Where & what to eat

Where to Eat: Cretan food like all Greek food is healthy and wholesome, made from local produce; Cretans are one of the healthiest in the world as regards to their diet. Vegetables and fish dishes are the most popular meals for the average Cretan. Dining out in some of the restaurants in the major tourists resorts can be a challenge to ones gastric juices, but mainly the food is well cooked and presented. A rule of thumb is, go where the locals eat, if you see a Cretan family dining out you can be sure that the restaurant is of a good standard.

Restaurants: the traditional Greek restaurant "estiatόrion" is one of the most enjoyable places to eat, serving good local food and wines, often in pleasant surroundings.

Tavernas: the traditional taverna, known by many a tourist, offers snacks to excellent meals and wines.

Cafes: cafes known as “kafeneia” are at the centre of Greek life.

Bars: vary from the cosy to the brash tourist bars on the islands. Some bars may have traditional music others are more like discos. Therefore, there is something for everybody.

Ouzeri: primarily serves ouzo together with a plate of snacks and a jug of water, relativity cheap these can be good fun if you do not overdo the drinking of the ouzo.

Fast food: All though the invasion of American style fast (junk) food is to be found in the cities and some of the touristy island, try the local fast food. Souvlaki and gyros

Vegetarian food: is not a problem as the variety of fresh vegetables offer the vegetarian a wide range of choices. Vegans may have a bit more of a problem, but as the Greeks do not often use dairy products in their cooking; it is still possible to eat well.

Picnics: buy some wine, bread, cheese and fruit and head for the hills. Probably one of the best ways to enjoy the Greek countryside is with good food and friends or a loved one.

What to Eat:

Specialities

Dakos: is a barley rusk softened in water then soaked in oil and tomato
Stifado: a stew made from the rabbit or lamb
Horta: wild greens picked in the hills and made into a vegetable dish.
Snails: prepared in a variety of ways

Cheese: Myzithra a sweet cheese
Graviera : a yellow cheese made from the ship milk.

Mezedes
Small appetisers a variety of small dishes served prior to the main meal.

Taramòsalata: Fish roe dip. Tzatziki: yogurt, cucumber, garlic dip
Kalamària: squid
Dolmades: stuffed wine leaves
Loukanika: small sausages
Bourekaki: small meat pie

Plus many more, mezedes can also be eaten as a main course, ask for a Pikilìa which is a serving of a variety of mezedes on a plate.

Soups

Psarosoupa: fish and vegetable soup
Fasolada: a filling bean soup
Avgolemona soupa: egg and lemon soup
Mayiritsa: a traditional soup made from offal, eaten mainly at easter.

Salads

Horiatiki salata: Village salad consists of peppers, olives, onions, tomatoes and feta cheese, olive oil and lemon dressing or vinegar.

Tomato Salad: consists of tomatoes, onions, cucumber and olives.

A salad served with bread and is a light and refreshing meal in the summer.

Main Courses

Mousaka: eggplant layered with minced meat, potatoes covered in a cheese sauce and baked.
Giouvetsi: lamb or veal casserole with pasta.
Soutzoukakia: spicy meet balls in a tomato sauce.
Loukanika: spicy sausage served with rice or potato.

This is just a few of the main courses; there are many more meat and fish dishes to try.

Drinks
Tea and coffee, Greek coffee is served in small cup without milk and is quite strong. The most popular is Nescafe. In the summer try Frapè, Nescafe served chilled with or without milk or sugar. Frapè is a refreshing drink in the heat of the summer.
Tea is not a choice of the Greeks, but can be bought.
Camomile tea, mountain tea

Soft drinks
The usual soft drinks can be bought here in cans and bottles.

Water is safe to drink from the tap, but if you prefer to drink bottled water, it is available in the shops and restaurants.

Milk: In the rural areas can be hard to find, but in the towns it is not a problem.

Beer
You can buy most of the European beers in Crete. But try the local beer Mythos, not as sweet as the European beers, but rather nice.

Wine
Wine has been produced on Crete for about 3000 years; the quality can be to the experts uneven. The best brands come from areas of Peza (Heraklion), Sitia, Dafnes and Arhanes. Try the house wines served in restaurants, (kokkino) red wine, (leko) with wine, (roze) rose, these are served in carafes and are usually cheaper than bottled wines. Try also out the popular local Retsina, Greek white wine, a perfect choice with seafood.

Spirits
The most popular spirit drunk in Crete is Raki, moonshine made from the stems of the grape vine. It is important to eat and drink a glass of water when drinking Raki, do not mix with other alcoholic drinks, this way you will avoid the worst of a hangover.

Ouzo is known as the Greek national spirit, but the Cretans prefer to drink their local Raki. Visit a local Kafeneio or ouzeri, and try out the traditional way of drinking Raki or ouzo, served with all plate with cheese, olives, tomato’s, octopus.

Ouzo is mainly a tourist drink an also must be drunk with water and something to eat. Most major brands of spirits are available in shops (Cava), and bars.

The Greek brandy Metaxa is also very popular among the tourist. Metxa is available in 3-5-7 stars