Ikarosbooks - The Third Diner

The Third Diner

Christos Zouraris

Christos Zouraris is a lawyer and author of cookery books. He was born in Thessaloniki in 1945 and studied law in Athens, Paris and London.
From 1989 to 1991, he published weekly gastronomic columns in the newspaper ‘Kathimerini’ under the pseudonym ‘Deipnosophist’. (The pseudonym is borrowed from the title of the famous work by Athenaeus – early 3rd century AD). He is the author of two books: "Deipnosophist" (Ikaros 1991) and "The Second Deipnosophist" (Ikaros 1998). In these books, Christos Zouraris approaches cuisine as a complex social phenomenon linked to the place, history, ideas, religion and cultural traditions of each people. He places particular emphasis on highlighting the distinctive characteristics and identity of Greek cuisine.

Christos Zouraris has participated in gastronomy and oenology conferences and is a member of the Greek National Tourism Organisation committee that sets the criteria for awarding a special distinction to restaurants offering authentic Greek cuisine.

Dinner Sophist

Christos Zouraris

The Deipnosophists of ancient Greece were people who discussed topics related to food during dinner. Today, this forgotten word – Deipnosophist – serves as a pseudonym for a writer who explores the function of taste through Greek cuisine. The focus here is on the philosophy of taste, its aesthetics, its sociology and, above all, its ritual dimension. Objective: the proper use of taste as a means to a more exemplary life.

The Second Dinner Philosopher

Christos Zouraris

As in the first "Dinner Philosopher", the book’s theme revolves around the kitchen. This time, particular emphasis is placed on its cultural dimension, through which its historical and religious elements are highlighted, contributing to the formation of good taste and our perception of ‘good’ cuisine and fine food.