What did you eat?
Jul 3rd, 2019 | 04:58 PM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 84,746
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What did you eat?
In Greece?*
I realized today that I have favorite foods in different countires. In Italy, I love the breakfasts served at the hotel, with lots of savory items included meats and cheese. In France, I love the soups and a Croque Monsieur. To be honest, I like pretty much anything and everything...except organ meats..
I'm looking forward to discovering what my favorites are in Greece. I'm especially looking forward to grilled octopus. I love Greek and Mediterranean restaurants "at home". I love seafood, but I've read here that fresh seafood is very expensive. If so, I imagine I'll order lots of fish.
So what are your favorites - foods and even restaurants if you have a particular one to recommend (with location).
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I realized today that I have favorite foods in different countires. In Italy, I love the breakfasts served at the hotel, with lots of savory items included meats and cheese. In France, I love the soups and a Croque Monsieur. To be honest, I like pretty much anything and everything...except organ meats..
I'm looking forward to discovering what my favorites are in Greece. I'm especially looking forward to grilled octopus. I love Greek and Mediterranean restaurants "at home". I love seafood, but I've read here that fresh seafood is very expensive. If so, I imagine I'll order lots of fish.
So what are your favorites - foods and even restaurants if you have a particular one to recommend (with location).
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Last edited by starrs; Jul 3rd, 2019 at 05:01 PM.
Jul 3rd, 2019 | 08:14 PM
#2
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 25,679
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Grilled octopus, rabbit stifado, the many regional breakfast specialties....
I think you've seen my trip report? You might also find some useful information in this thread:
Please help me eat well in Greece!
I think you've seen my trip report? You might also find some useful information in this thread:
Please help me eat well in Greece!
Jul 3rd, 2019 | 10:29 PM
#3
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 7,960
Likes: 0
We just spent 16 amazing days in Greece, ( Naxos , Paros and Mykonos) .
Ate lamb in any form almost every day.. I love lamb..
Lamb Kelfido ( not sure if I spelt that right ) was my favorite.. basically lamb, potatoes , onions and a few other vegs cooked in parchment package.. so darn good..
At one hotel they we noticed they had an outdoor wood fired oven.. and they weren't using it.. we proceeded to beg for lamb.. and they finally made it.. so good !
I love greek salad( the tomatoes there actually smell and taste like tomatoes. Im not supposed to eat tomatoes but I tasted a few.. it was worth it) .. anything with feta cheese( cheese or cheese and spinach pies.. to die for.. love filo pastry) the feta cheese in Greece is far superior to the stuff we get brined in tubs.. creamier, just better.
Great bowls of the best yogurt in the world in the morning.. with whole hazel nuts and dried fruit sprinkled on top.. just a drizzle of the best honey.. yum..
We enjoyed fresh fish a few times.. whole.. done on the grill.. couldnt tell you what they were except they were a variety of milder white fishes.. .. also had calamari a few times.. yum.. with tzaziki..
Basically you can eat well in Greece very easily.. our best meals seemed to be on naxos and paros.. mykonos is always second best and higher prices..
Ate lamb in any form almost every day.. I love lamb..
Lamb Kelfido ( not sure if I spelt that right ) was my favorite.. basically lamb, potatoes , onions and a few other vegs cooked in parchment package.. so darn good..
At one hotel they we noticed they had an outdoor wood fired oven.. and they weren't using it.. we proceeded to beg for lamb.. and they finally made it.. so good !
I love greek salad( the tomatoes there actually smell and taste like tomatoes. Im not supposed to eat tomatoes but I tasted a few.. it was worth it) .. anything with feta cheese( cheese or cheese and spinach pies.. to die for.. love filo pastry) the feta cheese in Greece is far superior to the stuff we get brined in tubs.. creamier, just better.
Great bowls of the best yogurt in the world in the morning.. with whole hazel nuts and dried fruit sprinkled on top.. just a drizzle of the best honey.. yum..
We enjoyed fresh fish a few times.. whole.. done on the grill.. couldnt tell you what they were except they were a variety of milder white fishes.. .. also had calamari a few times.. yum.. with tzaziki..
Basically you can eat well in Greece very easily.. our best meals seemed to be on naxos and paros.. mykonos is always second best and higher prices..
Jul 3rd, 2019 | 11:09 PM
#4
Joined: Feb 2003
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With many small restaurants and tavernas you can look at the displays in the kitchen to see what is being prepped for dinner, and ask questions before ordering. You will discover many dishes you wouldn’t have tried otherwise. I seldom order off the menu when I can see what I’ll be eating first. You can pick the individual fresh fish you want to order (displayed with head, tail, and fins intact), and the price is determined by weight. Octopus is good value for money, and the price on the menu is fixed.
For breakfast I love Greek yoghurt with fresh fruit, sweetened with a little honey.
For breakfast I love Greek yoghurt with fresh fruit, sweetened with a little honey.
Jul 4th, 2019 | 04:28 AM
#5
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 194
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Greek yoghurt is a world away from Greek STYLE yoghurt, basically yoghurt made in a similar style to Greek yoghurt but not in Greece nor with Greek milk. I can buy a supermarket brand of Greek style yoghurt and their own actual Greek youghurt and the difference is very obvious. That's what's so good about the EU appellation d'origine protégée. It means that only Parmigiano-Reggiano for instance can be made in certain designated areas of Italy whereas generic Parmesan can be made anywhere, much of what is sold in the US as Parmesan is made in Mexico and when you get your first taste of proper Parmigiano-Reggiano you realise what you've been missing out on.
Jul 4th, 2019 | 05:06 AM
#6
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 315
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One of the best things about travel to Greece is Greek Food. You don't have to spend a lot of money to have a wonderful meal in most areas of Greece. Obviously you can spend a lot of money any time you go out to eat anywhere in the world, but not in Greece.
For breakfast and lunches I go to local markets to buy food and eat out at night. Occasionally I'll go out to eat at lunch time.
Most of my meals range in the 8.50-11.00 euro range. Throw in a 1/4 carafe of house wine and you are still well under 15 euros and you'll be eating very well.
A great quick lunch is a Gyro and beer for usually around 5 euros.
Check out my photos of meals and tavernas I've been to on the mainland and various islands:
https://tinyurl.com/y7lqwv66
For breakfast and lunches I go to local markets to buy food and eat out at night. Occasionally I'll go out to eat at lunch time.
Most of my meals range in the 8.50-11.00 euro range. Throw in a 1/4 carafe of house wine and you are still well under 15 euros and you'll be eating very well.
A great quick lunch is a Gyro and beer for usually around 5 euros.
Check out my photos of meals and tavernas I've been to on the mainland and various islands:
https://tinyurl.com/y7lqwv66
Last edited by crazyh; Jul 4th, 2019 at 05:11 AM.
Jul 4th, 2019 | 10:30 AM
#7
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 18,251
Likes: 22
We ate the wonderful local Greek salads with those beautiful fresh picked tomatoes, pepper, olives and a slab of feta on top and fabulous fresh seafood every day. We had lamb and chicken a few times. Seafood was catch of the day and/or grilled octopus. You will see the octopus hanging from the low roofs. We ate at every level of restaurant or bar but had the same food. Three dinners in a row on Paros we ordered the same meal in places ranging from upscale to nice casual to a bar where no English was spoken. Each night the bill was half of the previous night and all the food was terrific. The ambiance differed but not the food. Prices varied greatly but it was always fresh and very good. We ate yogurt and honey, the little “pies” of cheese, meat, spinach for breakfast. For lunches we mostly had mezes, eggplant,tazatsiki, and our absolute favorite-Taramasalata. Those are the best lunches anywhere! The food is so healthy. We have been to Greece twice, once for a month, but have never had a gyro or souvlaki there although I do like them.
In restaurants, you are usually are given a complimentary dessert such as honey or nut cake and a raki. We loved the food in Greece and even though it might sound like we ate same thing, the seafood would be different and grilled with the local lemon and olive oil. Starrs, you will love Greece and it’s fresh foods!
In restaurants, you are usually are given a complimentary dessert such as honey or nut cake and a raki. We loved the food in Greece and even though it might sound like we ate same thing, the seafood would be different and grilled with the local lemon and olive oil. Starrs, you will love Greece and it’s fresh foods!
Last edited by HappyTrvlr; Jul 4th, 2019 at 10:42 AM.
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Jul 5th, 2019 | 08:25 AM
#9
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,162
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justineparis, I think you've mixed up two dishes with the Lamb Kelfido. The first is Lamb Kleftiko-a lamb stew, and the second is Stifado, a beef stew. Both very tasty and filling. Pork Souvlaki (kebabs) are tasty as well and lovely with a Greek salad. I'm not an octopus or shellfish fan, but most of the fish is fresh and delicious.
Halloumi is a cheese usually served grilled and known as "squeaky cheese", because it squeaks as you eat it. Lovely though.
Halloumi is a cheese usually served grilled and known as "squeaky cheese", because it squeaks as you eat it. Lovely though.
Last edited by Rubicund; Jul 5th, 2019 at 08:28 AM.
Jul 5th, 2019 | 09:14 AM
#10
Joined: Jun 2005
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Yes, grilled Octopus was one of my favorites. Not sure if you're visiting any of the islands, but in Santorini there's a restaurant called Katina's where we picked our fish from their catch of the day display. What a delicious dinner.
The tzatziki and yogurt in Greece also memorable.
The tzatziki and yogurt in Greece also memorable.
Jul 5th, 2019 | 09:24 AM
#11
Joined: Nov 2005
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The dish is Lamb Kleftiko (literally stolen lamb) which is not a lamb stew at all, traditionally it was cooked in a pit in the ground roasting very slowly and at low temps for several hours. Nowadays you can see it prepared in a parcel using parchment paper and there are specialist restaurants who cook this along with potatoes etc. Halloumi comes from Cyprus where they eat it together with watermelon for breakfast but Greece has an abundance of it's own cheeses such as manouri (great with greek honey), kefalotiri, graviera etc. Sheeps milk yoghurt is particularly good.
Jul 5th, 2019 | 09:43 AM
#13
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2008
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Yes, grilled Octopus was one of my favorites. Not sure if you're visiting any of the islands, but in Santorini there's a restaurant called Katina's where we picked our fish from their catch of the day display. What a delicious dinner.
The tzatziki and yogurt in Greece also memorable.
The tzatziki and yogurt in Greece also memorable.
Fifteen years ago (at least) a friend stayed in Oia and I fell in love with her photos and the hotel way back when. It's been my "one day" place ever since. In the interim, they've added other options. But when push comes to shove, I picked the original hotel I've wanted to stay in for over 15 years.
Jul 5th, 2019 | 04:05 PM
#15
Joined: Dec 2006
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Jul 5th, 2019 | 11:04 PM
#17
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Jul 6th, 2019 | 03:16 PM
#19
Joined: Jul 2007
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Greek food is one of my favorite cuisines. In Santorini, we discovered the tomatokeftedes (fried tomato fritters) and loved them. Every restaurant we went to had them, usually served as an appetizer (on the right side of the photo):
