Light & Honey - The World of B LOUIS
On the island of Aegina, where thyme grows wild under the intense Greek sun and the scent of Mediterranean herbs travels through the hills with the wind, a young couple has chosen to follow a demanding but deeply rewarding path: the creation of exceptional organic honey. Their brand, B LOUIS, is still relatively young, yet it has already earned recognition in the world of Greek gastronomy. Their honey has been honored at the Great Taste Awards and selected as a finalist in the honey tasting of Gastronomos magazine—an important distinction in a country where honey production has deep historical roots.
B LOUIS represents a new generation of Greek producers who combine respect for traditional beekeeping with a contemporary vision of quality, sustainability, and careful branding. Their honey is certified organic, produced with great attention to environmental balance and the natural rhythms of the island ecosystem. The bees forage among thyme and other aromatic Mediterranean herbs that grow naturally on the slopes of Aegina, giving the honey its distinctive character.
Aegina’s landscape plays a central role in the story. The island’s dry terrain, rocky hills, and scattered vegetation form a unique environment where aromatic herbs flourish under the strong Aegean sunlight.
My recent commercial photography project with BLOUIS was designed to capture not only the product but also the entire world that surrounds it. The intention was to create a visual narrative that moves beyond conventional product photography and instead explores the relationship between landscape, people, and craft. The photography reflects this deep connection between product and place. Blends three main elements: space, portrait, and action. Wide environmental photographs introduce the geography of Aegina: open hillsides covered with herbs, dusty paths leading through the vegetation, and distant views of the sea shimmering on the horizon. These landscapes are not simply decorative settings. They are essential ingredients in the story of the honey itself. Within these landscapes, the young beekeepers appear as natural participants in their environment. The portrait photographs aim to capture moments of quiet concentration and dedication. We see them inspecting the hives, preparing the smoker, or carefully examining frames filled with honeycomb. These portraits are intentionally simple and honest, reflecting the calm patience required by beekeeping.
Stella and Leonidas, the couple behind BLOUIS, represents a new generation of producers emerging in Greece today. Young, passionate, and deeply connected to the land, they combine traditional beekeeping knowledge with modern awareness of sustainability and quality. Their work is guided by respect for biodiversity and organic production practices, ensuring that both bees and environment remain healthy.
Despite its small-scale and artisanal nature, Blouis honey has already begun to travel beyond the island. Part of the production reaches gourmet shops in Athens, where it is appreciated by chefs and food enthusiasts who seek authentic Greek ingredients. Another part is exported to Germany, introducing international audiences to the unique flavors of Aegina’s thyme honey.
Through their online presence, including their active pages on Instagram and Facebook, the producers also share glimpses of their daily work with a broader audience.
In this context, the photography project aims to position Blouis not simply as a food product but as a premium artisanal brand deeply rooted in place. The visual approach avoids heavy staging or artificial setups. Instead, the images rely on real moments, natural gestures, and the genuine atmosphere of the landscape.
At the same time, the commercial campaign photographs highlight the human dimension behind the honey. In a world where many food products become anonymous commodities, BLOUIS reminds us that exceptional taste often begins with personal commitment. The images reveal the quiet determination of two young producers investing time, care, and energy into their craft.
Dinning with History at the Royal Suit of Grande Bretagne Athens
The story of Grande Bretagne is a story of precision, ritual, and enduring elegance at the heart of Athens, Greece. It opens in the Royal Suite, where every detail of a formal dinner is arranged with almost ceremonial care: chairs aligned by eye, cutlery measured by fingers, and historic golden sets placed with exacting symmetry. This obsessive attention to detail is not mere formality, but a reflection of a deeper philosophy—one that defines the hotel’s identity as a symbol of luxury and refinement. This carefully staged scene also formed the concept of a special photoshoot designed for the anniversary edition of GB Magazine, celebrating 150 years of the hotel’s legacy, with images created for the magazine editorial and communication use.
Behind the scenes, a full team moves into action: florists, stewards, assistants, and wine experts prepare the setting using hand-painted Limoges porcelain, silverware, and rare bottles transferred to a private cellar. At the center of this orchestration stands Executive Chef Asterios Koustoudis, whose arrival with his team marks the transition from preparation to creation. The image of the chefs in white aprons and tall hats feels almost timeless—perfect material for food photography and a striking group chef photo that connects past and present and a visual language ideally suited to communicate the Grande Bretagne’s heritage in both magazine print and social media.
The menu itself is rooted in historical research. Inspired by a rare cookbook from the 1950s by Georgios Dimostheniadis, the team reconstructs dishes that once represented the height of cosmopolitan dining. These recipes—ranging from refined soups and delicate fish dishes to elaborate lobster preparations—demonstrate how cuisine at the Grande Bretagne has always balanced technique, seasonality, and visual beauty. The philosophy is clear: food should look as exquisite as it tastes, blurring the line between gastronomy and art.
This recreated seven-course dinner is more than a meal, it is a statement about continuity. It highlights how the hotel has contributed to the evolution of Greek gastronomy over more than a century, while staying faithful to European culinary traditions. From the late 19th century onward, the Grande Bretagne earned its reputation as a benchmark of luxury, attracting royalty, diplomats, and elite society. French cuisine once dominated its menus, but over time Greek ingredients and dishes claimed their place, reflecting broader changes in taste and identity.
The narrative also traces how the hotel’s prestige shaped supply networks, supported Greek producers, and set standards for service and presentation. Even details such as uniforms, languages spoken by staff, and the choreography of service reveal a world where hospitality is treated as a craft. Celebrations, gala evenings, and long festive dinners became part of the social fabric of Athens, reinforcing the hotel’s role as a cultural landmark in Greece.
Today, that legacy continues. From the Winter Garden’s brunch and Afternoon Tea to the GB Roof Garden’s contemporary cuisine, the spirit of innovation remains alive. Under the guidance of Asterios Koustoudis, the kitchen still focuses on seasonal ingredients, refined technique, and strong visual identity—making every plate a potential subject for food photography and every service a continuation of a long historical tradition.
In essence, the Grande Bretagne is not just a hotel, but a living archive of taste, ceremony, and craftsmanship—where the Royal Suite,, the formal dinner, and the pursuit of luxury come together in a visual and culinary narrative created for the 150-year anniversary of the hotel, and expressed through imagery used both editorially and for the hotel’s advertising, deeply rooted in Athens, Greece, and still evolving today.
Executive Chef Asterios Koustoudis
Article, research and interviews and by the food editor Nena Demetriou.
Head Sommelier Evangelos Psofidis
Everyday Rituals
Everyday Rituals is a visual exploration of the quiet poetry that unfolds in the most unassuming corners of daily life. Through this series, the lens pauses on fleeting moments where food and human presence meet — gestures, textures, and light become part of an unspoken ritual, repeated day after day, yet never truly the same.
The title whispers about these intimate routines: the breaking of bread, the slicing of fruit, the delicate arrangement of a plate. These are not grand gestures but rather small, essential acts that shape the rhythm of our lives. The context of the photographs — stripped of noise and steeped in stillness — allows the viewer to sense the reverence hidden in these habits.
This series does not simply document — it observes. The mood invites contemplation on the relationship between food and identity, between preparation and anticipation, between the physical and the emotional nourishment that everyday rituals offer. Here, food photography becomes more than a visual record; it transforms into a quiet homage to the tactile and sensory moments that often pass unnoticed.
Bread-Making Art: Food Photography at Betty’s Bakery Athens for Gastronomos
Meet Elisavet Koulouri, the inspiring force behind Betty’s Bakery in Athens. Gastronomos magazine feature her in it pages as the She’s a new-generation baker who’s poured her passion into mastering the art of handmade sourdough bread. With a background in communication and marketing, and an impressive career trajectory that included positions at the European Union, Elisavet took a bold turn. She left behind a corporate future to dedicate herself to something simple yet profound: bread—a craft that food photography beautifully captures, revealing the artistry in every loaf.
At Betty’s Bakery, each loaf tells its own story, and food photography allows us to share the details of this process visually. Elisavet is one of the first in Athens to specialize in handmade sourdough, crafting each batch with 100% organic flour, rose salt, and water—and a whole lot of care. The process takes over 100 hours, nurturing the microorganisms in ideal temperature and humidity conditions to achieve the perfect pH balance. The result is bread that’s dense, full-bodied, and packed with the natural aroma of stone-ground flour, complemented by a crispy crust that delights chefs, food critics, and customers alike. Capturing these textures and flavors through photography emphasizes the quality and dedication behind every loaf.
Sustainability is at the heart of Betty’s Bakery. Every product has a clear origin: from the organic flour to the Greek extra virgin olive oil, herbs, and spices, each ingredient is sourced from top Greek producers. She even goes a step further by having her bread delivered throughout Athens by bicycle, minimizing environmental impact—a moment of delivery worth capturing through food photography for its unique character.
Following the rhythms of nature, Elisavet’s creations change with the seasons. You’ll find bread infused with lavender and honey in the spring and thyme or thrombi in the summer, making each loaf not only a celebration of flavor but a reflection of Greek terroir—perfectly suited to the expressive art of food photography.
Delta Fermentations
Delta Restaurant’s fermentation with the chef George Papazacharias and his team - focused dishes present a captivating story of transformation. Each photo from this recent shoot for Gastronomos Magazine captures an intimate, almost scientific precision, reflecting the meticulous care that goes into the art of fermentation. The dishes, carefully plated and shot up-close, bring out the intricate textures that fermentation yields, each detail highlighting how ingredients evolve visually and flavor-wise through this age-old process.
In crafting these images, natural, soft lighting was chosen to maintain an organic feel, reinforcing the purity behind Delta’s culinary methods. This lighting draws attention to the natural colors and subtleties of the fermented elements, emphasizing their authenticity and the restaurant’s commitment to a clean, ingredient-focused approach. The compositions maintain a minimalist aesthetic, allowing each component of the dish to speak for itself. The simplicity here is impactful; it aligns seamlessly with Delta's vision, letting the nuances of each flavor and ingredient shine through.
Through the close-up shots of ingredients and finished dishes, the artisanal craftsmanship of Delta’s chefs is evident. Their skill lies not only in the cooking but also in their mastery of fermentation techniques, which reveal deeper, more complex flavors in each ingredient. These food photographs honor the careful process and artistry behind Delta’s work, bringing viewers closer to the delicate balance of tradition and innovation in modern Greek cuisine.
The food photography of Delta fermentations reflect this cultural continuity, where timeless methods meet fresh interpretations, celebrating Greece’s culinary heritage while embracing a new vision.
Article by Nikoleta Makrionitou
Gastronomos cover June 2024
Cover photo for the new issue of Gastronomos Magazine
In this issue of Gastroonomos magazine, the editors, seek out the best cool escapes in Athens and put together a survival guide that will make summer in the city fun and enjoyable. Scattered all over Athens, crossed the coastline of Attica, swam at beaches, went on trips to parks and forests, went out for food and drinks in Athenian courtyards and rooftops, cooked the best food and appetizers for summer gatherings at home and envisioned a wonderful summer that is not squeezed into the few days of vacation in August.
- We eat on rooftops with a view, shady pedestrian streets and green courtyards!
Small culinary and aesthetic oases in Athens and its surroundings, to escape from the sea of cement, to enjoy great food, peace and coolness. We have found the best spots in Athens that combine good food and a nice environment, where the pulse of the city beats.
- Where are we going to eat after swim?
32 addresses for taverns with good food on our favorite beaches of Attica. Fresh fish, appetizers, meat, but also fine dining by the sea, for every taste and every wallet.
- Green Breaths! Where will I find some shade in the city?
We take the mountains, parks and groves of Attica, in known and unknown places of urban and peri-urban greenery, inside and outside the Basin, organized and "wild", for hiking, cycling and picnics with friends and children, for relaxation and relief from the city heat.
- Summer means hot
At Taverna ton Filon in Kolonos, we cook emblematic oils with a fresh look, from stuffed peppers with extra oily sauce, to pasta, legume salads, turlou, minced meat and gigantes, all cooked with generous doses of olive oil. On Sundays, we cook our favorite summer foods and set a table under the shade of the awning or arbor.
- Picnic snacks and beer snacks
In the green oases of the city and its surroundings, we spread checkered tablecloths and bring from home easy and satisfying snacks, from the timeless meatballs, to tarts and dip for our breadsticks, and we invite the company for leisurely hours in oases of peace and soothing coolness. And on nice evenings, friends gather on the balcony or the roof for beer and the necessary accompanying appetizers.
- 18 delicious adventures around Athens
Urban summer fairs and feasts, fresh, prime summer fruit straight from the tree, cheeses from the hands of the cheesemaker, rare heirloom varieties from passionate growers, visitable food farms for young and old, farm stands with fresh-picked vegetables, oysters at producer prices and fish from the boat. Attica in 18 culinary stops in the most unexpected places!
- Summer cinemas: An ode to global Greek originality and all the suggestions in Athens for cinephile nights smelling of jasmine, in summer cinemas that serve from homemade sour cream and handmade cheese pie, to delicious finger food and cool cocktails. And if you have an appetite and taste, we recommend amazing homemade sandwiches to take with you to the cinema, with summer ingredients in imaginative combinations.
- The Athens we love: Cool and easy summer cocktails on the balcony from our favorite Athens bartenders, the places in the city for deliciously iced, good coffee and bars for evening strolls for the drink that will end our Athenian days in a relaxed way.
- And also: Cool refrigerator sweets with creams, chocolates, jellies and ice cream, reminiscent of the motherly treats of our childhood but renewed and with a guilt-free freshness. And, of course, the June Recipe, with suggestions for every day of the month, simple, easy and quick, with the freshest seasonal ingredients.
Gastronomos June is released on Sunday, June 9 with Kathimerini.
Cover girl: Marina Petridou
Director of Culinary Publications: Angelos Rentoulas
Editor-in-Chief: Christina Tzialla
Art Director: Akrivi Kakkava
Photography & Features Producer: Nasia Diamantidis
GB Corner Gifts & Flavors Easter Chocolate Eggs
Food Photography for the new handmade chocolate eggs of the GB Corner, designed by the hotel's talented pastry chef Alexandros Koufas, will delight young and old and are available in incredible flavors. These are high-quality delicacies made of milk chocolate, which inside hide a rich layer of almond and hazelnut praline, feuilletine and caramelized buckwheat. For lovers of bitter chocolate, there is also the version with bitter cocoa and a layer of hazelnut praline, milk caramel, salt flower and jiadujia chocolate.
Styling Rosa Karac
Assist Antonis Kavouris
Winter Cocktails in Line Athens
In this food photography for Oinochoos magazine, the guests star Christos Klouvatos welcomes us to Line Athens bar and makes some wonderful cocktails with cognac, the spirit that is making a comeback as a base in classic and signature cocktails.
Christos is a bartender and connoisseur of good coffee, with numerous awards at international events. He recently placed fourth in the Coffee in Good Spirits Championship, a global competition focused on liquor and coffee, representing the Taf company, and is also a finalist in the World Class 2023. This season we find him behind the bar of Line, No 12 at World's Best Bars. He also oversees the cocktails and coffee at the Makris restaurant and, as a member of the Line team, also collaborates with the Delta Restaurant.
Text by Georgia Papastamou
tails
Tudor Hall Michelin Star Food photography
I felt so happy when I informed that Tudor Hall, the crown jewel of King George Hotel, has won its first Michelin star! Congratulations to the entire team, to our visionary Executive Chef Asterios Koustoudis and the talented Chef de Cuisine Nikos Leivadias.!
The happiness first comes from the appreciation for the team as chefs and personalities. I see their work from close the last years and really they deserved this title . Another fact that made me happy is that the latest food photography I photographed for the Tudor Hall magazine accompanied the participation for the Michelin Star competition. It is great honor to see my food photography work being featured as main picture on the Greek Michelin Star guide. It is an honor to visualize a high level menu that won a place in the high end gastronomy competition of Michelin stars.
Congratulations to all the Grand Bretagne staff for their great work and warm thanks for their trust.
Tudor Hall A newly-selected restaurant that astounded the Guide’s famously anonymous inspectors; directly earning it its first MICHELIN Star!. This elegant eatery, located atop the King George Hotel and affording breathtaking vistas, offers high-quality, contemporary cooking orchestrated by chef Asterios Koustoudis.
On the 7th Floor of King George, the Tudor Hall Restaurant offers the finest and most elegant Contemporary Cuisine. The décor prevailing at Tudor Hall mirrors the decoration of the King George - an environment of elegance and comfort. The outdoor area offers a breathtaking view of Athens, the ancient city so rich in history it echoes through the modern day identity. Spectate the fabled Acropolis and regal Syntagma Square with views that capture the essence of the ancients in the historic city center. At Tudor Hall, dishes of Contemporary Cuisine are enhanced by the exquisite accompaniment of the finest Greek & International wines.
Rodi Finger Food photography
Food photography for Rodi finger food catering suggests a different way of food presentation with light finger food, drinks and live cooking with original flavors that your guests will never forget.Ideal for children parties and commercial opening events.
Video edit: Thanasis Patistas
