03/25/2026
Join us tonight as we celebrate Greek Independance Day with a special meze of Bacalarus Escordalia (Fried cod + escordalia mayo + cucumber bites) celebrating our history, heritage and pride.
March 25th is one of the most important days in Greece. It celebrates both Greek Independence Day and the Feast of Annunciation, a national holiday marking the start of the Greek War of Independence in 1821.🇬🇷
Because the day falls during Lent, meat is traditionally avoided. But March 25th is one of the few days in the fasting period when fish is permitted, and the dish that has become synonymous with the celebration is bakaliaros with skordalia - crispy fried salt cod with garlicky potato dip.
But why cod?
For centuries, fresh fish was difficult to transport to Greece’s mountainous inland regions. Salted cod, preserved and traded from northern Europe, could travel long distances and remain edible for months. It became an affordable and reliable source of seafood throughout the country.
Over time, this humble preserved fish became the centerpiece of the March 25 table — served golden and crisp with pungent skordalia, sharp with garlic and olive oil. It’s a dish that tells the story of trade, geography, religion, and celebration - and one that generations of Greeks still gather around every year.
