A Story of Family and Flavor
Cooking the Mediterranean way, with family at the heart❤️
A Childhood in the Kitchen: Learning from Family
I first learned how to cook from my Grandfather when I was ten years old on the little Mediterranean island of Cyprus. I was taught family recipes with only the freshest ingredients from our farm make the most heart warming food. For twenty-four years now I have brought my authentic recipes to the long standing Firehouse for everyone to enjoy.
Tony’s Journey from Cyprus to Firehouse Taverna
Tony’s first introduction to cooking came at the age of 12, when he would spend his summers at his grandpa’s restaurant on the island of Cyprus. He would help cook breakfast, lunch and dinner for the resort’s guests, under the mentorship of his grandfather and his mother, who would join them on the weekends to make homemade dishes.
Firehouse Taverna: A Dream with History
In 1992 Tony moved to the United States, and in 94 he attended culinary school in Pasadena while searching for the perfect little restaurant to make his own. When he finally discovered Firehouse, a fast food restaurant with history, he knew this would be the one. Tony acquired Fire House from John and Elizabeth in ’96, a sweet couple in their late 70’s. Following a short remodel, the restaurant reopened its doors as a Greek establishment, indulging Mediterranean food lovers for decades since.
A Mother’s Love, A Warm Welcome
After his father passed away, Tony’s mother would spend 6 months out of each year with Tony in the United States, until her passing. Even though she didn’t speak a word of English, she would always sit at the first table and welcome all the guests into the restaurant.
Honoring Tradition Through Every Dish
Every time a Greek-American family would visit, she would rush to get Tony out of the kitchen, where he would otherwise spend his entire day from sunrise to sunset.
Tony keeps his mother’s and grandfather’s memories alive by offering decades old recipes he learned from them, such as the Pastichio, the Avgolemono Soup and the Mousaka as part of the permanent Firehouse Taverna Menu.
