Several years ago, we wrote about beer consumption in Crete (“Новый Крит. The New Crete” No. 12, 2018, thenewgreece.com/kitchen/beer-in-crete/). It is fair to say that beer is an unconventional drink for Greeks and Cretans. Mostly tourists were fond of it on the island. However, the tastes are changing: beer is becoming more popular among the […]

It seems that the plants on the island of Crete are like the Cretans themselves: they do not grieve over what isn’t there, but rejoice in what is available. If there is no fresh water, the sea water is good; if there is no soil, a rocky ground is not bad! The amazing plant crithmum […]

In April, the medlar season begins in Crete. Really, this unique tree blooms in autumn and treats with its fruits in early spring. In Crete grows the so-called Japanese medlar, although China is considered its homeland from where the plant was brought to Japan and then to Europe. A small evergreen tree is a thermophilic […]

Frappe and Freddo top the list of ice drinks in Greece, as the tradition of drinking iced coffee all year round is something that the Greeks are proud of! The summer may be almost over, but this is not the case for the cold beverages that Greece offers you during these months. Not very famous abroad, the tradition of […]

A monkfish, which was recently prepared and served to distinguished foreign guests at a reception on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Independence Day in the residence of the Prime Minister, was not a beauty. The head makes up approximately one third of its body, and the toothy mouth is large enough to […]

Sfakian pies are perhaps ones of the most beloved in Crete. This pie is a traditional dish in the historical and formerly inaccessible sub-region of Sfakia, located in the south of West Crete in the Chania region. From there came the pie’s name—”Sfakianopita” (“Sfakian pie”). Outwardly, these pies resemble tortillas. Their taste is rich: soft […]

It’s strange, but the concept of a “Greek breakfast” is absent in Greek hotels, coffee houses, taverns and restaurants. Taking a walk in the morning along the cafes in the resort areas of the Greek islands, you will see signs indicating the English or European (sometimes called Mediterranean) breakfast. Don’t you think this is strange […]

Surely, for the New Year’s table, someone of the Grecophiles made his Olivier salad not with the usual pickles but with capers according to the recipe of its inventor, Lucien Olivier, or maybe he added wonderful capers to the Greek salad instead of olives, which is not quite usual for Russians. A Mediterranean diet is […]

The pride and heritage of Greece, the alcoholic drink of Ouzo is legally recognized as national drink and can only be produced in Greece The origin of the name “ouzo” is disputed. The most likely the name is from the Turkish word «grapes» (“üzüm”): a product from which alcohol was obtained in the East. The […]