World-renowned chef Cat Cora is returning to her ancestral homeland of Greece to explore new collaborations across the country’s gastronomy, hospitality, and food-service industries. During her visit, she’ll also lend her longtime support to an organization close to her heart—the Greek America Foundation—by headlining its first-ever fundraising dinner in Athens.
On Monday, October 13, 2025, Cora will join forces with acclaimed Greek chef Iosif Sykianakis for an unforgettable evening at the Olympias Rooftop (Athinas 57, Athens), which is generously donating their space for the event, with the Acropolis as a stunning backdrop. The event, titled “Chefs Cat Cora and Iosif Sykianakis: Tête-à-tête in the Kitchen,” will unite two exceptional culinary talents for a night celebrating heritage, creativity, and philanthropy.
Hosted by Gregory C. Pappas, founder and chairman of the Greek America Foundation, alongside a local host committee of Achilleas Voutsinas, Steve Tsaropoulos, and Alexis Galanopoulos, the dinner will raise funds for the Foundation’s Greek America Corps volunteer program. Thanks to the generosity of both chefs and the venue—whose team is donating its space and services—every euro raised will directly support the cause.
The evening will be especially meaningful for Cora, who has long championed the Foundation’s mission and values. Best known as the first female Iron Chef and the first woman inducted into the American Culinary Federation’s Hall of Fame, Cora is also an author, restaurateur, and global advocate for health, wellness, and hunger relief. Trained at the Culinary Institute of America and refined in Michelin-starred French kitchens, she has opened more than 18 restaurants worldwide and remains a leading voice for women in the culinary industry.
Her collaborator for the evening, Iosif Sykianakis, is one of Greece’s most respected chefs and culinary consultants. With over two decades of international experience—including at Le Taillevent and L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Paris—Sykianakis is known for his modern approach to Mediterranean cuisine and his work at luxury destinations across Greece and abroad.
Proceeds from the dinner will benefit Greek America Corps, the Foundation’s flagship program that brings young people from North America to Greece each summer to serve in orphanages, refugee shelters, and community projects across Athens, Thessaloniki, Chios, and Crete. The initiative provides hands-on aid to vulnerable communities while inspiring a new generation of engaged global citizens.
“This evening is more than a dinner—it’s a celebration of heritage, philanthropy, and the power of food to unite people for a greater purpose,” said Pappas.
