Kon Karapanagiotidis is the founder of Australia' Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC), and ‘Philoxenia’ means to welcome a stranger. It’s a message that pervades Greek culture and cooking. Chapter by chapter, this heartfelt book unfolds incredible meals drawn from this powerful philosophy, as well as from the love, hope and resilience that represent Kon’s own grandparents’ survival as refugees.

Learn to make the dishes that line a mezze platter, including fresh tzatziki, golden saganaki and cheese-filled zucchini flowers, or veganise heavier dishes, such as moussaka and spanakopita. There are ample salads to serve up for lunch, highlighting everything from Ancient Greek grains, zucchini and artichoke to goat’s cheese, fig and pomegranate, as well as mouth-watering desserts (think Greek classics, such as loukoumades and baklava, as well as Greek-style coffees). Every vegetarian recipe includes instructions to make your dishes vegan or gluten-free. You’ll even find tips on minimising waste and gardening, courtesy of Sia, and Kon’s father, Leo.

The ASRC is dedicated to standing with refugees and people seeking asylum to realise their rights and potential, and values the incredible resilience we share as humans, as well as our connection through food. Learn how you, too, can welcome your community to your table with A Seat at My Table: Philoxenia.

Hardcover, 304 pages, published by Hardie Grant, 2024