Spanakopita — the crispy Greek pie with spinach and cheese — is not just food for John Cena. For the famous actor and former wrestler, its taste is tied to one of the most special moments of his life: his honeymoon in Santorini.

In a recent interview with Bon Appétit magazine, Cena spoke with enthusiasm about how spanakopita instantly takes him back to those days. “Food is not just nourishment. It’s memory, it’s emotion,” he said, describing how every bite brings back images of the island’s narrow streets, the endless blue of the Aegean, and the moments he shared with his wife.

Spanakopita, with its delicate phyllo layers wrapped around a rich filling of spinach, feta, and herbs, is among Greece’s most beloved dishes internationally. But for Cena, its flavor is more than just culinary delight — it’s a bond with a place that gifted him memories of a lifetime.

He revealed that during that period, he tried the dish almost daily in different variations — from family-owned bakeries to fine-dining restaurants. Each version had its own “signature,” but they all shared one thing: the sense of hospitality and warmth he felt from the people around him.

Cena’s story is a reminder that food can serve as a bridge between cultures, as well as a “time capsule” that transports us back to cherished moments. As he explained, spanakopita is no longer just something he enjoys eating — it has become a way to relive his most romantic memories, even when thousands of miles away from Greece.

John Cena is married to Shay Shariatzadeh, a Canadian engineer of Iranian descent. The couple met in 2019 during the filming of one of Cena’s movies and married in October 2020 in a private ceremony in Tampa, Florida. Two years later, they renewed their vows in a romantic ceremony in Vancouver, close to the bride’s family. They have chosen to keep their personal life largely out of the spotlight, often traveling together and enjoying their shared life.

Their trip to Santorini remains one of the highlights of their journey as a couple — leaving Cena not only with beautiful memories but also with a taste he will never forget: Greek spanakopita.