OPA! in Tokyo Pop Up

For two nights in Meguro, AURI brought Greek-Australian chef and cookbook author Helena Moursellas, creator of OPA!, to wine bar juni and Locale, the natural wine bar owned by Katy Cole. The pop up offered the neighbourhood its first taste of Helena's Greek cooking, generous and full of warmth, carried from Australia to Tokyo.

Photography by Kingy Hsu

View through a glass window showing cardboard boxes stacked inside a room and part of a wooden table with a chair. Reflection of a person's hand and face on the glass.
Close-up of a stack of three copies of a book titled "PADDLE" by Helena Vikklas, with the titles visible on the spines. The books are placed on a surface with sunlight and a blurred background.
Two hands holding black bowls filled with chili topped with crumbled cheese and herbs.
People working and preparing food behind a restaurant counter, with glasses, bottles, and food items visible.
Two women in conversation at a dimly lit restaurant, with glasses of wine on the table and blurred figures in the background.
People gathered around a bar or counter, engaging in conversation and enjoying food and drinks in a cozy indoor setting.
A group of people gathered inside a restaurant or bar, with some standing and others sitting, engaging in conversation and enjoying drinks. There are bottles of wine and glasses on the counter, and a chef or bartender preparing food or drinks. The at
A wooden wine shelf filled with various bottles of wine, seen through a circular opening.
Group of five women sitting together at a restaurant table, smiling at the camera, with other guests and a bar in the background.
A group of people gathered around a table in a dimly lit restaurant, with a woman wearing glasses and a green cap among them. There are wine bottles on the table and blurred lights visible through the window in the background.
Two women posing together indoors in front of a beige wall and air conditioning unit. The woman on the left has short hair, earrings, a black graphic T-shirt, and light-washed jeans. The woman on the right has shoulder-length, reddish-purple hair, an
Two women standing close together indoors, smiling at the camera. The woman on the left has shoulder-length dark hair, wearing glasses, a green cap, and a dark quilted jacket. The woman on the right has short dark hair, wearing a beige coat over a bl
Three young men are sitting at a dining table, engaged in conversation and looking down at their phones. The table has wine bottles and glasses, and the background shows a warm, softly lit indoor setting.
Two women smiling at the camera, one holding a red card with the letters 'A-R-I', standing in front of a window.
Three young people standing on a city street at night, smiling and posing for the photo. They are wearing jackets, and the background features a modern building with signs for Mizuno Golf School and a Coca-Cola vending machine.
Group of seven diverse people sitting and standing outside a building, smiling and posing for a photo. Some are wearing aprons and casual clothing, indicating they may be involved in cooking or a similar activity. The building behind has large glass
A smiling woman wearing a white shirt and a striped apron standing at the entrance of a dark room, partially outside on a sunny day, with large potted plants nearby.
Three bottles of clear liquid, possibly alcohol or water, are arranged on a brown surface. They have white caps and labels, with one tag hanging from the front bottle. The bottles cast shadows on a pink wall with a cut-out pattern of shapes, creating
A white rectangular plate with a cooked dish featuring a pastry shell, filled with a spinach and cheese mixture, garnished with black sesame seeds.
A hand holding a small decorative ceramic plate with a colorful, speckled pattern. On the plate, there are raw scallops topped with green capers and red pepper flakes.
Two women preparing food in a cozy kitchen with green walls, wooden shelves, and pink flowers in the background.
Fried green tomatoes served on a blue ceramic plate with a side of creamy herb sauce garnished with dill.
A group of people smiling and enjoying drinks at a restaurant or cafe with sunlight coming through large windows.
A person with white hair and glasses sitting at a table with plates of food, a glass of water, and pink napkins in a cozy, well-lit restaurant.
Two women are sitting at a table, sharing an Italian meal. One woman is holding a slice of pizza, and the table has a pizza topped with vegetables and cheese, along with several glasses of water and some utensils.
Colorful bottles of soda on a wooden surface with a handwritten birthday card featuring a drawing of a happy drink with a straw, lemon slice, and arms and legs.
A young woman with curly hair and blue eyes smiling while holding a plate of food at an outdoor gathering. She has a bracelet on her wrist and is wearing a light-colored jacket. Behind her, a person is holding a glass of red wine. The setting appears
Two women standing near a window, one holding a wine glass, inside a room with a bookshelf and trays of food on a counter.
A woman with short dark hair in a red sweater smiling and holding a book titled 'OPAL!' in a cozy indoor setting, with a window and a wooden chair in the background.
A man wearing glasses and a tan bucket hat sits at a restaurant table, holding a glass of red wine and looking down. On the table, there is a plate of food with vegetables and a piece of bread, a bottle of wine, and a red napkin with utensils.
A woman smiling at a bar or restaurant, wearing a white t-shirt and a black apron, with several people in the background. The scene is dimly lit with a window showing an urban street outside.
People inside a restaurant or bar, viewed through a glass window with a wire mesh pattern, with a sign above that reads 'NATURAL WINE BAR'.
Two smiling women taking a selfie inside a restaurant. One woman is wearing a brown striped apron, and the other woman is holding a menu titled "OPAI" with illustrations of traditional Greek dishes. The background features a window and a colorful fra
A person holding a large container of crème brûlée topped with caramel and chocolate.
A woman with curly dark hair sitting indoors in front of a green wall with pink cherry blossom decorations, wearing a black jacket and striped shirt, looking to her left.
A close-up of a baking dish with a baked dessert topped with a cinnamon stick.
A man serving wine at a restaurant table with other people and wine bottles in the background.
People gathered around a table enjoying drinks and food in a dimly lit setting, possibly a restaurant or bar.
People sitting at tables in a restaurant, with a large abstract art piece on the green wall behind them and a window above, a glass of water and a smartphone are on the table.
Two women with short hair, one with blonde and the other with dark hair, sharing a toast with glasses of red wine in a warmly lit indoor setting.
A woman in an apron holding a tablet at a bar with several people around, bar shelves with bottles and glasses on the wall behind her.
A crowded indoor bar or restaurant with people socializing, some holding drinks. There are shelves with glassware and bottles behind the bar, and a window showing plants outside. The setting has warm lighting and a wooden ceiling.
A crowded indoor gathering with people socializing and drinking, with a warm, cozy ambiance and dim lighting.
Inside a restaurant or wine bar with people dining and socializing; the view is through a textured or patterned glass window with the words "Natural Wine Bar" projected on it.
A man with a beard, wearing a black hat and black leather jacket, is holding a plate with a sandwich, eating it in a dimly lit indoor setting with blurred background lights.
A multi-story building at night, with a restaurant on the ground floor occupied by several people dining, and a small balcony on the second floor. The building is lit with warm lighting inside, and a tall street lamp is visible at the street level. T
Two women smiling and posing for a photo at a restaurant or bar, one holding a glass of rosé wine. They are standing in front of a clothing rack with various jackets and shirts hanging on it. In the background, other patrons can be seen and the setti
Three women smiling and posing for a photo inside a restaurant. One woman on the right is raising her hand, and the other two are standing close together, making peace signs.
Group of six women smiling and taking a selfie at a restaurant, with jackets hanging on a rack behind them, and a table with drinks and menus in front.
Two women hugging, one is wearing a white apron and holding a drink, the other is wearing a black sweater with white stripes and a red belt. They are inside a building, with a group of people in the background.
Four women standing together in a restaurant kitchen, smiling and holding wine glasses, with others dining in the background.
Close-up of a person holding an open menu at a restaurant table, with the menu showing the words "To Vegetarians, Cook with Love" and handwritten notes, surrounded by a wine glass and paper materials.
A man with a beard wearing a black hat and leather jacket holding a blue book, standing next to a woman smiling and wearing a green jacket, inside a room with a green wall and a window in the background.
A group of smiling women and a young man posing together in a warmly lit restaurant. They are all making peace signs and look happy.
Two friends, a woman and a man, smiling and posing together at a restaurant, with a glass of white wine on the table and a colorful abstract painting on the wall behind them.
Two women smiling, one with short blonde hair holding a glass of rosé wine, the other with long blonde hair in a brown coat, inside a restaurant at night.
People are socializing in a room with a plain wall, and a woman with long dark hair is laughing, engaging with others.
Three people are standing together outside a building at night. The person in the middle is holding a colorful booklet that says "OPA!" and smiling. The person on the left is holding a water bottle, and the person on the right is holding a plastic bo
A smiling woman and a serious man holding a cookbook titled 'OPA! Recipes inspired by Greek tavernas' at a social gathering indoors. The woman has long brown hair and is wearing a brown shawl, while the man has a beard, mustache, and is wearing a bla
People sitting at a restaurant table with various desserts, a person in a white shirt leaning over, a woman with dark hair looking at a phone, and another person with glasses and a mustard sweater in the foreground. A colorful abstract painting hangs
A woman sitting outside a wine bar making a peace sign with her fingers, with a window showing people inside a crowded wine bar.
A group of six women sitting and standing around a pink cushioned booth in a restaurant or cafe, laughing and looking at their phones. One woman stands while holding her phone, taking a photo or video of the group. The background has a framed map or
Two women smiling and posing together indoors. One is wearing a striped shirt and the other a black top with beige overalls. Bottles are on a shelf in the background.
Group of people gathered around a table in a cozy room, enjoying food and drinks, with some women looking at a book or menu.
A woman with dark hair, glasses, and a red sweater sitting at a dining table, surrounded by plates of food and drinks in a cozy, warmly lit restaurant with a window view of trees outside.
Group of people talking at a party or gathering with bottles of wine on the table and a colorful artwork on the wall behind them.
Close-up of two hands holding small black bowls filled with Mexican-style shrimp cocktails garnished with feta cheese and chopped herbs.
A woman with long blonde hair, glasses, and a gray sweater is sitting at a wooden table, looking down at a paper. A man with dark hair, wearing a gray cap and a red jacket, is standing next to her, also looking at the paper. The scene appears to be i
Several women are sitting at a dining table in a dimly lit restaurant, smiling and talking to each other.
Two young adults, a woman with long red hair and glasses wearing a grey sweatshirt and a man with dark hair, glasses, and a backwards cap wearing a maroon shirt, pose together smiling in front of a black and grey wall with gold lettering and a window
A smiling Asian woman and a smiling Caucasian man standing together indoors at night, in front of a large window with warm lighting.
People sitting at a dining table in a restaurant, with drinks and wine bottles visible, engaged in conversation.
Two women posing for a photo indoors. The woman in front has blonde hair and is making a peace sign with her fingers, smiling widely. The woman behind has dark hair and is making a peace sign as well, with a slight smile. They are dressed casually, a
Three women smiling and posing together indoors near a window with green window frames. The woman in the middle is wearing a beige apron, and the other two women are wearing dark jackets. They all appear happy and cheerful.
Three people, two women and one man, smiling and standing together indoors. One woman is holding a blue card that says 'OPA!' and a shopping bag. They seem happy and are dressed casually.
Four women standing close together and smiling in a warmly lit indoor space, with one woman wearing a green baseball cap and glasses, another in a dark apron, and others wearing aprons and casual clothing.
A person taking a photo of a bowl of fried food, possibly onion rings, with a smartphone. Several wine bottles, a glass, and a fork are on the wooden table.
Two people, a woman and a man, are smiling and embracing each other on a street at night. They are dressed warmly in black jackets, with the woman wearing sunglasses on her head and the man wearing a beanie. The street has white pedestrian crossing l
A woman is preparing food behind a counter in a restaurant. Several children are sitting at the counter with plates of food, listening and watching her. The restaurant has a cozy and rustic decor with wooden shelves, pots, and flowers, and a brick wa
Four bottles of clear liquid with white caps and labels, placed in a wooden holder with circular cutouts. Shadows cast on a pink wall behind them.
Person slicing lemon on a wooden cutting board with a knife.
A young man and woman smiling and raising wine glasses outside a cafe or restaurant, with a green-framed window behind them
Two women standing outside a building, smiling and embracing. One holds a glass of white wine. The woman on the left wears a black T-shirt, pink apron, and black pants. The woman on the right wears a pink T-shirt and light blue jeans. There are chair
Three people posing outside a building, smiling at the camera. The man on the left wears a light blue shirt and light-colored pants, the woman in the middle wears a black top and coral dress, and the woman on the right wears a pink t-shirt and light
A woman smiling at a dining table with a plate of food, including pita bread and a vegetable dish, and a glass of wine, in a restaurant setting.
A man and a woman at a bar with bottles of wine and wine glasses. The woman is holding a flyer for a dinner event.
A person with blond hair and glasses, wearing a beige jacket, sitting at a dining table with food, including a plate of pasta, a glass of water, and a small dish with a salad, in a softly lit room with windows in the background.
Two women are sitting at a table enjoying pizza and dipping sauces, with glasses of water nearby.
A man wearing glasses, a beige bucket hat, and a gray jacket is sitting at a restaurant table, holding a glass of red wine and looking down. On the table, there is a plate of food with vegetables and flatbread, a bottle of wine, and other dining item
Three women smiling and holding papers, posing inside a cozy restaurant. A chalkboard menu is visible on the wall behind them, and shelves with baskets and other items are seen on the left side.
Women sitting at a table with appetizers and drinks, including white wine, a bottle of wine, and glasses with slices of lemon, in a cozy indoor setting.
A blurry image of a menu and a person's hand holding a pen, with a dark background and some visible lighting reflections.
A woman with dark hair smiling during a dinner party, surrounded by glasses of wine and bottles on the table, with ambient lighting and blurry background.
A person holding a plate of food with potato chips and a creamy dip, viewed through a glass window with a blurred background of two women in conversation.
A group of people gathered in a cozy, warmly lit restaurant or bar, socializing and enjoying drinks. Three women and three men are visible, with one man smiling at the camera. The background features shelves with bottles and glasses, and a decorative
Two women smiling, one holding a glass of rosé wine, in a cozy indoor setting with a clothing rack, hanging jackets, and a decorative wooden shelf in the background.