c

1. 1
Food in Greece – Everything you
should know about Greece food
culture
Greek Food Culture
Food is a huge part of Greek culture. There are literally
hundreds of dishes! This guide to the food of
Greece includes no less than 50 Greek dishes!

2. 2
However, Greek food has to do with much more than just
flavours and dishes. It’s all about the excellent ingredients,
the lengthy procedure involved in preparing the food, and
the culture of sharing dishes with others.
Essentially, it has to do with bonding with others through
one of life’s greatest pleasures. Read on for a small
introduction to what makes food in Greece so special.
Greek food begins with
olive oil and feta cheese
Olive oil and feta cheese! These are the two absolutely
essential staples for any Greek person around the world,
including myself.
We take our olive oil and feta cheese extremely seriously,
and are not prepared to use substitutes. In fact, there are
very few Greek dishes where olive oil is not used.
As for feta cheese, to my knowledge, it cannot be replaced
with any other cheese. While I’ve found many similar-
looking cheeses all around the world, they are just not the
same.

3. 3
Greek cuisine has a variety
of dishes
Traditionally, food in Greece is made from fresh
ingredients. We use vegetables, pulses, nuts, yogurt,
cheese, grains, fish and small amounts of meat.
A usual meal at a taverna will typically include several
small dishes (meze) which are shared with everyone, just
like the bill. There is a large variety, and everyone gets to
taste everything.

4. 4
But that’s not all. The Mediterranean diet, where Greek
cuisine falls under, is one of the healthiest in the world!
Due to the quality and variety of ingredients, Greek dishes
are full of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and healthy fats,
which help maintain good health.
Traditional Greek cooking
isn’t about exact quantities
Most Greek cook books offer quantities when it comes to
recipes. However, most Greek people,
especially yiayias (grandmas) don’t really measure
quantities when cooking.

5. 5
The best measuring system in Greece is “with the eye”, i.e.
“however much it takes”. Therefore, the question “how
many olives go in a Greek salad?” doesn’t really have an
answer.
Similarly, if you ask for 300 gr of feta cheese at the
supermarket, don’t be surprised if you end up with a half
kilo packet. It’s assumed that it will be eaten!
Traditional Greek food
takes time to prepare
Many traditional Greek dishes take several hours to
prepare. This is what makes Grandma’s food delicious!
I still remember my own yiayia’s version of a home-
made tiropita, or cheese pie. Rather than store-bought filo

6. 6
pastry, she used her own handmade puff pastry, following
her mother’s recipe. I still remember the taste – it was just
divine!
Another good example is our famous moussaka, a
combination of layers of potatoes, aubergines, minced
meat, tomato sauce, and a creamy bechamel sauce on top.
Or kleftiko, a lamb dish often cooked with garlic, herbs and
lemon juice.
And not to talk about gemista, stuffed tomatoes and
peppers served with potatoes. But as we say here in
Greece, all good things take a while to happen.

7. 7
Greeks love eating with
friends
Eating food in Greece is a big thing. Dining out is a social
event, where you get to share a lot more than just food,
just like Greek coffee culture.
To quote the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus, “We
should look for someone to eat and drink with before
looking for something to eat and drink, for dining alone is
leading the life of a lion or wolf”.

8. 8
Meals that go on for hours are very typical of Greece.
Food, wine and good company make for a great
combination, and an ideal setting to discuss everything
under the sun!
This is quite similar to the ancient Greek symposia, the
gatherings that took place at people’s homes.
Plato, the famous Greek philosopher, wrote his
work Symposium based on these banquets.
What time do Greeks have
dinner?
The hours to eat food in Greece are quite different than in
most European countries. First time visitors might have a
hard time adjusting!
Depending on their daily routine, a Greek person might
skip breakfast. Instead, they could have a coffee or two
and a small snack like a koulouri (type of semi-sweet bread
with sesame) during the morning.
Most Greeks will have some form of lunch around 2 pm.
Strangely, official lunch breaks at work are not as common
as in some other countries.
Dinner time in Greece is usually late, after 9 pm, especially
when it’s a dinner out with friends. In summer, some
people will watch an evening film in an outdoor cinema,
and then go for their evening meal at around 11.00 pm!

9. 9
Note: On weekends, people can be seen having a meal at
4 or 5 pm. This is neither a lunch, nor a dinner – it’s
something in between, depending on how late they were
up the previous night!
There are many different
places to eat food in Greece
When visiting Greece, people are often surprised by how
many different types of restaurants we have.
Here are some of the most common types of restaurants,
which, confusingly, are often very similar to each other!
 Taverna – A basic restaurant with a huge menu,
many meat dishes, and, typically, friendly prices
> more info here
 Psarotaverna – A restaurant offering many fish and
seafood dishes
 Estiatorio – A restaurant slightly more upmarket than
a taverna, with a huge menu
 Magirio – A basic taverna offering hearty, traditional
Greek dishes and friendly prices
 Inomagirio – A basic taverna offering
hearty, traditional Greek dishes, house wine and
friendly prices
 Mezedopolio – A restaurant serving mostly small
dishes, where the emphasis is on the company and
the drink, rather than the amount of food

10. 10
 Ouzeri / Rakadiko – A small mezedopolio serving
food to accompany our strong alcoholic
drinks, ouzo or raki
 Koutouki – A small, cosy taverna with an emphasis
on house wine
 Souvlatzidiko / Psistaria / Psitopolio – A place
offering souvlaki!
Of course, the ultimate experience of eating food in
Greece, is to eat Greek food in a Greek home, especially if
the food is made by a yiayia!
Frequently asked questions
about Greek food culture
Here are a few more questions often asked by visitors:
Why is food important to Greek
culture?
Food is a very important part of the culture in Greece. A
meal with friends or family is a lot more than just food. It is
also a way to share the dishes, discuss, socialize and enjoy
other people’s company.

11. 11
What is the national food of
Greece?
One of the most iconic Greek foods is moussaka, a
combination of minced meat, potatoes and aubergines
topped with a creamy layer of bechamel sauce. Other
famous Greek dishes include souvlaki, tzatziki, cheese pie,
spinach pie, and Greek salad.
Why is Greek food so good?
The Greek cuisine is rich and varied. We use plenty of fresh
ingredients, like good quality vegetables and freshly
caught fish. Most Greek dishes are simple in terms of
ingredients, yet amazingly flavorful!
Is Greek food healthy?
Traditionally, Greeks follow the so-called Mediterranean
diet, which is one of the healthiest in the world. The main
ingredients are vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, fresh fish,
bread, cheeses, olive oil and small quantities of meat.
What influenced Greek cuisine?
Greek cuisine has many influences. Some contemporary
dishes, like fish or meat dishes, were also eaten in ancient
Greece. Greek food has been influenced by Middle Eastern
and Mediterranean cuisines, most notably that of the
Ottoman Empire.