My Gastronomic Adventure in Greece

April 17, 2013 robot Family

If you talk about backpacking destinations, Greece has always been my favorite. I am just so lucky to have found deals online offering cheap holidays to Greece. The deal included a 4-day stay in Greece, accommodations at a budget hotel, free breakfasts for all four days, a city tour, an adventure in an amusement park, and transfers. This isn’t totally bad for a bundled tour which isn’t that expensive, at all. After all, it was a little bit more “luxurious” than what I’m accustomed to; I’m a backpacker, and I’ve slept in a tent, ate canned food, hiked many miles, and lived in more rudimentary conditions. All things considered, it was one luxurious experience for me.

Anyway, I always include a gastronomic adventure when I backpack in other countries. When touring another country, one should try getting into a region’s cuisine. Food is an integral part of a culture, and by refusing to eat meals that the region regularly serves, one does not truly experience the soul of the place. Backpackers are deemed to be adventurous, thus they are more willing to try out unusual and bizarre dishes.

So, during my stay in Greece, I frequently visited traditional Greek tavernas. These are tiny restaurants serving traditional Greek dishes. Most of the tavernas I visited have open-air dining areas, which allow diners to have a glimpse of the outside world as they consume their orders. Greek culture and history are symbolised in their tavernas.

I have tried a number of Greek dishes. Like any other cuisine, there are Greek dishes which are simply divine, but there are some which made my stomach turn. It’s possible that the way it was cooked and prepared had something to do with it, or maybe just maybe, my stomach and palate were not strong enough for those dishes. Regardless, the culinary experience in Greece was very gastronomic. I don’t think it’s fair to rate dishes as either good or bad. People have different tastes, palates are built differently and most tastes are acquired; what may taste good for me, might not be palatable for another.

Greek cuisine is usually made of olive oil; herbs; vegetables; grains; bread; fish; and various meats such as lamb, rabbit, and poultry. Olives, eggplant, zucchini and various cheeses normally accompany several dishes. Mezes style is how Greek food is normally served. Mezes refer to several small dishes that normally go with wine, liquer flavored with anise or homemade tsipouro.

I have experienced the flavours of Greece. Some of those that I liked are listed below:

* Tirokafteri is a cheese spread that is both spicy and salty and served with slivers of flat bread. The cheese often includes hot peppers, olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, garlic, and yoghurt. This is great for whetting your appetite.

* Souvlaki is Greek-style roasting. Meats such as pork, chicken, or lamb are cut into bite-sized pieces, skewered, and grilled. The skewered meat works well plain. However, I like mine placed in a pita sandwich. I also witnessed other diners order a side dish of fried potatoes to go along with their souvlaki.

* Choriatiki, or Greek salad, is one of the tastiest salads I’ve ever tasted. It is a green salad that is made up of tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and Kalmata olives. It is then topped with feta cheese and garnished with berries and capers.

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