It takes a lot of guts and determination to run any eating establishment. You have to be strong to deal with suppliers yet kind when dealing with all sorts of customers. Eva Diakakis was one of these diner owners. She owned the Famed Bendix Diner on Route 17 in Hasbrouck Heights , New Jersey for a number of years. She brought home cooking and comfort to people who needed both.
The Bemdix Diner on it's own is a salute to Jersey diner history. It started in the 1940's , named after the nearby Bendix Corporation. It was a popular spot thanks to it's location in the middle of Route 17 and near Route 46. Eva and her husband John bought it and then had their son John took over.They were from the beautiful island of Kos, just south of another lovely Greek isle, Karpathos. They brought their recipes to the states , settling in New York. Their son John,a former comedian took over the diner. He rose to local fame through documentaries.He is legally blind yet expertly took over the diner from his parents.His three sons, Michael Anthony and Dimitri helped their yiayia or Granny with cooking .She taught them an amazing slew of recipes that are still being made for diners today.Yet it was Eva;s kindness and caring that stood out. She knew her customers well and became family to them. She was that to mine, always treating my Mom with such kindness and friendliness. She knew her and my brother's favorite dishes along with mine.
Her food was amazing. She knew my brother was a vegetarian and went out for her way to make vegan soups like a tomato basil for him. She and their cook Julio whipped original vegan dishes for him as well. He loves his mashed potatoes and Eva always made sure he had a big plate of them, airily whipped and as light as a meringue. However it was her French fries that shone. They were crisp and tasty , a specialty of both her and her other son Chris. Of course there were Greek specialties that she also made for her fellow Kossians and Karpathians. (she went to high school on Karpathos because Kos was such a small island it couldn't afford one). Eva was a truly spiritual and virtuous individual who followed all the Greek Orthodox fasting days .She read the Bible daily and also made special breads for the church. She also had special breads for her customers like us too. They were always a treat, thickly sliced and spread with a generous layer of butter.
There will never be another Eva Diakakis, She was a gentle soul yet one with a steel backbone. She guided her family and business with such will and force. She made a huge impact on their and on her customers who became family to her.
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