Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Greek Cuisine
Simple, nutritious and flavoursome, the food is one of the pleasures of
travel through Greece. Rustic Greek cooking reflects the history and bounty
of its diverse regions and relies on fresh, seasonal, local produce. Tradition-
al home-style cooking is enjoying a renaissance, with a greater focus on re-
gional specialities and local produce. While the humble souvlaki remains
ever-popular, the nation's new generation of chefs is also taking its culinary
heritage up a notch, reinterpreting Greek classics with contemporary flair.
The Greek Kitchen
The essence of traditional Greek cuisine lies in fresh, seasonal home-grown produce and
generally simple, unfussy cooking that brings out the rich flavours of the Mediterranean.
Greek dishes are simply seasoned. Lemon juice, garlic, pungent Greek oregano and ex-
tra virgin olive oil are the quintessential flavours, along with tomato, parsley and dill, and
spices such as cinnamon, allspice and cloves.
Extra virgin olive oil, the elixir of Greece, is used liberally in cooking and salads and is
also the secret to making tasty vegetables, pulses and legumes - key elements of the
healthy Mediterranean diet.
Once reserved for special occasions, meat has become more prominent in the modern
diet. Local free-range lamb and pork dominate, though kid goat is also popular (beef is
largely imported).
Traditional tavernas normally offer a selection of mezedhes, food cooked
tis oras
(to or-
der), such as grilled meat and seafood, and ready-cooked home-style dishes known as
mayirefta
.
A fresh loaf of (usually white) crusty bread is a mandatory feature of every meal.
Feta, the national cheese, has been produced for about 6000 years from sheep's and/or
goat's milk. Only feta made in Greece can be called feta, an EU ruling giving it the same
protected status as Parma ham and Champagne.
Mayirefta
Mayirefta
is a catch-all term for a variety of home-style, one-pot, baked or casserole
dishes. Some
mayirefta
, mostly braised vegetable dishes, are also referred to as
ladhera
