Greek Cuisine

As a general rule, Greek cooking is very simple, relying on the country's fresh ingredients, its delicious olive oil, sun-ripened vegetables, fruit and herbs, free range meats and superb cheeses.

Greece has historically been a poor country, and was again when the economic crisis hit in 2009, prompting some Greeks to look into the past, and rediscover old ways of getting by. If there has been a silver linging to the crisis, it has been the growth of interest in artisanal, Slow Food-style enterprises, often begun by unemployed young Greeks who returned to ancestral villages and found new (old) ways of making a living.

Greece is a small, centralized country, of 11 million inhabitants (less than half the population of Shanghai!) so regional variations in ingredients and cooking styles aren't extreme, but it is fun to pinpoint where some dishes and cheeses come from, and what to look for if you go there. On Cyprus you'll find many of the same dishes as in Greece, as well as some recipes unique to the big island. I'm pretty sure I've missed many, so do let me know–apps are easy to update!