Cookbook - Ela Na Fame, Come and Eat By Eleftheria Amanatdis

Ela Na Fame, Come and Eat By Eleftheria Amanatdis-  A Celebration of Greek Food, Family, and Legacy

In the heart of Yarraville, where the aroma of traditional Greek cuisine has filled the streets since 1971, Eleftheria ‘Thierry’ Amanatidis shares her deeply personal debut book, Ela na Fáme! – a heartwarming fusion of recipes and stories that pay tribute to the powerful women behind one of Melbourne’s most enduring food dynasties.

More than just a cookbook, Ela na Fáme! is a love letter to heritage, resilience, and the language of food. With the rising popularity of food memoirs and a renewed appreciation for Greek cuisine, this book arrives as a timely treasure for food lovers and home cooks alike.

Raised by her mother Parthena and two yiayias, Eleni and Eleftheria, Thierry’s story spans over five decades of culinary tradition. From the kitchens of her childhood to the vibrant streets of Yarraville, each recipe is infused with memory, warmth, and the unmistakable spirit of Greek hospitality.

As co-owner of three thriving local businesses – the iconic Eleni’s Kitchen + Bar (Yarraville’s first Greek restaurant, est. 1971), Jimmy’s Deli (home of Melbourne’s famous New Yorker pastrami sandwich), and Cakes by Thierry – Thierry brings her family’s passion to every plate. Even after a devastating fire in 2024, Eleni’s Kitchen rose stronger than ever, a testament to the strength and legacy of the women who came before her.

Inside Ela na Fáme!, you’ll find more than 60 cherished recipes across Meze, Mains, and Sweets – from crowd-pleasers like spanakopita and lamb kleftiko to lesser-known northern Greek dishes like gemista. For dessert lovers, Thierry’s beloved rizogalo (rice pudding) is a must-try.

Each recipe is accompanied by rich anecdotes, family photographs, and reflections that transport readers to the heart of Thierry’s kitchen – where food became a bridge between generations, culture, and community.

“This book is more than just recipes – it’s my life,” says Thierry. “It’s the story of my Greek heritage, my love for my family, and my deep gratitude for the three extraordinary women who shaped not just my life, but the food culture of an entire community.”

Set against the vibrant backdrop of Yarraville, Ela na Fáme! is a universal story of love, identity, and the enduring power of a home-cooked meal.

About the Author

Eleftheria ‘Thierry’ Amanatidis is the third generation of a proud Greek hospitality family and the driving
force behind Melbourne icons Eleni’s Kitchen + Bar,
Jimmy’s Deli and Cakes by Thierry. Food and family were central to Thierry’s childhood in Yarraville, in Melbourne’s inner west. Her large Greek family has run cafés, restaurants, delis and a butcher shop in the area since 1971 – the year they opened Eleni’s Kitchen, Yarraville’s first Greek restaurant. At home, her Yiayias (grandmothers) cooked traditional Greek dishes every day, and she absorbed their knowledge instinctively.

In 2017, Thierry opened her first restaurant, the new
Eleni’s Kitchen + Bar, when it relocated from Ballarat
Street to Anderson Street. She is fiercely committed to authentic Greek cuisine – no fusion, no modern twists, just the traditional flavours her family has perfected over 54 years.  A highly accomplished chef despite no formal  training, she learned on-the-job from Eleni’s Kitchen’s acclaimed head chef, Christos Katopodis (formerly of Jim’s Greek Tavern). Under his guidance, she has mastered traditional techniques and become one of the few women in Australia to cook over charcoal and handle traditional butchery.

Thierry’s debut book, Ela na Fáme! (“Come and Eat”),
shares a collection of authentic Greek recipes that define her family’s legacy. Rich with personal anecdotes and family photographs, Ela na Fáme! is a love letter to the food that shaped her, the strong women who raised her, and the family whose resilience continues to inspire her.

“Cooking with my yiayias always gifted me happiness and purpose. I sat beside them, alive with curiosity and eager to learn their craft. Whether it was baking a White Wings packet cake or kneading the tsourekia dough in preparation for Easter, we made memories that would last forever. This passion is still alive in me today. Learning how to prepare, cook and bake was a gift. Today I bring those talents to life, preserving long held food and cultural traditions from my family’s origin. Now as my yiayias would call to us: “Ela na fáme" and laugh together over good food and even better company"

Hardcover 96 pages