“There is no sincerer love than the love of food.” -George Bernard Shaw
Where do we start with Greek food? Right…. The starters!
As a Greek feast is never short of all sorts of appetizers, main course and tasty desserts, let’s roll our sleeves and dig in.
The Starters
Feta Me Meli
A great combination for a sophisticated palate. Savory and sweet flavours delicately integrated to reach the sweet spot especially when combined with local drinks. This Greek goodness is sometimes topped with sesame seeds to add another dimension of taste.
In any case, starting your meal with Feta Me Meli is surely a clever way for commencing your Greek tasting journey.
Olives
A Mediterranean specialty and a Greek ingenuity. Olives are always the gatekeepers of any Greek meal whether light or heavy. Virgin olive oil drizzled over most salads and appetizers, have a divine connection to it, as legend has it that Athena gave an olive tree to the city of Athens to gain its favor.
Salads
“It’s difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato.” – Lewis Grizzard
Freshness, freshness and some more freshness, this is what your mouth would tell you with every bite of Greek salad.
Greek salads are loaded with nutrients and vitamins as they mainly consist of fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, olives, capsicum and some garnishing in addition to a hint of salt and an ample of olive oil, sometimes topped with little oregano or other tasty seasonings.
Taramosalata
Missing some vitamin D? This dish is loaded with omega-3, vitamins D and B-12 among many other good stuff. Then a small bask in the sun and your health is on boost mode.
This dish consists mainly of fish roe sitting on a top of a carbohydrate base, namely bread or potato and soaking with lemon juice and again… you guessed it, olive oil.
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Main Dishes
Souvlaki
For all meat lovers out there, Souvlaki has got you covered!
Souvlaki is a meat dish consisting primarily of pork skewers, grilled to perfection. Sometimes, the meat can be switched to other types but the great flavour is omnipresent. This delicacy is often served with tzatziki (yogurt, cucumber and mint) sauce and pita bread.
Gyros
A great sandwich on the go. Greek fast food is never an unhealthy option, especially when it comes to Gyro. This meat is cooked on a huge hanging skewer and is cut into thin slices, then wrapped with your choice of bread and other vegetables and sauces.
Vegetarian varieties are also there, with the choice of either halloumi cheese or feta.
Mousakka
Aubergine fans will find this plate heavenly. Layers of aubergine or eggplant stuffed with your choice of meat or potatoes, but why not go for both?
This flavorsome mix is topped with béchamel sauce and baked altogether until the golden dish is ready.
Dolmades
Grape leaves are a thing in the Mediterranean and Aegean basins, and the Greek took it to the next level. This meal consists of grape leaves filled with meat. Vegetarian varieties are also available.
This platter serves as both, an appetizer and main dish, while sometimes it is served as a side order accompanying another meal. So it is always sitting on Greek dining tables in some shape or form.
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Drinks
Ouzo
The cloudy white colored drink is a Greek liquor label. It’s anise flavour and usually drank as an aperitif.
Metaxa
The sweet tasting brandy drink is very flavoursome and lighter than most other strong alcoholic beverages.
Beer
Visitors and locals always enjoy bottles and pints of beer while in Greece, as the country has its own locally produced brands such as Mythos and Alpha, as well as other brands like Amstel and Heineken.
Coffee
Coffee break? Well there is no other great joy than sipping a cup of coffee while watching the sunrise or sunset in Greece. Also, midday is no less of pleasure when it comes to a coffee break amid the busy streets of Athens or while island hopping among the legendary islands of the country.
Desserts
Let’s finish up with some sweets, shall we?
Baklava
A layered pastry dough filled with a delightful mix of nuts, is a perfect combination for a sweet end to a tasty meal.
Loukoumades
Similar to mini doughnuts but with golden texture as they are fried to perfection and dipped with sugar, syrup, chocolate, cinnamon and an ample variety of choices that you need to choose from, oh decisions decisions..
