My Greek Taverna

Fresh, light and quintessentially Mediterranean, salads in Greek tavernas are a bowlful of nature. Quite often some, if not all, of the ingredients are freshly picked from the taverna owner’s kitchen garden. The ideal meal for a hot summer day, light enough to enjoy before plunging into the deep blue sea. Beloved by vegetarians and all those who appreciate refreshing yet flavour-filled dishes.

Packed full of goodness and flavour, Greek pies have been tantalising taste buds since ancient times, when a little flour and whatever ingredients came to hand would be expertly transformed into a delicious and nutritious meal. Pies can be enjoyed at any time of day and, since they are easily portable, make an ideal office snack or picnic lunch. If you have guests, baking and serving your own pie strikes a Mediterranean note that will never fail to impress.

The cuisine of simplicity at its very best. Exquisite flavours crafted from fresh vegetables or tasty legumes, cooked with just a little olive oil and a few sprigs of aromatic Mediterranean herbs. Each recipe is a lesson in local cultural history. Showcasing in the most delicious way the potency and magic of olive oil, while containing all the goodness of the Greek sun in one bowl, these dishes are understandably loved by vegetarians the world over.

Iodine, salt and a gentle sea breeze. The bounty of the ocean on your plate. Flavours full of sea and sun, delicate yet distinct. Whether charcoal-grilled, fried in sizzling olive oil or oven-roasted – with the pungency of tomatoes, the tang of onions and a classic accompaniment of rice – fish and other seafood dishes are the heart and soul of any seaside taverna. Strong in character and rich in diversity, these dishes are capable of instantly bringing the Greek summer into the darkest days of winter, no matter where in the world you are.

Classic, famous, sometimes complicated – when properly cooked, these dishes are a paean to local ingredients and Greek culinary culture. Dishes that highlight the rich flavours of Greek grass-fed meats, the flair and passion of our mothers for cooking, and the resourcefulness of the traditional household. Souvlaki, moussaka, lamb ‘kleftiko’, courgettes with egg and lemon sauce – names and tastes that evoke memories of holidays, carefree ease and sublime relaxation. Dare to cook them!

The final act of the food ritual. A nicely made Greek coffee and a tasty dessert to sweeten our goodbyes. Something small, relatively light, always accompanied by a refreshing glass of cool water. Greek yoghurt paired with fruit in syrup, or the most simple, easy-to-make dessert, remind us that tastiness lies in simplicity.