Lefteris Lazarou for Gastronomos Magazine Christmass Cover

In this portrait photography mission for the the Christmass magazine's cover story of Gastronomos Magazine I had been travel to Hydra Island and the shots took place at the House-museum of Lazaros Koundouriotis, with the Greek chef of Varoulko Restaurant Lefteris Lazarou preparing the christmas Diner. This work was a combination of portrait and food photography. Special thanks to the chief editor: Angelos Rentoulas and the photo editor: Nasia Diamantidis for the excellent cooperation.
Styling: Alexandra Tasounidou
Assist: Panagiotis Andriopoulos

"This year, when we are stuck, when time counts twice and every minute instills new uncertainties, we need a conscious effort to recall our festive mood, to direct it from memory, even when the surrounding atmosphere weighs on us. We will help you with that - we hope. Our goal, when planning this year's "Gourmet" Christmas tribute, was to cultivate as never before the illusion of the holiday, the transcendental warmth of Christmas, through a moving descent journey into the past. A spiritual and real journey to six separate points on the map of Greece.
Four journalists, three photographers and six chefs scattered to the four corners of the Greek territory, in Xanthi, Zakynthos, Hydra, Lesvos, Syros and back to Athens, with the destination of six great mansions that opened their doors for us for the first time and the sets were made to photograph six separate holiday menus. These trips took place just before the second lockdown, in difficult conditions, with many adversities that we had to overcome. We did it, and now, in this introductory note - which is written almost at the end of the whistle, when the whole issue is ready to leave for the printing house and we are correcting the last details - you will forgive us for advancing the feeling. You have not yet turned the pages, you have not been immersed in the images and words that try - and we believe succeed - to convey the emotion, pride and affection we felt coming in contact with these great landmarks of Hellenism. Meeting them was an exercise in self-knowledge.
Walking around the spaces, climbing stairs, listening to squeaks and strange sounds, breathing air of old wet closure, we completed with our senses the stories that were told to us about each mansion by the people who welcomed us. We took pictures, seasons and whole worlds. Greek worlds that pre-existed, that clashed, that correlated or annulled each other. That fermented, that flourished, that bore ideas, art, spirit, matter and taste". Text By the chief editor of Gatronomos Magazine, Angelos Rentoulas.

by Dimitris Vlaikos