CHEF MARIA BELL, WHO LEARNED GREEK CUISINE IN HER GRANDMOTHER'S KITCHEN, has a Greek restaurant in the mini mall. The deli is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Chef Maria's Greek Deli offers food it...

Chef Maria's Greek Deli opened March 13 in the mini mall at 2013 Eisenhower Ave. on Fort Knox and its chef is certainly no stranger to the local area.

Chef Maria Bell, who learned Greek cuisine in her grandmother's kitchen, also owned and operated a restaurant on Knox Avenue in Radcliff and a similar one in Louisville for a few years before bringing it back to the Army installation.

"I've been cooking since I was 10 years old," Bell said, taking a short break following a busy lunch.

The deli, open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., offers lamb, chicken and talipia gyros, which she said has been deemed "the best gyros in the world"--as well as Chef Maria's famous chicken or falafel kabobs, a Greek salad, egg lemon chicken soup, lentil soup bowl, Greek fries (fries sprinkled with feta cheese and Greek spices) and Baklava.

The Greek deli also has a kid-friendly menu.

Bell does all of the food preparation and cooking herself, as it takes longer than overnight to learn the Greek way.

"Even though my feet are killing me by the end of the day--I love it," she said.

The approach is a family one at the deli as Bell works alongside her daughter, Vidie and her brother, Manolis.

Her homeland of Ierapetra, Greece, is a world away from Fort Knox but the family opens the door to this unique and fresh cuisine every day except Sunday.

Online orders are welcome by visiting chefmariasgreekdeli.com.