Welcome to Agapi! Following is a brief history of how Agapi came to be and a look towards what’s on the horizon. Tracing my roots back to Greece, and especially Cyprus, has been a lifetime journey for me. In the 50's my parents moved from Cyprus to London where I was later born and raised, however my Cypriot roots remained present in every aspect of my upbringing. As a child, I formed a deep and lasting bond with my Cypriot cousin Christina, whose family had become exiled as a result of the Turkish invasion and had come to live in London. In keeping with my Cypriot roots, I studied Modern Greek Language, Literature and Philosophy at Kings College London. I now live in New York with my husband and my two children.
To my joy, Christina has reunited with me in our mutual love of Cyprus. From exploring our ancestral roots by cherishing the artisans, chefs and artists thriving there, we’ve made it our mission to share our love of Cyprus with the world. As mothers, career women, chefs and artists in our own right, we recognize the uniqueness of Cyprus, its food, its traditions, its art, and the patience and dignity of its people.
In Greek, “agapi” means love. Our love of Cyprus has led us on this passionate journey, and the result of our exploration is Agapi.
Fast Forward
Watch Helen’s journey to Cyprus with Keith Johnson in Sundance Channel’s Man Shops Globe:
EPISODE 4 CYPRUS
Keith offers to lend his dear friend Helen a hand with her cookbook pitch, an offer which takes him from the office of a Manhattan publishing company to Helen’s native Cyprus. Inspired by the island’s ancient history and traditions, they tour through villages and meet local artisans capturing Cypriot design and flavor to win over the book publisher, Suzanne Slesin.