GREEK CUISINE AND FOOD TRADITION

Fresh fruit and vegetables play a large role in the Greek diet. With its long coastline, Greece also relies heavily on fish and seafood. Meat tends to play a less important role. It is often used as an ingredient in vegetable dishes rather than being a main dish. The islands and coastal areas of Greece favour lighter dishes that feature vegetables or seafood. In contrast, the inland regions use more meat and cheese in their cooking.

The Greeks eat bread, grains, potatoes, rice and pasta almost every day. Staples of the Greek diet include olives and olive oil, aubergines, cucumbers, tomatoes, spinach, lentils and other types of beans, lemons, nuts, honey, yoghurt, feta cheese, eggs, fish, chicken and lamb. Some of the most famous Greek dishes are stuffed grape leaves named dolmades, an egg and lemon soup called avgolemono, moussaka, which is a meat and eggplant dish, and baklava, which is a nut-and-honey pastry wrapped in layers of thin dough. The national beverage of Greece is strong Turkish coffee, which is served in small cups.

The Greeks are not known for eating big breakfasts. A typical Greek breakfast includes bread, cheese, fresh fruit and, for adults, coffee. In rural areas, the main meal of the day is eaten at around 1.00 or 2.00 in the afternoon. It is followed by a rest period when schools and businesses close, allowing people to stay home during the warmest part of the day. In the cities, however, many people do not have time to go home for a large lunch. Instead, they eat a light meal at midday and a big dinner later on.

In the late afternoon, many Greeks help themselves with light refreshments called mezethes. These may consist of bread, fresh vegetables, cheese, olives, dips or soup. Mezethes are sometimes served as appetizers at the beginning of a big meal. Like many other Europeans, the Greeks eat their evening meal late — sometimes as late as 10 p.m. In the city, dinner is the main meal. In rural areas, where a big lunch is eaten, dinner is lighter. The most common dessert in Greece is fresh fruit, but the Greeks also love to eat sweets, either as a snack or dessert.

The Greeks are known for their hospitality. A traditional offering for guests is glyko, a kind of thick jam made with fruit or a vegetable such as tomatoes or aubergines. It is served with ice water and coffee. Since it is warm and sunny in Greece most of the year, eating outdoors is also very popular.