From Athens to Paris, from Kalamata to Santorini and Samos, Greek Chef de Cuisine Vassilis Alexiou has sought out the best products and producers. Connecting with farmers, he identified his favorite Greek products, including a variety of olive oils. Then he astonished Parisian chefs by incorporating eleven different extra virgin olive oils into his recipes.
Mr Alexiou’s wandering inspired the name of his current business and website, Wander by Paris. Along the way to his latest project on the Greek island of Samos, he incorporated local products into high cuisine at his gourmet restaurant in Santorini, changed the view of Greek gastronomy in Paris with his acclaimed L’Olivier bistro, and got into winemaking. Last year, he launched the sustainable minimalist restaurant Philia (which means friendship), using fresh, seasonal organic local produce from Samos.