The Classics

Moussaka

This eggplant-based dish often includes ground meat and a touch of cinnamon, making an appearance on every single menu in Greece. Whatever you do, eat this. Even before you see the Acropolis. EAT.THIS.

Saganaki

Fried or baked feta with honey. It’s h.e.a.v.e.n.l.y. So heavenly that I ordered this beauty for a party of one: myself.

Greek Salad

If you went to Greece and didn’t order a Greek salad, did you really go to Greece? Didn’t think so.

Greek Yogurt

This needs no introduction, but my my my I will say it kicks every other yogurt’s ass out there. It’s silky smooth and will forever be a breakfast staple of mine <3

Baklava

Layers and layers of phyllo: I love you and your crispy pastry with chopped nuts and honey in between. Fill my belly up with sugar and flavor flav that will not do a body good, but I couldn’t care less while I’m eating you.

Tzatziki

Yes, tzatziki (pronounced tsah-ZEE-kee) is the white creamy goodness that is added to the majority of Grecian dishes and rightfully so. Its velvety finish really takes everything it touches, and I mean everything, up a notch.

Gyros

Guys. Can we all get on the same page here? Gyro is pronounced yeer-oh. YERR-OH YEER-OH YEER-OH. Please don’t step off your cruise ship and order a jai-roe. Although some hardcore greeks may frown upon mispronunciation, I’m pretty sure they don’t care how you pronounce it so long as you pay 🙂 They taste really great around 2 a.m.

Souvlaki

Souvlaki is something like a gyro wrap. They can also come in a more deconstructed presentation, such as a kebob-like dish. They are goooooooooood and make for a fab photo shoot.

Spanakopita

This is a fancy name for Spinach pie, but it’s basically a glorious spinach and cheese mixture that I could down any day of the week.

And after all of that, get yourself a Capuccino Fredo because you’ll need it when the food coma hits…

Truth is, Grecians smoke a lot. They apparently work a lot, too, or so a local once told me. Another local told me that Greeks sleep a lot as well, which is the main reason they don’t eat breakfast. So if anyone has found the magical way to work a lot and sleep a lot at the same time, please tell me how this is done, because I’m constantly trying to ride this fine line and it’s not working out too well.

I suppose between the curbing of the appetite via nicotine, the apparent heavy work load and the sleeping beauties, Greeks don’t eat much. BLASPHEMY, considering they live in the country that created all of the above caloric-filled treasures. Locals tend to eat only once after work while munching on snacks during the day. I don’t even know what to do with this information, but one thing is certain. I’M GETTING HUNGRY WRITING THIS POST.

The classics remain classics throughout the entire country, but many islands are proud of what makes them each unique. For Crete, 1.5 million olive trees dot Greece’s biggest island. Olive oil farms are a popular activity for tourists. So is drinking raki, a distilled spirit out of Crete. In Mykonos, any drink is on the table since dinner doesn’t start until at least 8 or 9pm and nightlife is what keeps this isle afloat. Santorini has a thing for wine, and I have a thing for Santorini. The popular island is most famous for its white varietals, perfectly paired with an Oia sunset. Ouzo, pictured above, is loved by many Greeks and visitors alike!

Yamas! (Cheers, in Greek!)