Gold Coast restaurateur Simon Gloftis has brought Hellenika back to Miami Marketta, reuniting the much-loved Greek restaurant with the city where its culinary journey began.
Held on Sunday, 25 October, the special Hellenika Long Lunch marked 15 years since Gloftis first opened the restaurant at Nobby Beach, celebrating its Gold Coast beginnings with an afternoon of Greek food, music and hospitality.
The event also marked the launch of Gloftis’ debut cookbook, Hellenika, which brings together 110 recipes inspired by the restaurant’s menu and the Greek culinary traditions that have shaped its identity.
Guests were treated to a four-course feast featuring some of Hellenika’s signature dishes, alongside chargrilled lamb cooked on the spit, a live Greek band and traditional Greek dancing.
The five-hour celebration brought together the flavours and atmosphere that have become synonymous with Hellenika, giving Gold Coast diners an opportunity to reconnect with a restaurant that helped shape the local dining scene.
First established at Nobby Beach, Hellenika developed a strong following before relocating to Brisbane, where it now operates at The Calile Hotel on James Street.
The cookbook reflects the restaurant’s 15-year journey, featuring much-loved dishes including its famous zucchini chips, baked lamb with lemon potatoes and Corfu bianco.
Beyond the recipes, the publication explores the Gloftis family’s history, the people behind the restaurant and the memories that have helped shape Hellenika over the years.
For Gloftis, returning to Miami Marketta was an opportunity to acknowledge the Gold Coast community that supported the restaurant from its earliest days.
The celebration brought Hellenika back to its roots, highlighting the enduring connection between Greek food, family, community and the shared experience of gathering around the table.
Source: Miami Marketta, The Weekend Edition