|
A helpful guide to the
cuisine of Greece
for diners and travelers
by an established authority
Why Greek Cuisine
is special
Greek food becomes captivating when the meal is leisurely eaten and shared with
family or friends in a convivial restaurant or taverna, or at home in a shaded
outdoor patio. Those environments enhance the victuals because they are embedded
in the Greek dining tradition. Without them, the pleasure of eating Greek food
can drop a notch or two.
Tips & insights
on Greek cuisine
 Greek
cooking is a fusion of early Greek cuisine blended with foreign influences
dating back to Roman times.
The
greatest influence was the cooking style of the Ottoman Empire, which ruled
Greece in the 14th to 18th centuries.
The
Ottoman impact explains why Greece and Turkey share many dishes. However, the
two styles differ in, for instance, seasoning. The Turkish tend to use herbs and
spices more intricately, the Greeks, more simply.
Fish
was one of the popular mainstays of the Greek diet during my first visit in the
1960s. Today, fresh seafood is scarce and expensive due to severe overfishing.
Much of the supply is now frozen and imported.
Ten famous
Greek preparations
Try these on your next trip to a Greek restaurant.
Avgolemono
- A soup (also a sauce) enriched with eggs and lemon juice.
Baklava
- Dessert. Layers of phyllo pastry and nuts are drenched with honey syrup.
Dolmades
- Rice (plain or mixed with lamb) wrapped in grapevine leaves.
Greek
salad - Lettuce mixed with feta cheese, tomatoes, olives, scallions, and
green peppers, then tossed with a lemony olive oil dressing.
Moussaka
- A casserole composed of layers of eggplant and minced lamb crowned with a white
sauce.
Pastitsio
- A pasta and lamb casserole bound by a cheese-infused white sauce.
Souvlaki
- Lamb grilled on a skewer. Typically served inside a rolled pita bread.
Spanakopita
- Spinach in a triangular flaky phyllo pastry jacket.
Taramosalata
- A spread made with fish roe, bread crumbs and olive oil.
Whole
roasted lamb - Cooked on a spit. Immensely popular for Easter.
Famous
beverages
Greek
coffee - Black, strong and (typically) sweet.
Metaxa
- A brandy.
Ouzo
- Anise-flavored liqueur. Turns milky white when water is added.
Retsina
- White wine flavored with pine resin.
Also learn
about these
exciting
world cuisines
My food & wine
credentials
My books have been critically acclaimed by major magazines and newspapers. Click
the button below to read a sampling (in Acrobat format).
|
