LIFE

Holiday Traditions: Yannis’ recipe

Yannis Pihas

Holiday Traditions: Yannis’ recipe

Yannis Pihas, the  popular owner of Yanni’s Bar and Grill in Scripps Ranch, has been celebrating Thanksgiving in the  States since he immigrated from Greece in 1985.

“I immigrated to the United States about 34 years ago. My background is in economics, but when
I came here, I could not speak English. As I was going to school, I started working in a kitchen as a prep-cook,” Pihas said. “As my English improved, I became a server, then a host, then a maître d’, then a wine steward, then assistant manager and then manager.”

Pihas explained that he worked as a restaurant hotel manager when he evaluated both the amount of time and effort put toward his work when he made the decision to open his own restaurant in 1994 in Los Angeles. Pihas and his wife, Denise, moved to San Diego in 2001 and eventually opened Yanni’s Bar and Grill.

For Pihas and his wife, the holidays are a time to bring family together and celebrate the gifts given to them year over year. Pihas, who learned how to cook from his mother and grandmother in Greece, said
that a traditional festive meal would include lamb and turkey.

“One of our longest standing traditions is to have a fantastic meal with a large group of family and friends. We make lamb, turkey, pan seared chicken breasts, mashed potatoes and stuffing – traditional American fare,” Pihas said.

When asked if he had any tips for creating the perfect turkey, Pihas said there is nothing better than
giving it lots of time to cook and lots of rosemary and garlic. He also said a good wine is an essential piece of any holiday meal.

Pihas said he also likes to include some favorite Greek recipes as well. Spanakopita and homemade dolmas make excellent appetizers, he said. A Greek staple at all their holiday meals is butternut squash made carefully by peeling, deseeding, roasting and smashing with butter and maple syrup. While it might be work intensive, Pihas assured the effort pays off.

“Cooking is one of the great celebrations of life – it creates memorable experiences for the family to remember for years to come,” Pihas said.

For some of Yanni’s favorite holiday cuisine including the butternut squash, visit Yanni’s Bar and Grill, 12015 Scripps Highlands Drive.

Yanni’s Bar & Grill butternut squash

Ingredients:

  • 5 pounds butternut squash
  • 4 ounces brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 8 ounces butter
  • 4 ounces maple syrup

Preparation:

  • Peel, seed and cut the butternut squash to small pieces.
  • Boil for 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Drain and mash, add butter (will melt from the heat from the butternut squash).
  • Add seasoning ingredients slowly to achieve your preferred level of seasoning.
206 thoughts on “Holiday Traditions: Yannis’ recipe”
  111. Pingback: 1relying

  135. Rewardia offers many online games to make real money. They also have games that pay real money including puzzle games, words games and many more. By contrast, playing in real money casinos gives you the chance to take home big cash prizes, with the obvious risk coming in the amount of money you spend in them. There are also security issues to keep in mind and the process of getting your hands on your winnings can take some time. Gamble responsibly and in moderation. Do not consider gambling as a way of earning money, and only play with money that you can afford to lose. Must be 21 years or older. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Must be physically located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to play. Real money online Bingo is one of the real money online games that have become popular just like the traditional version. As there is a wider range of players who play online games in Canada. Playing online Bingo is straightforward just like the traditional version of it. It works this way; each player will get a card with a grid of numbers; the dealer calls out numbers in random to players; if players have a number called by the dealer, they will mark it on their card; and finally when players have the required winning pattern or patterns, they become the winner. You can play online bingo games at several Canadian online bingo casinos. https://meet-wiki.win/index.php/Phone_bill_casino Any NZ online casino that uses the described promotion gives out the free spins either as included in the welcome bonus package, or as a standalone offer, as part of a loyalty or VIP system. Regardless of the chosen implementation, the bonus of 120 free spins for real money works by creating a preset bet for a fixed and unchangeable amount, usually set somewhere between 0.10 and 0.5 dollars per round. The game continues until the free spins end if no extra amount has accumulated from winning. If winnings existed, the amount could be claimed by the player, given that all predefined conditions have been met. Casinos offer free spins so that you can try their games without spending a dime. One complimentary spin equals one spin on a slot. Some promotions are run on specific titles, while others are for any of the provider’s games. The free spins are often connected to a bonus or a specific game.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.