Chef Dimitrios Ntagakis

My name is Dimitrios Ntagakis, and my passion for cooking began at the age of 11, in my father’s traditional tavern in our village.

It was there that I first learned the foundations of Cretan cuisine. My father passed on to me the recipes, techniques, and traditions he had learned from his own grandmother. From him, I learned that great food does not need to be complicated — it needs good ingredients, patience, respect, and love.

Over the years, I worked as a chef in several restaurants in Rethymno, gaining valuable professional experience and developing my own approach to cooking. I later took over my father’s tavern, continuing a family tradition that had already been passed down through generations.

Today, I remain deeply passionate about traditional Cretan cuisine. My cooking is inspired by the flavors I grew up with, seasonal local ingredients, wild herbs, and, above all, extra virgin olive oil produced from my own olive trees.

Through our private dining experiences, my goal is to share not only the food of Crete, but a part of its culture and way of life.

Every menu has a story, and every dish carries a memory.

With Culinary Regards,

Chef Dimitrios Ntagakis