About Diane Kochilas

Diane Kochilas is one of the world’s foremost experts on Greek and Mediterranean cuisine. She is the host, creator and co-producer of My Greek Table, the award-winning 13-episode per season cooking-travel show about Greece that airs nationally on Public Television. The series is in its third season.

Diane hails from the Blue Zone Greek island of Ikaria and New York City and brings a combination of innate Blue-Zone wellness and result-oriented NYC spirit to everything she does. She is an award-winning author of more than 18 books on Greek-Mediterranean Cuisine and runs the Glorious Greek Kitchen on Ikaria Cooking School every spring and fall on the island. Diane also organizes culinary excursions and walking tours in Greece and cooking classes throughout the United States.

She has been on the forefront of bringing healthy Greek and Mediterranean cuisine to an American audience for more than 25 years. Diane has been consulting chef for many of the top Greek restaurants in the United States and for years has worked with university dining services at Harvard, Yale and UMass Amherst to bring healthy Mediterranean cooking to student dining halls. She is a frequent speaker at the CIA and other major culinary institutions.

Awards:
Taste Achievement Award, 2020, My Greek Table

IACP Nomination 2019, My Greek Table

Best Cookbook, 3 IACP Awards

Books for a Better Life Award

Art of Eating Award, long list

About Diane

Highlights

A born teacher, every spring, summer and fall since 2003, Diane has run the Glorious Greek Cooking School on her native island, Ikaria, a Blue Zone, renowned for the longevity of its inhabitants, and for its untrammelled beauty.

Diane has also worked extensively in institutional dining, with Harvard University Dining Services, establishing a roster of healthy Greek menu items for student and retail dining; for Yale University Dining, and for UMASS, Amherst, renowned as the premiere college dining program in America.

Kochilas is an award-winning author of 18 books on Greek and Mediterranean cuisine. Her latest book is My Greek Table, Authentic Flavors and Modern Home Cooking from My Kitchen to Yours (St. Martin’s Press, December 2018). Her book before that, Ikaria: Lessons on Food, Life and Longevity from the Greek Island Where People Forget to Die (Rodale), won the 2015 Books for a Better Life award by the MS Society as well as the prestigious IACP award Best Cookbook award in the International Category. The book was also long-listed for an Art of Eating award.

In Greece, she was host of Greece’s most popular TV cooking show, “What Are We Going to Eat Today, Mom” (in Greek) and was a columnist and restaurant critic for 20 years at the country’s largest circulation daily paper, Ta Nea.

The book before IKARIA, Country Cooking of Greece (Chronicle, 2012), was hailed by the New York Times as one of the 100 best books of 2012 and by virtual gourmet, John Mariani, as Diane’s “masterpiece.” Another tome, Glorious Foods of Greece (William Morrow), won the prestigious IACP Jane Grigson prize for excellence in research.

Diane has appeared on many major American television shows, most recently on FoxNews (Jan. 2014), as well as on “Throwdown with Bobby Flay,” “The Today Show,” “Martha Stewart,” “Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern,” and more.

Diane has been consulting chef at Committee Boston, an acclaimed small-plate and ouzerie concept, since the restaurant opened in June 1015. As consulting chef, she has designed menus at some of the top Greek restaurants in North America, including Molyvos and Pylos in NYC, Axia in Northern New Jersey., Avli in Chicago, and Volos in Toronto.

Diane divides her time between the United States and Greece.

About Diane

Diane in the Media

An Epic List of All* of Fall’s New Cookbooks – READ

The Best Cheese Books of Fall 2025 – READ

Book Dinner at Balos Estiatorio with Greek Chef & Author Diane Kochilas – READ

The Best Books to Read This October – READ

Chef Diane Kochilas’ Kaseropita Kourou – READ

Mushroom Chickpea Tigania recipe – READ

Feast in the Kitchen: Chef Diane Kochilas – READ

Fall Cooking –READ

Celebrity Chef Diane Kochilas on Her Latest Book ‘Athens: Food, Stories, Love’ – READ

NYT bestselling author Diane Kochilas talks latest cookbook at Hellenic Cultural Center – READ

Chef Diane Kochilas brings new cookbook and Greek specialtiesto Boston – READ

Union Square Greenmarket Instagram Post – SEE INSTAGRAM POST

It’s a Fine Time to Eat in Athens’: Diane Kochilas on the City’s Delicious Evolution – READ

Where to Eat in Athens Right Now, According to One of Greece’s Most Influential Culinary Voices – READ

Alluring Athens: Food, Stories, Love. Greece Travel To Inspire You – READ

GOING ON in Greek-American Community – READ

Diane Kochilas on Modern Greek Food – READ

IG Live convo with Katie Parla and Diane Kochilas – READ

FOODIE & THE BEAST: NOVEMBER 2, 2025 – RAED

Diane Kochilas brings Greek flavor to kitchens without the passport stamp – READ

Eat like a Greek with “Athens: Food, Stories, Love” – READ

This Mediterranean Soup Is a Sumptuous Way to Get Your Fiber – READ

Interview about ATHENS book and Cookbook Club selection – READ

Outbound – READ

Are these the best Greek eats in Astoria? – READ

Athens: A Love Story – READ

Diane Kochilas Talks About the REAL Mediterranean Diet – READ

77. Diane Kochilas – Chef – Author of ‘ATHENS: Food, Stories, Love’ Cookbook. – READ

Greek Chef and author Diane Kochilas in Charlotte – READ

“ATHENS: Food, Stories, Love: A Cookbook” – READ

Culinary Journey: Diane Kochilas Releases New Cookbook, A “Love Letter to Athens” – READ

Celebrity chef Diane Kochilas brings Greek flavors home with new cookbook ‘Athens: Food, Stories, Love’ – READ

Dean cooks with celebrity chef and cookbook author Diane Kochilas – READ

A Guide to Athens’ Underrated Food Neighborhoods – READ

ATHENS: Food, Stories, Love Includes 150 Greek Recipes – READ

Diane Kochilas Will Challenge Everything You Think You Know About Greek Food – READ