The end result worked out just fine, even if the weather wasn’t - with the kind of food we enjoyed at our lunch in south London, photographed in situ on the islands by photographer Jason Lowe.

For the most part this isn’t food you’re going to knock out in 20 minutes on a school night, but food you might want to cook one summer’s morning and then eat like the Greeks eat, warm, not hot, in a lazy afternoon with the wine and the talk flowing.

Or perhaps best of all, on a boat, where lunch is followed by a comfy dose on a deck sloping as she tacks, with the quiet hum of the sails and a Greek island or two in the distance.

A Culinary Voyage Around the Greek Islands is published by Qaudrille (www.quadrille.co.uk) at £20.

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GREEK CRUISING

The next Tussock culinary cruise is with Ruud Wunneberg, formerly of Ledoyen in Paris, who has his own Michelin-starred restaurant in Amsterdam. For information on this and other Tussock cruises, visit www.tussockcruising.com or phone 020 8510 9292

THEODORE’S TOP TEN GREEK ISLAND TAVERNAS

1.’Taverna Tou Limaniou’, in the bay of Vathi in Kalymnos. The best spot of the island, great deep waters for swimming and plenty of octopus and local prawn saganaki.

2.’Tholos’ for dinner under Symi’s night firmament with whole grilled fish and good wines from Rhodes.

3. ‘Rock’ in the petite harbour of Lipsi. Plenty of unusual mezedes, lots of sea urchins around the August full moon and free pouring ouzo.

4. ‘O Trypas’ Taverna in the tiny island of Arki and look for the local salted fish.

5. ‘Glaros’ in the off the beaten track Island of Agathonisi where the food is naturally organic. Ask for markakia which is feta wrapped in vine leaves served with a kind of a dressing.

6. ‘Café Aperihou’, hidden in the rocks, overlooking the main port of Icaria, Agios Kirykos. Good ouzo with all the usual local odours.

7. ‘Kalderimi’ in the main town of Lesvos. The place to be with the locals. Salty mackerel is a must.

8. ‘Taverna Tarsanas’ in Thasos. A bit of walk, about 1km but the best seafood, especially in September.

9. ‘I Synantisi’ on the waterfront of the main port of Samothraki. No surprises but excellent local delicacies. Don’t miss out the Samothraki World Music Festival around mid July.

10. ‘Taverna O Mylos’ in the village of Olympos of Northern Karpathos. If you arrive there during spring, look out for local kid casserole and artichokes. Good organic produce.

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