Quick Tips on Food

In case you didn't already know, food is kind of a big deal in Greece and especially in Crete. Here are a few quick tips on how to get the best out of your culinary experience in Crete.

- Crete really is the land of plenty. An island that grows and cultivates everything, due to the longstanding farming culture of the people, the diversity in altitudes and the fertility of the land. For example, the people living closer to the sea tend to have more fish and seafood in their everyday menu. The seas around Crete are full of fish and marine life, making it an excellent destination to enjoy fresh fish. On the contrary, in the villages up on Mt Psiloritis, the people have always been proud of their livestock farming. It is said that around 80,000 sheep and goats are farmed on the mountain. If you're looking to try the finest "antikristo" lamb (slow-cooked lamb, Cretan style), then Zoniana and Anogia is where you should go. Also, the incredibly fertile plains of Messara in south Heraklion is where you will have a plethora of fresh vegetables with as little chemicals and pesticides as possible. The people there take pride in the quality of their produce.

- Cretans like to share. Food isn't just about filling your stomachs with food and satisfying your hunger. Food is a celebration. It's an occasion that brings people together around a table. It's a way to socialize and meet new people. if you travel to Crete and mingle with the locals, you will quickly realize that it is in their DNA to grow some kind of fruits or vegetables in their garden, behind the house. Even in big cities. Be it tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, peppers, oranges, strawberries, grapes, even bananas. Cretans like to grow their own food and share it with friends and neighbours. They will definitely share it with you as well! So, go ahead and talk to them. You might make friends for life through food.

- At a typical taverna, the usual, most common food is grilled meat and fries. I know what you are thinking, this doesn't sound very traditional. Well, at a worst case scenario, even if the taverna doesn't have any food left (this can happen in remote areas during off season months), they will definitely have some meat they can put on the grill. Pork, beef and chicken are your go-to options. A salad is almost always in order, too: a "horiatiki" (Greek salad) or an "anamikti" salad, with various kinds of greens and vegetables.

- At a taverna with cooked food, there's much more variety in food and you'll definitely find lots of vegetarian and vegan options. Dishes like horta greens, beans with red sauce, courgettes, fava beans, chickpeas soup are only some of those that you can ask at a taverna or look for on the menu. Typically, tavernas will almost always have a list of cooked dishes of the day. The dishes might be different on the next day. So it's always a good idea to ask for the "magirefta" (cooked) foods.

- A good rule of thumb in order to align yourself with the dietary habits not only of Cretans, but Greeks in general is that we usually associate the days of the week with certain foods. This has got its roots in the Orthodox beliefs, so of course it shouldn't be seen as a restraining and strict "order", but rather as a habit. More specifically, we tend to eat different things on every day of the week. Monday and Tuesday usually call for fish, Wednesday and Friday are "ospria" (legumes, plants, seeds) meatless days, then Saturday and especially Sunday are days of meat. You will probably see this pattern in tavernas with cooked food, but especially if you get invited to a home for lunch or dinner.