In many ways, organic farming in Greece is simply common sense. Many farms are tended with the same careful, sustainable attention that they have been for centuries.... Read More
Salt has been sprinkled over food throughout the centuries and Greece is no exception. There are places in the world that derived their wealth from salt mining, and ... Read More
Since much of Greece is located closed to the sea, it makes sense that seafood is an important part of the cuisine. All of the seas that are close to Greece – ... Read More
In some form, sausage has been eaten in Greece since ancient times. The ancient Spartans made a form of sausage called melas zomos, which is directly translated as ... Read More
Lemons weren’t always grown in Greece. At some point in Greece’s history, lemon trees found their way to Greece. Now, lemon groves can be found all over... Read More
People who live outside of Greece may not realize that there are several different types of taramosalata out there. It is possible to find a store bought version, bu... Read More
In Greece, frying up a batch of saganaki, or fried cheese, is a real art. The perfect batch consists of cubes or thick slices of cheese that have been fried perfec... Read More
Vinegar is one of those ingredients that most of us don’t think about much. We reach for it when we need to dress a salad or when the recipe calls for it. Oth... Read More
In Greek cuisine, the eggplant takes center stage in many dishes. With it’s shiny, colorful skin and soft insides, this is an ideal vegetable to add to the Gre... Read More
Crete has a distinct charm that you can’t get anywhere else in Greece. Because it is a large island, it is all too easy to feel as if you aren’t on an is... Read More
Greece has the ideal climate for growing olives and as a result of that, they have been part of the culinary tradition in the country since antiquity. Whether they a... Read More
When most people think about beverages that are found in Greece, images of wine, spirits like Ouzo and tsikoudia, or Greek coffee come to mind. Those who really unde... Read More
Brandy is a type of spirit that is made from distilling wine and then storing it in oak barrels with other flavorings. Each part of the world has its own variation. ... Read More
You don’t need to wander far in Greece in order to encounter grapevines. Wandering through the countryside could easily put you in contact with some of these v... Read More
When talking about a country’s cuisine, it isn’t enough to simply list some of the popular ingredients and dishes and think that you truly understand. Ye... Read More
There are many types of eating establishments in Greece, but none are as iconic as the taverna. When people first visit Greece, they often use the words “taver... Read More
Avgolemono is something that is fairly unique to Greek cooking. To make it, warm broth is mixed with frothy egg whites and yokes as well as a generous squeeze of fre... Read More
Yes, it’s true. Greek cuisine is one of the most influential in the world, and it has been that way since ancient times. In fact, trendy concepts like farm-to-tabl... Read More
To many people, there is only one real Greek salad. Loaded with cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers, and plenty of olives and feta, this salad is at the cornerstone... Read More
Mahleb is one of those aromatic spices that is a big part of Greek cuisine, but it isn’t one of those that immediately comes to mind. Cinnamon, cloves, and nu... Read More
When most of us think about Greek herbs and spices, very few of us actually add saffron to the list. However, it is a mistake to leave it out. Greeks do use saffron ... Read More
When most of us think about the grains that are used in Greek cooking, we mostly think of the rice dishes, breads, and forms of pasta that are typically used toda... Read More
Most of us know what traditional Greek baklava is. Typically, it’s made of walnuts or another type of nut, depending on what part of Greece it originates from,... Read More
The farmers markets in Greece, referred to as the Laiki markets, are a chance for local farmers to sell their goods to those who want it. Primarily, the understandin... Read More
When cooking Greek food here in the United States, we use the resources that are available to us. For most of us, that means we most commonly use our stovetops, oven... Read More
When asked to recall the names of Greek cheeses, most of us automatically name feta before recalling any of the others. Especially outside of Greece, feta cheese is ... Read More
Mastic is one of those Greek spices that doesn’t get a lot of press. Outside of Greece, it can also be fairly difficult to find so many Greek cooks found that ... Read More
When we eat Greek bread here in the United States, most of us only think of a few types. There’s the white bread with the hard crust that we eat with our meal... Read More
When most people think about Greek cheese, they usually reach for the feta without realizing that it’s not the only type out there! Other cheeses, such as mzit... Read More
Fish is an important part of the traditional Greek diet and if you spend any length of time there, it’s easy to see why. Because there are so many islands in... Read More
The Greek red wine of Mavroudi is often comprised of various grapes in the several regions of Greece including: Peloponnese, Epirus and Macedonia all located near... Read More
Moschofilero is a fantastic Greek white wine that is made from some of the finest grapes from local vineyards in the Mantinia plateau and in the southern Peloponnese... Read More
One sniff of the Aidani white wine, which is produced near the Aegean Sea in the Greek island of Santorini, and you’ll immediately be transported to the island... Read More
Athiri (Greek: Αθήρι) or also called Athiri and Aspro is a white Greek wine that is produced in the Greek island of Rhodes. The white grapes that are typicall... Read More
Sideritis is a rose and pink colored Greek wine that is grown and cultivated in the region of Peloponnese, Greece, the Greek island of Evia and Patras. Sideritis is ... Read More
Mezedakia are more a concept than an established array of dishes. These small plate foods can be eaten as a main course or an appetizer. It all depends on how they&#... Read More
Because store-bought phyllo is readily available, it seems that making phyllo is a lost art. My mother talks about making phyllo with my yiayia. They would use a lon... Read More
Growing up in a Greek American family, I always assumed that dolmades were made with grape leaves. We actually have grapes growing on our property, which I assumed ... Read More
When people are asked to name the most popular ingredients in Greek cooking, most people don’t even mention the humble caper. In reality, capers have been a pa... Read More
Soup has a special place on the Greek dinner table because to the Greek people, it is an important part of the dining ritual. In fact, it often receives the honor o... Read More
On a recent trip to Greece, I quickly realized that everything I thought I knew about Gyros was wrong. While I had thought that they were always made the same way, w... Read More
When visiting Greece, one thing that really stands out is the close relationship that most people have to the land. Nowhere is this more obvious than in self-suffici... Read More
When my family came over from Greece to the United States, we were quick to adopt some of the more “American” holidays, such as Thanksgiving, which celeb... Read More
When I was a child, I knew of only one way to work with filo. Whenever we would make dishes such as tiropita, spanakopita, or baklava, we would usually do so by form... Read More
The art of Greek coffee cup fortune telling has always intriguing. Is it possible that reading coffee cups can actually result in making predictions? Whenever I ask... Read More
The Greek people have been living off the land for centuries, and many of the “old ways” are alive and well. While people in westernized cultures experie... Read More
One thing I have learned about Greek cooking is that it certainly isn’t wasteful. A few years ago, my dad recalled something that his aunt would make. When pee... Read More
I was recently in an herbal shop in Heraklion, on the island of Crete, where I sampled a syrupy almond drink called Soumada. At the time, I thought it was an inte... Read More
On a recent trip to Greece, I sat huddled in the back of a small coffee handler while my guide explained how Greeks came to drink coffee. I was on the island of Cret... Read More
Do you know someone who makes his own wine at home? Whether you have your own grape vines in your back yard, you source the grapes, or you simply use grape juice or... Read More
By far, meat is one of the most popular meats in Greek cuisine. Sure, the Greek people have been known to eat other meats, such as pork and even goats, but lamb is t... Read More
It’s rare to find a Greek table that doesn’t include olives in some way. Usually, dishes of mixed olives are placed throughout the table so that all can ... Read More
The first time you take a sip of retsina, a Greek white wine, you might be a little shocked. At first glance, retsina looks and even smells like a typical white wi... Read More
Paximathia, a Greek cookie that is similar to the Italian biscotti, is not only delicious, but it’s also a big part of Greek traditional life. In fact, this t... Read More
Herbs grow abundantly in the Greek countryside, perfuming the air with their aromas. Villagers, baskets in hand, wander from one cluster of herbs to the other, picki... Read More
When you think of Greek food and drink, chances are pretty good that beer won’t even come to mind. Yet, Greek beer does exist and it’s a fairly common be... Read More
Bechamel, or “saltsa besamel” is a sauce that is used in Greek cooking but that has French origins. Greeks have taken a slightly different approach to m... Read More
There are plenty of other Greek cheeses besides feta! For instance, Mizithra cheese is the secret ingredient in my tiropita, but I didn’t even know about it u... Read More
For those of us who live in the United States, it’s all too easy to forget that the cuisine in Greece is very much tied to the seasons. When we want an orange,... Read More
Back in the 1950’s, researchers discovered that the traditional Cretan diet was amongst the healthiest in the world. The islanders experienced great health by ... Read More
One of the things I remember most about my yiayia, or grandmother, are the potatoes that she peeled almost constantly, many of which became her signature French frie... Read More
As a Greek American, I’ve been eating in the Greek style all my life. After spending some time dining with my non-Greek friends, I realized that the family din... Read More
In Greece, pizza isn’t actually a common part of the cuisine. Sure, you can find some Italian-style restaurants, particularly in the cities. But pizza isn̵... Read More
Agiorgitiko (Greek: Αγιωργίτικο; also known as Aghiorghitiko wine) is a red Greek wine that is typically grown in the Nemea region of Peloponnese, Greece.... Read More
It’s easy to understand why seafood is such an important part of Greek cuisine. There are so many islands and well-developed coastal areas that seafood is read... Read More
When in Greece, it’s difficult not to notice the bounty of fresh herbs. They grow wild in the fields and almost every household keeps several posts of their fa... Read More
It’s hard to go anywhere in Greece without bumping into a street cart or small restaurant serving them. You can usually smell the before you see the restaura... Read More
Honey is an important part of Greek cuisine. Honey is often referred to as the “nectar of the gods” and with good reason – it’s sweet and del... Read More
Since olive oil is so abundant in Greece, it makes perfect sense that fried bread is such a popular food. There are a few different ways to prepare it, and some of t... Read More
Greek food is simple fare but it’s far from boring. One thing that sets this cuisine apart is its artful use of sauces. Greek cooks use sauces in such a subt... Read More
When I was a kid, it was a special treat when we’d visit the Greek bakery that was near our church. My mother always had to buy more loaves than we needed beca... Read More
The olive tree is one of the most iconic trees in the Greek culture; it has been an important part of Greek culture since ancient times. In fact, the olive tree is t... Read More
One of the most interesting things about traditional Greek cooking is that nothing goes to waste. In the United States, most of us have no idea that the wild plants... Read More
Filo is one of the most fascinating ingredients in Greek cooking. Originating in the Byzantine time period, Greeks have embraced foods created from this dough for a ... Read More
In New England, seasonal produce is often available at local farms on a “pick your own” basis. Everything from wild flowers to berries, peaches, apples e... Read More
Did you know that almonds are very common in Greek cooking? As an American of Greek descent, I actually didn’t have a lot of exposure to the nut until I got ol... Read More
Of all the herbs and spices that are used in Greek cooking, oregano is the most beloved. In fact, it’s rare to find a dish that doesn’t include it, even when the... Read More
You can’t go very far in Greece without bumping into the smell of someone cooking. Greek food is simple and artfully perfumed with herbs and spices that are combin... Read More
Despite the fact that Greeks some to love their alcoholic beverages, being drunk in public is absolutely frowned on. The Greek people seem to drink in moderation wh... Read More
These days, it’s nearly impossible to read an American food or fitness magazines without someone mentioning Greek yogurt. People in the United States finally u... Read More
After spending a day shopping and sightseeing on your stay in Greece, you’re looking forward to your meal at the restaurant overlooking the ocean. You find a t... Read More
Whenever I smell the syrup of warm honey, cinnamon, and fresh squeezed orange juice, I know that it’s time for Christmas. Each year, my mother makes a huge pan... Read More
Greece is known as one of the best producers of olive oil in the world! In fact, at the world renowned New York International Olive Oil Awards, nineteen of Greece... Read More
Have you ever noticed that no matter where you are, there seems to be a different version of Greek salad dressing out there? For those of us living in the United Sta... Read More
If you’ve ever been to the Greek island of Crete, or if you have ancestors that are from the island, chances are pretty good that you’ve had a spirit cal... Read More
Last week, I ran out of salt. No idea how it happened but there I was with a piled-high platter of hot, golden Greek fried squash and not a grain of salt in the en... Read More
Mavrodafni (Greek: Μαυροδάφνη.) is a Greek red wine that often uses a dark red grape that is often found in the Achea region in Northern Peloponnese, Greec... Read More
