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My name is Tess Georgakopoulos, AKA “Chef Tess—Culinary Artist”! Born into a Greek family I have lived the traditions of Greece throughout my life. One of which sounds true to the word “filoxenia”. The translation of this word is very deep although the meaning basically translates to “giving, befriending, and caring of strangers / everyone all round you”.
Filoxenia has always been a part of my life through giving, through service, or volunteering. One of these paths of filoxenia has been teaching cooking classes through community education as I strive to help people increase their confidence in the kitchen learning foundations of cooking that can then be used to build on creativity that can meet individual nutritional likes and needs.
I have been teaching both in-person and on-line cooking classes through community education for a number of years and I am currently working with over 40 public school districts in and around the Twin Cities, in many corners of Minnesota, in addition to a few school districts in Wisconsin, Kansas City, MO, and in Phoenix, AZ. I have helped people of all skill levels, abilities and ages increase their confidence and expand their skills in the kitchen reaching heights of their own personal creativity that they never new existed!
I have been cooking for well over 45 years since I was roughly 6 years old. Born into a Greek family, the art of cooking traditional meals using ones senses rather than recipes and measurements was passed on from one generation to the next. My father was also a trained chef who brought the magic of food to life in another form on the weekends as we cooked elaborate family meals together. Food prepared from the heart, with ones own hands and creativity was, and continues to be an expression of love in my home.
In addition to practicing the art of food photography, enjoy spending much of my free time in my test kitchen creating original recipes and reinventing traditional ones for my family and friends. Sweet, savory, or doughy, I enjoy experimenting and creating in the kitchen daily combining traditional cooking methods and new cooking appliances such as, the Instant Pot® and Air Fryers too!
I am happy to share I am in the middle of writing my first cookbook, and working on my food blog as well that should be going live in the near future.
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