Cretan Food - Try Everything :)

I guess Greece is known for it's wonderful Greek Salad with feta cheese, and yes it's amazing.  Also, for their calamari, which, again, is one of my firm favourites.

However, having travelled to Greece for around 19 years now, we have been introduced to many different local foods and I would urge you to try them.

Particularly around Plaka where our Villa is, the tavernas are serving locally grown produce, the olive oil is amazing, and they tend to cook their food long and slow - just how I like it.  Their food is cooked in the oven however, I have tried for many years to find a slow cooker out there but to date it has eluded me!  UPDATE:  Found a slow cooker, never been used :)

Calamari - yummy

Fortini's local taverna is rumoured to have a menu, but we prefer her to tell us what she has been cooking that day, or you can choose something from the grill, local fish etc.

You can of course choose Taki's bar for more Western food, and the sport, or Elpis next door for a mix of both.  Takis has a games room opposite the taverna, and Elpis added a fab playground opposite his taverna too.  So a fine choice of fayre in such a little village.

 Next along the main road is Ta Aptera, situated next to the fabulous Aptera Ruins.  "Funny lady" Chris, as my kids call her, the most marvellous women, offers more local food to die for.  Well worth a trip, if not for the food but the local gossip too :)

Beetroot, garlic and olive oil

Whats on offer Ta Aptera

Dining out isn't expensive either, we have found that both lunch with soft drinks, and dinner with wine, always work out at around 28 Euro for the 4 of us.

We do also like to make use of the  BBQ, or use the oven of course, and have the odd night eating Al Fresco at the Villa, but you don't have to.

Following I've listed a few of the local foods you may find on offer, with an explanation of what you can expect.

Briam - a Greek style Ratatouille, packed full of good veggies and herbs

Boureki - a Cretan speciality, a potato and courgette bake

Saganaki - fried cheese, or Prawn Saganaki - a variation with prawns

Kleftiko - slow cooked lamb, but done to die for

Cheese pie - cheese and potato bake


I will add to this list, but I would also add a good tip, if you just want a snack, go for a Gyros - basically a wrap with - OK the original kebab, sometimes after a long day out I'm all over a 3 Euro deal, knowing its not an elephant leg and good food.

Enjoy x