Greek food - Food on Rhodes
Greek food is one of the many great reasons that visiting Greece can be extremely enjoyable. Greek food consists mainly of seafood, pastas, breads, soups, gyros, and small dishes. What makes the Greek food so unique is that is includes a wide variety of foods- not just a certain type.
Greek meals almost always contain a salad. Like this tradition, there are also other Greek traditions that have been upheld. For instance, the soup named “Patsas” is commonly a breakfast only soup. This is usually referred to as the solution to cure a bad hangover. It is only served after the 40 days after Easter, and is the first dish to be served upon breaking the 40 day fast. Other traditions include the frequent visits to a “Tavernas”. This is a type of restaurant in which the consumers will often stay incredibly late eating- and dinner usually starts at 10 P.M. Compared to western civilization, this is rather dramatically late.
Much of the Greek traditions are great to experience- but there is also a wealth of seafood to try. Exotic seafood such as octopus or filets of exotic fishes is available in many markets- not to mention lamb and a variety of fruits or vegetables. Many types of pastries and breads have very high standing in food critics, and Greece is renowned for good bakeries.
If you happen to come across a few differences in the way Greek food is prepared- don’t be surprised. In fact, Greek food uses olive oil quite frequently for many tasks. This is unlike the American standard, where vegetable oil is used- which is considerably more dangerous to one’s health. In the same correlation, olives are very plentiful in Greece- as well as other vegetation such as tomatoes and grapes. The abundance of great grape production sites makes Greece famous for its winery production- which is often the perfect addition to any meal. Greece is also particularly famous for dessert wines that are fairly sweeter than most types of wine- making wineries quite popular to tourists.
Other specialties considered to be even more specific to Greek culture are items such as feta or yogurt. Yogurt in particular is often regarded as much more satisfying in Greece, for the sole reason that it is much thicker and tastier than western counterparts. Feta is a cheese that is often used in many dish preparations- and is great with olive oil and oregano. Other spices such as basil, mint, or parsley have incredible influence in Greek cuisine as well. The addition of these spices often separate Greek food from other types of food- as they are quite common in meals and dishes.
The Greek culture is a unique one- and no doubt the cuisine and types of food that are available follow suit. The food that is offered in Greece is considered to be exceptional- making Greece an excellent stop while traveling. It is considered to be one of the top places to visit in Europe, for more reasons than one- but food remains to be a rather large help in the decision.