Apo’s Personal Project | 52 Weeks of Fig

My Personal Project: A Culinary Journey Through Europe 🇪🇺🍽️

Hello! I’m Apostolos Gouzelis and I’m currently volunteering with Smokinya Foundation in Bulgaria as part of the European Solidarity Corps.

As part of my ESC experience, I had the opportunity to develop a Personal Project (PP)—an initiative designed to reflect each volunteer’s passion and create meaningful impact. With the support of Smokinya, I combined two things I deeply love: food and culture.

🌿 Inspired by the name “Smokinya” (which means fig in Bulgarian), I created a cookbook that celebrates European cuisine—with figs as the central ingredient. From savory dishes to sweet treats, each recipe captures not just flavors, but also the cultural essence of different European countries.

Over the course of 52 weeks, I gathered recipes, some of them experimented in the kitchen and documented them. This cookbook is my way of celebrating the rich diversity and shared love for food that connects us all. It’s not a professional piece, but I’m proud of it because I put a lot of effort into it and took it seriously.

📖 Take a look at the final cookbook here:
👉 52 Weeks of Fig

I hope you enjoy the journey—and maybe even try a fig-filled recipe or two! 🍽️✨