“Living life ‘nice ’n easy’ starts from within,” says Dimitris Christoforidis describing his philosophy of life. Born in Kozani, Christoforidis dreamed of someday creating a life he would love to live beyond the fields surrounding his family’s home in northern Greece. An admirer of the Los Angeles Lakers from his early teens, his wish “to be an LA Laker” did come partially true later when, after living in Sweden and then Chicago and New York City, he ended up in southern California. But he wasn’t there to play for the Lakers: his vision was quite different. He wanted to combine the creation of deliciously healthy food with a place of escape for professional sports players and other celebrities. This place was Sanctuary, a restaurant/lounge that soon became an exclusive hideaway for many in the entertainment industry. He was highly respected by his A-List customers for not succumbing to the ever-persistent paparazzi loitering outside his establishment. “I was not interested in getting a payout to sell stories about the celebrities who frequented my establishment. These people were my friends and they trusted me. No money is worth breaking the bond amongst good friends.”
In 2003, Greece was pulling at his heart to return. “There really is no place like home,” he says with emotion. Back in Athens, Christoforidis saw the trend towards quick food and decided to develop a new twist on it with healthy cuisine. Along with his business partner, chef Chris Athanasiadis, he created his first Greek venture in 2006–the “Derlicatessen”, a healthy souvlaki eatery that used fine meats served on whole-wheat pita and freshly-made tzatziki.
But he wanted more. “I just couldn’t stop there; I wanted to keep spreading the health.” The result, an organic restaurant-café/bar called “nice ‘n’ easy” which he opened with Athanasiadis in 2008 in the Greek capital’s chic Kolonaki district. The name was inspired by the Frank Sinatra song and Christoforidis’s desire to use Hollywood’s golden era as the theme. “The combination of the classic film era and the healthy cuisine works organically together. And I’m happy to say ‘nice ’n easy’ has been embraced by the Athenians and is frequented by multiple celebrities and tourists daily. In fact, many refer to us as the ‘Hollywood of Athens’, and we like that.”
Dishes like the “Marlon Brando Burger” (Kobe beef topped with cheddar cheese, baked onions, coleslaw and fries), the “Anthony Quinn Quasantilla” (a warm tortilla with chicken filet, gouda cheese and vegetables, sprinkled with a sweet chili sauce), and, of course, “The Frank Sinatra” (Black Angus free-range filet of beef topped with a wild mushroom sauce, mashed carrots and grilled young potatoes) amplify the theme.
“I go deep within my soul seeking inspiration from my past. Though this may sound odd, I must tell you, I am one who actually enjoys the hardships in life. If you don’t experience the challenging times, you can’t appreciate the good times. Sometimes you fail however, when you fall down you must get up and keep moving. So I embrace the tough times and I learn from them.” Happiness and inspiration, he adds, come from people “not from material things”.
Not one to rest on his laurels, Christoforidis is already looking at new business ventures. “One of the companies that I am further developing along with my colleague, Nicholas Papadopoulos, is Solyndra. I currently serve as the official sales representative for Greece and Cyprus. The company is headquartered in Fremont, California and designs and manufactures solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, comprised of panels and mounts, specifically designed for the commercial rooftop market.” But he’s also exploring the possibility of starting a production company. “This would be a company I would launch with one of the most dynamic screenwriters and directors I know, Vasilis Katsikis. Truthfully speaking, I would only consider this venture with Vasilis because of his extraordinary talent and well-respected work.”
Food, energy, film: none of it is related but Christoforidis says “I’m open to all possibilities that cross my path and you never know…There are no limitations or boundaries.”