Greece is a dream vacation destination for me. I was very lucky some months ago to have come across a bundled tour offering cheap holidays to Greece. I got a 4-day stay in Athens which included accommodations in an economy hotel, free breakfasts, a city tour, a trip to an amusement park, and airport-hotel-airport transfers. It's a good package, isn't it? I do think so; after all, it was more opulent than what I'm used to. Basically, I'm a backpacker, and as such, I mostly spend the nights in a tent, eat canned food, walked for many miles, and lived in the most basic of living conditions. This experience is something new for me. Now, I can experience a little bit of luxury.
Thus, I make it a point to check out local cuisine whenever I am backpacking in another country. This should be an integral activity whenever one visits the country. A country's culture and history almost always are dependent on the region's food. Not trying out local dishes that are on offer in your host country is tantamount to missing out on that country's culture. Fortunately, backpackers are typically daring adventurers. Thus trying out new, strange food is not going to be a problem for them.
During my sojourn in Greece, I frequented traditional Greek tavernas, which should not be confused with normal taverns. Greek tavernas are different from normal taverns are these are smaller and serving Greek dishes only. Most tavernas I have gone to have open air dining spaces, giving diners a chance a glimpse of the sunshine and the people passing by while they're enjoying their food. Tavernas are what Greek culinary history is about; go check out one when in Greece.
When I was on my Greek vacation, I had a fair taste of what they had to offer when it comes to cuisine. And just like in any cuisine, there are those which were utterly divine, but there were others that were beyond palatable. Maybe they were cooked poorly, but I think it's more of my palate. Even though I didn't enjoy some of the dishes, I still appreciate them. I don't feel it's right to rate the food as either good or bad. Most tastes are acquired, especially when it has something to do with exotic dishes.
Greek meals are heavily laden with herbs, vegetables, olive oil, grains, bread, and fish. Meats such as lamb, rabbit, and poultry are also standard. Always present are eggplant, zucchini, olives and a different kinds of cheeses. When serving Greek meals, it is normally done Meze style. This means that these dishes as served in small portions. Accompanying the meal are wines, anise-flavored liqueurs, or homemade Tsipouro.
There are many Greek dishes that I tasted. Some of those that I liked are listed below:
* Tirokafteri is a cheese spread that is usually served with flat bread slices. This cheesy spread, which is both spicy and salty, is made from hot peppers, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, oregano, and yoghurt. This is a typical Greek entree, served before the main course.
* Souvlaki is the Greek form of American barbecue. It is made up of a meat, usually pork, chicken, or lamb, which is skewered and barbequed. The dish may be served plain, but I ordered mine in a pita sandwich. Some backpackers also order a few skewers of souvlaki with a side dish of fried potatoes.
* Choriatiki, or Greek salad, is one of the most delicious salads I've ever tasted. It is a green salad that is consisting of tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and Kalmata olives. It is then smothered with feta cheese and garnished with berries and capers.
Thus, I make it a point to check out local cuisine whenever I am backpacking in another country. This should be an integral activity whenever one visits the country. A country's culture and history almost always are dependent on the region's food. Not trying out local dishes that are on offer in your host country is tantamount to missing out on that country's culture. Fortunately, backpackers are typically daring adventurers. Thus trying out new, strange food is not going to be a problem for them.
During my sojourn in Greece, I frequented traditional Greek tavernas, which should not be confused with normal taverns. Greek tavernas are different from normal taverns are these are smaller and serving Greek dishes only. Most tavernas I have gone to have open air dining spaces, giving diners a chance a glimpse of the sunshine and the people passing by while they're enjoying their food. Tavernas are what Greek culinary history is about; go check out one when in Greece.
When I was on my Greek vacation, I had a fair taste of what they had to offer when it comes to cuisine. And just like in any cuisine, there are those which were utterly divine, but there were others that were beyond palatable. Maybe they were cooked poorly, but I think it's more of my palate. Even though I didn't enjoy some of the dishes, I still appreciate them. I don't feel it's right to rate the food as either good or bad. Most tastes are acquired, especially when it has something to do with exotic dishes.
Greek meals are heavily laden with herbs, vegetables, olive oil, grains, bread, and fish. Meats such as lamb, rabbit, and poultry are also standard. Always present are eggplant, zucchini, olives and a different kinds of cheeses. When serving Greek meals, it is normally done Meze style. This means that these dishes as served in small portions. Accompanying the meal are wines, anise-flavored liqueurs, or homemade Tsipouro.
There are many Greek dishes that I tasted. Some of those that I liked are listed below:
* Tirokafteri is a cheese spread that is usually served with flat bread slices. This cheesy spread, which is both spicy and salty, is made from hot peppers, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, oregano, and yoghurt. This is a typical Greek entree, served before the main course.
* Souvlaki is the Greek form of American barbecue. It is made up of a meat, usually pork, chicken, or lamb, which is skewered and barbequed. The dish may be served plain, but I ordered mine in a pita sandwich. Some backpackers also order a few skewers of souvlaki with a side dish of fried potatoes.
* Choriatiki, or Greek salad, is one of the most delicious salads I've ever tasted. It is a green salad that is consisting of tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and Kalmata olives. It is then smothered with feta cheese and garnished with berries and capers.
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