Greece Food
Thassos: brucellosis should not worry travelers
All of a sudden, the Eastern European TV stations are filled with information about an epidemic going around Thassos. While the Bulgarian Tourism Board recommended the citizens to avoid the island, the Romanian Tourism Board recommended that both travelers who want to go to Thassos and travel agencies which sell vacations in Thassos should be “calm” and not worry about the so-called epidemic.
What’s the real story after all? Yes, there were instances of brucellosis in Thassos, mostly among locals who ate non pasteurized food from their own production. But it hasn’t affected the tourists at all. The tourists are asked not to eat anything from the rural markets or produced in the locals’ homes, which includes milk and cheese (yes, feta). Also, it’s advisable not to visit the farms in the mountains.
Date: June 6th, 2008 |
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Easter Food in Greece
Easter is the most sacred holiday for the Greek Orthodox. Preparations for Easter come to climax during Holy Week, between Palm Sunday and Easter. There are many customs and foods associated with Easter; some are the same all over Greece, some are really localized.
Tsoureki
Tsoureki, the traditional Easter bread, is baked on Holy Thursday. On the same day the eggs are dyed red.
Date: April 5th, 2008 |
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Moussaka: The National Dish of Greece
Traditional Greek moussaka is still made from recipes handed down from generation to generation. As a matter of fact, the most successful tavernas and restaurants are run by families who have handed the business down from generation to generation.
If you want to experience the real traditional moussaka, look for a taverna hidden somewhere between the white houses. If you see the work “moussaka” written in 50 languages then you need to search for another place. The perfect taverna is filled with Greeks and doesn’t even have a menu in English.
Date: December 30th, 2007 |
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Feta Cheese
“Hello. I’m Cristina and I’m cheesoholic”. That would probably best describe my attitude towards Feta cheese: I just love it! And there is no better place to eat than in Greece, the country where Feta cheese is at its best.
What is Feta Cheese?
Feta is the most well-known, classic Greek cheese. Feta is made from sheep’s or goat’s milk. It’s a curd cheese cured in brine and is still made from unpasteurized milk by Greek shepherds in the mountains.
Although sometimes cow’s milk is used, the real Feta cheese should not contain it. Feta is an aged cheese and is commonly produced in blocks.
Feta is white and can range from soft to semi-hard blocks. The salty flavor can range from soft to sharp. Most feta cheese has 45% fat content (so it’s not really a “diet” cheese).
You will find it in salads (the Classic Greek Salad), in pastries and as a stand-alone meze. It’s commonly used in the spinach pie (spanakopita) and cheese pie (tyropita).
Date: December 3rd, 2007 |
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A weekend in Athens
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the writer of Greece Travel Guide is planning a vacation in…Greece. And what do we do when we plan our vacations? Research!
Athens is the birth place of civilization and one of those cities which should be visited at least once in a lifetime. With that in mind, I set out to create an itinerary for a weekend in Athens.
And my research took me to a rather interesting article: The New York Time’s 36 Hours in Athens, Greece . Poking my nose in other fellow writers’ article is not only fun (I have to check out the competition, right?) but also very informative.
Date: May 3rd, 2008 |
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Cretan Cuisine- For the Health Conscious Traveler
In a world governed by the latest diet trends and fanciest workout gadgets, the need to follow a healthy diet is “haunting” us even in our vacation. The hotel we stay at must have a gym, the restaurant must offer a “diet friendly” menu and if we happen to gain some weight on vacation, we are not far from depression.
Cretan Cuisine
For the health conscious traveler, the Cretan cuisine is the best option. The Cretan cuisine is not only aromatic, but also very healthy. The most important Cretan product associated with healthy living is the extra virgin olive oil.
Date: January 3rd, 2008 |
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Fast Food a la Greece: Souvlaki
If hunger strikes and you don’t feel like going to a restaurant, look for a place where they serve Souvlaki Sandwich. Also known as the “hamburger of Greece”, Souvlaki is a very popular Greek fast food, which can be bought from any “souvladzidika” (souvlaki shop).
What is Souvlaki?
Small pieces of different meat –usually pork, lamb or chicken –and sometimes vegetables are grilled on a skewer. Then, the skewer is placed on a pita. Grilled tomato is added, as well as some tzatziki. Then everything is rolled and wrapped in wax paper. It can get messy, but who cares when it tastes divine?
Date: December 29th, 2007 |
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Tzatziki
Greeks like to eat at night and if possibly in open air. So look for a taverna which has a really nice terrace where you can enjoy the warmth of the night and the company of fellow travelers.
Don’t expect to find plates breaking, flaming cheese or ouzo flowing like a river…real Greek restaurants don’t look like anything you would image from the movies. Just for your information, breaking plates has been outlawed in Greece years ago. Also, the real Greek cuisine can be totally different than what you can find in Greek restaurants …
Date: November 20th, 2007 |
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