Alexandros Mpantis

“Back in the day, hedgehogs were considered one of the greatest delicacies”

Tyrnavos, Greece, 2025

In this interview for the Roma Soul Food project, Samanta Baranja reflects on the deep connection between Roma food, family, memory and identity. She recalls a childhood kitchen filled with simple, homemade and traditional dishes such as nokelen, parado humer, dumplings and cabbage pasta, as well as festive meals that brought family members together around Christmas and Easter. While her everyday diet has changed over time toward healthier and more balanced habits, she still sees traditional Roma food as an important link to her home community, especially through Sunday lunches with relatives. The interview also highlights the need to preserve Roma recipes and food knowledge, so that the flavours, customs and stories connected to them can be passed on to future generations.

Listen to audio transcription in English

Read text transcription in English

Original language: Greek/Romani