Greeks love to sit around a table of small plates of delicious food, sharing the food and good company. Here are some favorite dishes that require no utensils. Just grab and enjoy! Listed in alphabetical order. 1. 3-Cheese Eggplant Appetizer Rolls – Bourekakia Melitzanas A mixture of three delicious cheeses marks the filling for thin […]

KEFALONITIKI PITA ME KOLOKYTHA KAI KAROTA Makes 6 to 8 servings One finds recipes in the most unusual places, in this case from Spiros Bazigos, the accountant at the Coridalenio Library in Argostoli, Cephalonia’s capital. I had just spent a day looking for books on old island customs and food habits. He had come in to say good night to […]

Phyllo (in Greek: φύλλο, pronounced FEE-lo), also spelled “filo,” is most often used to describe wafer-thin sheets of dough that are used to make some of the most delicious pastries and savory pies in the world. However, phyllo has gotten a reputation as being hard to use, or too delicate, with the result that many […]

Greek name and pronunciation: Σουμάκι, pronounced soo-MAH-kee At the market: Sumac is usually sold as a coarsely ground powder, perhaps called “powdered culinary sumac,” and can also be found in berry form. It can be found at Greek and Middle Eastern markets. Physical characteristics: Sumac is a shrub which grows wild in the Mediterranean region, […]

Some interesting Octopus Facts, from what the name really means to why they hang them! You may have been to Greece and seen tavernas or even homes with rows of string hung with octopus hanging out in the sun. Why do they hang their octopus in Greece? I can hear you ask. Well, there is […]

Greek name and pronunciation: Glistritha, γλιστρίδα, pronounced ghlee-STREE-thah (hard “th” sound) At the market: At the grocery store, you might find purslane leaves sold as a fresh herb packaged in disposable containers. It is sometimes available as a live plant sold in potting containers ready for transfer to your garden. Physical characteristics: Purslane leaves are […]

Greek name and pronunciation: Dyosmos, δυόσμος, pronounced thee-OHZ-mohs (hard th sound) At the market: Spearmint is the most common mint found in markets, and the most commonly used in Greek cooking. It is sold in both dried and fresh form, and if fresh is available, it is preferred. It is also a good choice for […]

Greek name and pronunciation: Daphni, δάφνη, pronounced THAHF-nee (hard th sound) At the market: Dried bay leaves, either crushed or whole, are readily available in disposable containers. It is also sold at herb farms for a kitchen herb garden. Physical characterisitcs: Usually encountered in dried form, bay leaves are 1 1/2 – 3 inches long […]

Greek name and pronunciation: Vasilikos, βασιλικός, pronounced vah-see-lee-KOHS (rhymes with “dose”) At the market: Expect to find at least one variety of basil at your green grocer or supermarket. Green basil is the most comonly used variety for cooking. Fresh basil leaves are packaged in 2- to 4-ounce disposable containers. Dried basil is available in […]

Ouzo – More than a Greek drink, it’s a Greek philosophy Greece for Visitors Guide, deTraci Regula, calls Ouzo “Greek lightning fit for Zeus’s thunderbolts.” Learn about this exclusively Greek licorice-flavored liqueur that packs quite a punch Ouzo Greece’s Most Popular Alcoholic Drink Greece’s favorite anise flavored drink is potent and fiery and distinctly Greek. […]