Based in Miramar, Wellington, artisan producer Elysian Foods Ltd makes Taramasalata, a traditional Greek spread or Meze made with Cod Roes, which is salted and cured in Greece.
Owner Gregory Yiannoutsos said his father, Basil, makes the Taramasalata to a traditional family recipe the way his grandmother taught him when growing up in Greece.
“Our Taramasalata is still handcrafted and produced in small batches, always fresh and made to order. We tend to sell out every week and then produce fresh batches as orders flow through from Mondays onward,” Yiannoutsos said.
Basil acquired a small Greek specialty imported business in 1995 to service the Greek community in New Zealand with staple pantry Greek products. As he met more suppliers, one catalogue stood out for him; they stocked the Cod Roes from Greece, and so he ordered a small quantity. He interpreted the family recipe to modern day food standards and started selling small quantities from his deli in Miramar. As the sales grew from the deli, the Elysian brand in 1999-2000 was launched to represent the Taramasalata in retail packaging for local grocery stores.
The product is currently being made in Elysian Foods’ brand new purpose built kitchen. After 20 years in retail, Yiannoutsos said they decided to build a kitchen that could accommodate growth in products.
“Selected restaurants and cafes purchase our Taramasalata for their menus; it sells very well as a Meze dish, very popular with some Middle Eastern establishments also.”
Future plans include developing more products to fit the Elysian brand and reaching a strong and loyal customer base.
Other products include Tzatziki and a small range of Greek marinated olives.
For more information contact Gregory Yiannoutsos on 021 073 6232.
TRADITIONAL GREEK
