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My Greek Mom's Recipes: She Died. I Wrote This Cookbook.
Make classic Greek recipes with a side of humor and heart.
Stand-up comedian Gus Constantellis draws inspiration for his material and online content from his family, especially his mother, Julia, who became a social media star and “Greek mother” for an entire online community. And when she died suddenly in August 2023, that community mourned with him. My Greek Mom’s Recipes is Gus’s deeply personal tribute, a cookbook in which every dish comes with a story about his mother, an immigrant who never learned English yet managed to achieve the American dream.
Equal parts hilarious and heartfelt, this book offers a comedian’s candid look at grief and family. It will resonate with anyone who’s ever had an overbearing but fiercely loving mother, the kind who expresses affection through food, tough love, and a whole lot of opinions. And the 75 recipes themselves are the real deal—because if there was one thing Julia was known for, besides her razor-sharp humor, it was her unforgettable cooking,
A Greek Easter feastSpanakopita (Spinach Pie)Tzatziki (Yogurt-Garlic Sauce)Pastitsio (Baked Ziti)Avgolemono (Chicken Lemon Soup)Patates Lemonates (Lemon Potatoes)Baklavaand much more!
These village-style recipes are tried-and-true Greek classics stripped down to their delicious essentials, making them perfect for cooks of all skills. Whether you’re a fan of Greek food or seeking some lighthearted anecdotes, My Greek Mom’s Recipes is a celebration of classic Greek food and culture, and a love letter to mothers everywhere.
Stand-up comedian Gus Constantellis draws inspiration for his material and online content from his family, especially his mother, Julia, who became a social media star and “Greek mother” for an entire online community. And when she died suddenly in August 2023, that community mourned with him. My Greek Mom’s Recipes is Gus’s deeply personal tribute, a cookbook in which every dish comes with a story about his mother, an immigrant who never learned English yet managed to achieve the American dream.
Equal parts hilarious and heartfelt, this book offers a comedian’s candid look at grief and family. It will resonate with anyone who’s ever had an overbearing but fiercely loving mother, the kind who expresses affection through food, tough love, and a whole lot of opinions. And the 75 recipes themselves are the real deal—because if there was one thing Julia was known for, besides her razor-sharp humor, it was her unforgettable cooking,
A Greek Easter feastSpanakopita (Spinach Pie)Tzatziki (Yogurt-Garlic Sauce)Pastitsio (Baked Ziti)Avgolemono (Chicken Lemon Soup)Patates Lemonates (Lemon Potatoes)Baklavaand much more!
These village-style recipes are tried-and-true Greek classics stripped down to their delicious essentials, making them perfect for cooks of all skills. Whether you’re a fan of Greek food or seeking some lighthearted anecdotes, My Greek Mom’s Recipes is a celebration of classic Greek food and culture, and a love letter to mothers everywhere.
449 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 14, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 9, 2026
Super relatable if you have Greek family, are Greek American or have Greek American friends or family, and/or if you have immigrant parents. I have Greek family that lived in Astoria, so this book hit home for me. The recipes are fun. The stories are amazing if you are reflecting on family and the grieving process. There's reflections about how cultures and people change over time as well as through generational evolution. There's the funny part about how we continue to resemble our ancestors too. I cook Greek food a lot at home, and I generally prefer to do that cooking differently than the recipes in this book. However, this is due to family and regional differences rather than anything too serious. It's also fun to look up the corresponding videos on YouTube as you read this book.
April 25, 2026
This is way more then just a fantastic cookbook! Each recipe comes with a story, and the stories themselves would make a great book on their own! They are filled with a peek into Gus's life and family, what it is like to live in a family that immigrated from Greece, his mom, and some great advice (I particularly love the anger piece). The stories are amazing and totally worth the read! There are some really heartfelt stories in this book, each one is amazing. The Perfect Last Day was a tear-jerker.
The recipes, they are as good as the stories. The first recipe I tried was the very first one in the book, the Keftedakia (I read the introduction, I knew this would be the first one I tried, even without looking at the recipe!). I did use the whole cup of mint, I admit I was a little scared but …... They are amazing! I paired it with the lemon potatoes because this one kept coming up in the stories so I just had to try it! That was an amazing dinner and I will be trying many more recipes from this book! As Gus described, my kitchen was a mess cooking your mom's recipes! And I loved every minute cooking from this book. For whatever reason, the stories really added so much personalization to each one I have tried, it really added a tremendous amount not only to how much I appreciate what I cooked, but that this came from someone's mom's recipes and that is really special.
The recipes are well written and easy to follow. I would say about 80% of the recipes have pictures of the final dish (so you know what it should look like!). This is a great book if you love to cook and want to try some authentic Greek recipes! Some take time, I would not call these quick recipes but they are well worth the time to make! So great for someone who really enjoys cooking and enjoys fantastic food.
What a lovely gift to your mom and what amazing stories you included. I am not sure which I love more, the amazing recipes or the stories. What a great way to keep your mom and her memory alive, not just for you but for anyone who has this book. Also, I love the acknowledgment page (don't forget to read it if you buy this book!). The stories add so much to what it means to cook each of these recipes and I am looking forward to each one I make. Tonight, another one from your book is going to be made. Maybe the stories make them taste better … and they already are amazing. Thank you Gus for sharing them!!
I highly recommend this book and this is a six-star book for me!
The recipes, they are as good as the stories. The first recipe I tried was the very first one in the book, the Keftedakia (I read the introduction, I knew this would be the first one I tried, even without looking at the recipe!). I did use the whole cup of mint, I admit I was a little scared but …... They are amazing! I paired it with the lemon potatoes because this one kept coming up in the stories so I just had to try it! That was an amazing dinner and I will be trying many more recipes from this book! As Gus described, my kitchen was a mess cooking your mom's recipes! And I loved every minute cooking from this book. For whatever reason, the stories really added so much personalization to each one I have tried, it really added a tremendous amount not only to how much I appreciate what I cooked, but that this came from someone's mom's recipes and that is really special.
The recipes are well written and easy to follow. I would say about 80% of the recipes have pictures of the final dish (so you know what it should look like!). This is a great book if you love to cook and want to try some authentic Greek recipes! Some take time, I would not call these quick recipes but they are well worth the time to make! So great for someone who really enjoys cooking and enjoys fantastic food.
What a lovely gift to your mom and what amazing stories you included. I am not sure which I love more, the amazing recipes or the stories. What a great way to keep your mom and her memory alive, not just for you but for anyone who has this book. Also, I love the acknowledgment page (don't forget to read it if you buy this book!). The stories add so much to what it means to cook each of these recipes and I am looking forward to each one I make. Tonight, another one from your book is going to be made. Maybe the stories make them taste better … and they already are amazing. Thank you Gus for sharing them!!
I highly recommend this book and this is a six-star book for me!
October 6, 2026
★★★★★
My Greek Mom’s Recipes is a deeply touching cookbook that beautifully connects food, family, memory, and heritage. What makes this book special is the emotion behind it. It feels like much more than a collection of recipes; it is a heartfelt effort to preserve a mother’s cooking and keep cherished traditions alive.
I loved the sense of warmth throughout the book. The recipes celebrate the comforting flavors of Greek home cooking while reminding readers how strongly food can connect us to the people and places we love. Every dish feels like an invitation to gather around the table and share something meaningful.
The personal story gives the cookbook an added depth that stayed with me. Losing someone we love can make ordinary things, such as a familiar recipe or the smell of a favorite meal, incredibly precious. This book captures that feeling beautifully and shows how cooking can become a way of remembering and honoring someone special.
The recipes are also a wonderful celebration of Greek culinary tradition, making the book appealing to both experienced cooks and anyone interested in discovering authentic, family-inspired dishes.
Heartfelt, comforting, and meaningful, My Greek Mom’s Recipes is a beautiful tribute to a mother and the traditions she left behind. A genuinely moving cookbook that deserves five stars.
My Greek Mom’s Recipes is a deeply touching cookbook that beautifully connects food, family, memory, and heritage. What makes this book special is the emotion behind it. It feels like much more than a collection of recipes; it is a heartfelt effort to preserve a mother’s cooking and keep cherished traditions alive.
I loved the sense of warmth throughout the book. The recipes celebrate the comforting flavors of Greek home cooking while reminding readers how strongly food can connect us to the people and places we love. Every dish feels like an invitation to gather around the table and share something meaningful.
The personal story gives the cookbook an added depth that stayed with me. Losing someone we love can make ordinary things, such as a familiar recipe or the smell of a favorite meal, incredibly precious. This book captures that feeling beautifully and shows how cooking can become a way of remembering and honoring someone special.
The recipes are also a wonderful celebration of Greek culinary tradition, making the book appealing to both experienced cooks and anyone interested in discovering authentic, family-inspired dishes.
Heartfelt, comforting, and meaningful, My Greek Mom’s Recipes is a beautiful tribute to a mother and the traditions she left behind. A genuinely moving cookbook that deserves five stars.
October 2, 2026
This cookbook is such a heartfelt celebration of Greek food, family, and memories. What makes it especially meaningful is the personal story behind the recipes. You can feel the love and connection on every page, making this much more than a collection of recipes.
The dishes are inviting, comforting, and full of the kind of flavors that make you want to gather everyone around the table. I especially enjoyed the sense of tradition throughout the book. It captures how food can preserve memories and keep family traditions alive across generations.
The recipes feel approachable enough for home cooks, while still offering plenty of inspiration for anyone who enjoys Greek cuisine. I also appreciated how the cookbook connects cooking with the emotional side of family and heritage.
A beautiful, touching cookbook that feels both useful and deeply personal. Five stars for the wonderful recipes, the meaningful story, and the warmth that comes through from beginning to end.
The dishes are inviting, comforting, and full of the kind of flavors that make you want to gather everyone around the table. I especially enjoyed the sense of tradition throughout the book. It captures how food can preserve memories and keep family traditions alive across generations.
The recipes feel approachable enough for home cooks, while still offering plenty of inspiration for anyone who enjoys Greek cuisine. I also appreciated how the cookbook connects cooking with the emotional side of family and heritage.
A beautiful, touching cookbook that feels both useful and deeply personal. Five stars for the wonderful recipes, the meaningful story, and the warmth that comes through from beginning to end.
April 17, 2026
Beautiful recipes and a beautiful tribute to his mama, written by a beautiful person!
I received it yesterday and read it immediately....it left me in tears (thinking back on memories growing up to a family of immigrants in NJ in the 80s, and being the 1st born here in America) and I can't wait to cook them all! My mom writes her recipes on paper in the same style as his, and I have a notebook of not only hers, but my own recipes too.....these recipes are exactly what I ate growing up, so truly to me, this book feels like HOME! Congratulations and Bravo sou, o po po po po 😉
I received it yesterday and read it immediately....it left me in tears (thinking back on memories growing up to a family of immigrants in NJ in the 80s, and being the 1st born here in America) and I can't wait to cook them all! My mom writes her recipes on paper in the same style as his, and I have a notebook of not only hers, but my own recipes too.....these recipes are exactly what I ate growing up, so truly to me, this book feels like HOME! Congratulations and Bravo sou, o po po po po 😉
April 11, 2026
[Review and Rating based on ARC]
More memoir than cookbook. This book read a lot like a very chatty food blog, and if you love that format then this is 100% going to be a 5 star read for you. I was expecting a cookbook, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had been labeled with memoirs (and oh look, recipes too). There was way more writing than recipes, which is not my personal preference. Memoir was humorous with good conversational tones.
More memoir than cookbook. This book read a lot like a very chatty food blog, and if you love that format then this is 100% going to be a 5 star read for you. I was expecting a cookbook, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had been labeled with memoirs (and oh look, recipes too). There was way more writing than recipes, which is not my personal preference. Memoir was humorous with good conversational tones.
June 12, 2026
This is so much more than a cookbook. I cried so many times while reading this.
My mom wasn’t Greek but the sentiment is the same.
My mom wasn’t Greek but the sentiment is the same.
August 14, 2026
Lovely stories and recipes from Gus in tribute to his mother. I loved the pictures of the handwritten recipes, they remind me of the ones I have from my Yiayia :)
September 4, 2026
Emotional, raw, genuine, delicious.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews