HOS: You just stayed at Mona in Athens as one of our chefs in residence. Can you tell us some highlights?
OS: Mona is definitely my dream kitchen. It’s so well-equipped, beautifully designed and has such a welcoming vibe. I love that it’s in the center of that space and it’s so inviting. It literally feels like cooking at home and it doesn’t feel separated and excluded, when that’s usually the case in commercial kitchens. Mona to me is about connection and experience and this is what that kitchen and the whole residency was about. I participated in a Christmas market where many creatives, artists and designers were introducing their arts and crafts. It was such a vibrant, fun and joyful weekend. I love how it just felt like a house party with bunch of friends, kids, dogs, great music, drinks and a kitchen full of baked goods.
“Mona to me is about connection and experience and this is what that kitchen and that whole residency was about”.
HOS: What are your favourite restaurants and bars in Athens.
OS: I always get overwhelmed in Athens because there is still so much to discover on the food scene that I feel like I barely even experienced it. I can say that last time my most favourite dinners were in Pharaoh, Fabrica tou Efrosinou and Atlantikos. Diporto is a kind of a place I could eat my lunch in every day, and I’d also stick with breakfast at Mona. Although I’m not such a breakfast person, it’s just such a joy!
HOS: What does beauty mean to you?
OS: Beauty to me is passion, curiosity, intention and vulnerability. Beauty has so many layers. Beauty is honesty and authenticity, beauty is not knowing, it’s learning and it’s a process. Beauty is a bit undone, a bit nonchalant and a bit wild. And it’s a complexity. It’s both strength and surrender.
HOS: You amassed an online following by documenting and posting your daily life, cooking and travels. What is the role of social media in your work and life?
OS: Social media (to be precise my Instagram account as I’m not using any other platform) has always been such a beautiful tool for me to both share and learn. It always played the role of journalling for me: I keep my moments and my daily gratitudes there. I share what I find and consider valuable, beautiful and moving.
I’m not really good with communication with the audience and I usually don’t even realise the number of people I’m exposed to. I keep it very personal and low key although of course it also became one of my work tools these days, expressing my style and energy.
But I never think twice before posting and barely ever scroll. If I do I get very easily tired and brain fogged. I’m so bad with keeping updates on my friends lives based on their social media, and I’m more of a ‘phone call friend’ as I tend to speak a lot. But I do find Instagram a great tool to help me get inspired and observe the world through a completely new lens.
HOS: How does one live a life of meaning?
OS: I think every life is meaningful but I get what you are asking. I think to feel that you have that sense of meaning is finding your purpose, following it, letting it guide you and teach you – it gives one a sense of rightness and belonging and trust! It allows us to grow and learn but also share and spread. And I believe we are all here to do exactly that.
HOS: What is your definition of happiness?
OS: Happiness is very elusive and difficult to define. What provides me with a perfect scenario that supports happiness will be good health, inner peace, a sense of purpose, growth and intellectual stimulation, being able to experience nature (more than cities), community as well as passion and inspiration. I know that this seems like a pretty long list of things that we strive for, but when you think about it, it actually comes back to our core values. I also think I’m the happiest in times when I’m also a bit uncomfortable. Whether that’s going out of my comfort zone, being exposed to a new environment or changing a career path.
HOS: Tell us a secret.
OS: Secrets will remain secrets, but one thing i don’t usually share with people is that I am absolutely addicted to the water remaining from cooking pasta or soba noodles. It’s probably my favourite drink and I’m crazy about it.