywellFit.

My work has been recognized and featured in:

Page from Marie Claire Magazine showing content from thehungrybites.com.

I have also collaborated with Stella Artois, Portes Magazine, The Pappas Post, MomJunction, and more.

My Favorite Quote

"We humans are some strange and weird machines that you feed them with bread, wine, fish, and greens, and they produce you a world full of sighs, laughter, and dreams." - N. Kazantzakis

Let's Connect!

I love hearing from readers, whether it's a question about a recipe or just a shared passion for food. Leaving me a comment on any post is the best way to make sure I see it!