Order Up! A Conversation with Ted Pappas, Great American Recipe contestant, dad, and home cook

Why home cooking doesn’t have to be complicated, plus the one Greek dish you should be making tonight.

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Photo by Maria Givens

Greek Cooking, Made Simple—Ted Pappas on the Recipes That Matter

Ted Pappas has always been a creator. First, as an architect in healthcare consulting, helping hospitals provide the best spaces to enhance the patient experience. And now, as a home cook, he builds something just as essential—flavors, meals, moments around the table. Growing up in a Greek American family in Chicago, food was never just food. It was memory, tradition, a way of showing love. His mother made sure he understood not only how to cook but why—the meaning behind each ingredient, the stories behind each dish.

That love for food has followed him through every chapter of life. When he’s not in the kitchen cooking for his family, you’ll find him crafting beautiful charcuterie boards in his woodshop, exploring Instagram and YouTube for cooking inspiration, or competing in cooking shows like The Great American Recipe on PBS. And while his culinary skills have taken him far, some of his favorite meals are the simplest—like a classic Greek village salad or a sizzling, showstopping pan of Saganaki. (Yes, he has made flaming cheese at a Bears tailgate, and yes, it was a hit.)

In our conversation with Ted, he talks about the joy of making lunches for his daughters, the importance of sharp knives, and why he’s been paying more attention to what’s in his ingredients lately. And if you’re looking to bring a little Greek flavor into your kitchen, he’s got the perfect place to start.

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Ted Pappas on Family, Food, and The Great American Recipe

Introduce Yourself: My name is Ted - mostly, I’m still just a dad who loves cooking for his fam. I’m a semi-retired architect, and a Greek-American home cook who has competed on the Great American Recipe on PBS, and has had my cooking featured on other shows. This summer marks 20 years of marriage for me and my wife, and we have two amazing daughters, now 13 and 15 years old.

Your family has deep roots in Greek culture. When did your parents and grandparents come to the U.S., and what role did food play in your home growing up?