Halki Visitor

If you’re en route to Halki you might want to make sure you understand the basics of Greek cuisine before you head out since it’s always better to be prepared for what awaits you than to be surprised. But rest assured there’s nothing too surprising about this cuisine that makes wide use of olive oil, vegetables and herbs, grains and bread, wine, fish, and various meats including lamb, poultry and pork. Of equal importance are olives, cheeses, aubergine (eggplant) and yoghurt.As already mentioned twice, olives play a key role in Greek cuisine as evidenced by the frequent use of olive oil which adds a distinctive taste to any Greek dish. In addition, use of spices such as oregano, mint, garlic, onion, dill, and lay laurel are also key players to many deliciously unique recipes.Some typical appetizers include the ever-famous Greek salad; Horta (steamed greens made into a salad); Patotosalata (potato salad made with olive oil, finely sliced onions, and lemon juice or vinegar); Spanakopita (a base of spinach and feta cheese with other spices wrapped in phyllo pastry), and Tzatziki (yoghurt with cucumber and garlic puree) that is typically served as a dip.When it comes to the soup course, there is little better than Avgolemono which is an egg-lemon soup with chicken (or other meat) that has a broth thickened by eggs and lemon juice. The essences come together to create an incredible flavor sensation that is unmatched.Two favorite vegetarian main courses are Spanakorizo (a spinach and rice stew cooked in lemon and olive oil sauce), and Yemista (a baked stuffed vegetable, very similar to what we know as “stuffed peppers”).If you’re after a meaty main courses, step aside for the lamb! Oven baked lamb with potatoes is very popular as a “special” or “Sunday” dish and the fragrant herbs used in its cooking truly radiate the senses. Another lamb favorite is Paidakia which are grilled lamb chops seasoned to simple perfection with lemon, oregano, salt and pepper.Desserts and sweet play a key role to Greek cuisine as evidenced by the hugely popular Baklava (layers of yummy phyllo pastry filled with sweet nuts and then drenched in a honey-based syrup) and Melomakarona which are in essence honey macaroons that have been soaked in a syrup of diluted honey and then sprinkled with crush walnuts. If you’re planning on spending Christmas in Greece you’ll no doubt run across this favorite holiday treat.So between appetizers and desserts you’re sure to experience some great flavor sensations. Be open to exploration of tastes that you’ve not experienced before, and you’ll walk away from your trip feeling that you got as close as you possibly could to the culture that you’ve called home, albeit only for vacation!