Love of a Stranger
A memoir of Greek hospitality, and the ancient art of welcoming the stranger in.
Meet Stephanie →
A Story of Welcome
Growing up Greek in America taught Stephanie Vlahakis that a table can hold more than food. Love of a Stranger is her collection of stories about the people who taught her — and continue to teach her — what it means to welcome someone in.
Meet Stephanie
After a decade in corporate HR and nine years leading the National Hellenic Museum, Stephanie found her way back to her roots — and to the ancient Greek tradition of philoxenia.
What Readers Are Saying
“Stephanie weaves together her own stories, and those of others, as someone who has been quietly living this philosophy for decades without quite knowing its name, until Greece gave it back to her.”
Chip Conley, MEA Founder and Chairman
“In this deeply hopeful book, Vlahakis offers us a practical path forward, drawing on a historic practice from Ancient Greece reimagined for our modern world.”
Sara Connell, Best-selling author of The Download
Bring Philoxenia to Your Stage
Stephanie speaks on hospitality, heritage, and the power of welcome — for corporate audiences, conferences, and community gatherings alike.
Stay Close to the Story
Occasional notes on the book, events, and the practice of welcome.