Tazikiβs and the Mediterranean Diet
At Taziki's, We Embrace the Mediterranean Lifestyle Which Emphasizes
Eating primarily plant-based foods
Replacing butter with healthy fats such as olive oil and canola oil
Using herbs and spices instead of salt to flavor foods
Limiting red meat to no more than a few times a month
Eating fish and poultry at least twice a week
Enjoying meals with family and friends
Drinking red wine in moderation (optional)
Getting plenty of exercise
Why We Do What We Do
Over two millennia ago, Aristotle introduced the idea of Eudaimonia - a classical greek word that is commonly translated as βhappiness,β but perhaps better described as βwell-beingβ or βhuman flourishingβ or βthe good lifeβ.
While Eudaimonia describes a form of happiness, it is not the fleeting, temporary happiness that comes, say, from a bowl of ice cream or buying a new pair of shoes. Eudaimonia is deeper, richer, more sustaining. It arises when we live well, love well and form strong connections with the people in our lives. It is the foundation of strong communities.
This kind of happiness doesnβt come and go, moment to moment. Itβs a more powerful reflection of contentment, satisfaction, gratefulness.
Rarely is this happiness felt more strongly than during a great meal in the company of people you love and respect. This kind of happiness sustains us long after the meal is over. Itβs why the ceremony of food is central to every culture, because the table is the easiest place to build the bonds that hold our communities together.
Eudaimonia explains why itβs possible to fall in love with a small cafΓ© in Greece, like Keith and Amy Richards did, even when you donβt speak a common language β in just a few short days. Itβs not simply the food, but the powerful connections that can grow miraculously in the right setting.
Great food, in the right setting, prepared and served by people with the right mindset, can be the catalyst for that deeper, richer, more meaningful happiness.
And thatβs what we do at Tazikiβs. We focus our entire existence on creating Eudaimonia. Thatβs why we donβt have TVs in our restaurants. Thatβs why we obsess over the quality of our food. Thatβs why the kitchen is open, and the walls between guests and servers are knocked down.
We exist to create the kind of happiness that is found in few other places in modern life. Our mission is to create an environment that combines extraordinary food with the meaningful human connection missing from much of society today β all to help people achieve a deeper, more sustaining form of happiness.