Global Bites Project | Greek Cuisine
Posted on February 22, 2012
Country
Greece
Cooking Methods
Skewering meat and grilling or roasting it, baking, fermentation, mixing, simmering, puréeing, roasting, and panfrying.
Typical Ingredients
Grapes, figs, honey, garlic, onions, wheat, barley, yellow lentils, young goat, lamb, cheese, Mediterranean fish, shellfish, octopus, squid, olives, olive oil, rice, cinnamon, nutmeg, saffron, eggplant, citrus, melon, beans, spinach, yogurt, tomato, peppers, garbanzo beans, fava beans, rosemary, cheese, phyllo, and bread.
Contributions
The first book on cooking and eating food was written, Gastronomia by Archestratus in the fifth century BC. The creation of ouzo, an anise-flavored liquor. Bite sized dishes, an idea borrowed from the Turks. Béchamel sauce, mayonnaise, and bouillabaisse can all be traced back to Greece. The white chef hat was invented in Greece to distinguish cooks from monks who wore black hats.
My Adventure
When I think of Greek food, I think of fresh vegetables, grilled meats, olive oil, and lemon. I've had Greek food many times. I think the best Greek restaurant that I've ever been to was Barbounia in New York City. Maybe it had something to do with being in New York, one of my favorite cities.
For this adventure I decided to cook several Greek dishes and go to a restaurant.
For my dishes I made Grilled Greek Chicken and Horiatiki Salad.
Lamb Meatballs (Keftedes) and Lemon Potatoes (Patates Psites).
Shrimp with Feta (Gambari Saganaki) and Tzatziki with Pita Chips.
Recipes for Greek cuisine can be found here. I am always adding more, so check back!
For my restaurant selection I went to Opa! in Los Gatos. We had the Chicken Souvlaki and Greek Fries. It's always good!
Next stop, Eastern Europe.
All articles for the Global Bites Project can be found here.
(Ref. Jeremy MacVeigh's International Cuisine.)