Good morning everyone!
Exciting new changes at the Taverna beginning this week!
About Taverna Manos Learning Center
Taverna Manos began 15 years ago, as a beloved Greek restaurant — a place where people gathered, learned, laughed, and felt at home. Over time, the taverna became more than a place to eat. It became a community built on clarity, care, and the joy of learning.
Today, that spirit lives on in a new form.
From Taverna to Learning Center
While the restaurant chapter has paused due to medical necessity for a while, the heart of Taverna Manos continues here — as a teaching studio where food safety, nutrition, cooking, art, and culture come together.
The Learning Center now includes:
- Artopolis Studio 109 (art classes, painting, creative rituals)
- Greek & Mediterranean/Middle Eastern cooking classes
- Bread and Noodle making Specialty courses
- Foodie blogging, news and kitchen wisdom
- Seasonal workshops and community events
- Starting soon – Food Safety Courses
Everything you loved about the taverna — the warmth, the humor, the Greek hospitality — is still here. We haven’t gone anywhere. It’s simply expressed through teaching instead of dining.
About Despina
I’m Despina Manos, founder of Taverna Manos and then in 2020, Artopolis Studio 109. I teach the way I cooked: with clarity, humor, and no judgment. My goal is to create a safe, welcoming space where beginners feel supported and returning artists or cooks feel inspired.
Why 109? Why Artopolis?
“109” is my father, Nicholas Manos’s, number — a quiet thread of heritage woven into everything I build. “Artopolis” means city of art, a nod to my Greek roots and the cultural training that shapes my teaching.
Filotimo: The Spirit Behind Our Learning Center
The heart of our Learning Center is filotimo — the Greek spirit of honor, kindness, and doing what is right simply because it’s right. Every class is built on that foundation: respect, generosity, and genuine care for the people who walk through our doors.
What You’ll Find Here
- Gentle, step‑by‑step instruction whether in cooking skills or art or food safety.
- A calm, anxiety‑free environment
- Classes designed for real people, not just professionals
- A blend of all Mediterranean culture, art, and food
- A place to breathe, learn, and reconnect with yourself
Taverna Manos has simply evolved — from feeding people to teaching them. Can’t wait to see you all again and although i can’t stand Long or walk well to serve you, I am able to teach you skills necessary for your own life to pass on to your own children and in your own kitchen. God Bless you all – can’t wait to cook with you again – Despina