Black caviar is no longer in vogue; now another delicacy is held in high esteem—white caviar. This caviar is nothing more than fresh or processed snail eggs, sometimes romantically referred as the “pearls of Aphrodite.” Snail caviar is not a novelty, but just a forgotten ancient product. Mentions of it date back to the times […]

If you see a cozy bottle with the inscription Γάλα γαιδούρας (“Donkey’s milk”) in a Greek supermarket, take it without hesitation! Eared hard workers not only carry luggage (and tourists) where the iron horse will not pass, but also present their owners with the most valuable product – milk. Donkey milk may seem like something […]

Tzatziki also dzadziki (Greek τζατζίκι [dza’dziki]) – cold  sauce-appetizer of yogurt, fresh cucumber and garlic, a traditional dish of Greek cuisine. Tzatziki is usually an integral part of meze. In Greece and Crete, Meze is a set of light snacks or small dishes. Tzatziki is used as dip sauce (for dipping food in it). Also, […]

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 […]