The Food & Cooking of Greece

Greek meals, whether enjoyed at home, in a taverna or in a restaurant, are a joyful celebration of local ingredients, history and culinary tradition that spans generations of ingenious cooks. Islanders rejoice at the prospect of all those shining courgettes and regal purple aubergines; the green beans of all kinds; the okra; the fat, sweet tomatoes; and the light-green long peppers that are indispensable for that Pelion speciality, spetzofai. Greek cuisine is centred around vegetables and other simple, fresh ingredients – and quality produce is at its heart. This shared gastronomic culture explains the emotional significance of Greek food for Greeks.