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blopez34

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I’m an aspiring home chef and self proclaimed foodie and I'm looking to get my hands on the best ingredients for when I’m cooking at my airbnb in Greece. I have a feeling that local Greeks aren’t shopping at the supermarket all day. What are your tips for getting fresh and authentic ingredients in Greece?
 
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As a kid going to Greece every Summer, my Yiayia (grandmother) would take me to the Greek local farmers markets. From what I remember they used to happen every Saturday morning and everyone in the village would get together and sell their fresh crops. There were no Whole Foods supermarkets back then! :)
 
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I’m an aspiring home chef and self proclaimed foodie and I'm looking to get my hands on the best ingredients for when I’m cooking at my airbnb in Greece. I have a feeling that local Greeks aren’t shopping at the supermarket all day. What are your tips for getting fresh and authentic ingredients in Greece?
If your airbnb is in Crete, you're all set. Every taverna we went to there seemed to serve vegetables picked that day. Fishing boats came in in the morning, and then restaurants and locals would buy and eat the fish of the day.
 
Access to fresh, organic food in Greece is easy to find! Supermarkets are great for staples but the local laiki (farmers market) is the best place to go. Every area has one on a different day of the week so it's important to ask a local the when and where of their laiki.
They are a lot of fun to go to you will find fresh eggs, fruits, vegetables, seafood, clothes, housewares, baked goods and I have even seem some live chickens for sale :). Going to the Laiki is one of my favorite things to do when visiting family. Either way, you can't go wrong the food just tastes better in Greece!!!
 
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Whenever I use to be in Greece I used to be at Greek food as I considered among the best and best on the planet. With an accentuation on heated as opposed to singed food, most customary dishes dodge expand sauces, favoring the aroma of spice flavors. Likely any place I'm I use to look for a new fixing at one my number one store Wegmans.
 
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I’m an aspiring home chef and self proclaimed foodie and I'm looking to get my hands on the best ingredients for when I’m cooking at my airbnb in Greece. I have a feeling that local Greeks aren’t shopping at the supermarket all day. What are your tips for getting fresh and authentic ingredients in Greece?
The best place is the local 'laiki' - i.e. the weekly street market and these exist in big towns all over Greece. In central Athens there's also the main market in Athinas street for meat and fish produce. The surrounding area is also wonderful for food shopping of all kinds - including for herbs and spices.
 
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The best place is the local 'laiki' - i.e. the weekly street market and these exist in big towns all over Greece. In central Athens there's also the main market in Athinas street for meat and fish produce. The surrounding area is also wonderful for food shopping of all kinds - including for herbs and spices.
Thank you! Do you know if the laiki is open every day?
 
Thank you! Do you know if the laiki is open every day?
Depends! Each town or Athens suburb chooses a different day and they always are a once a week thing. Most of the time they take place on Fridays or Tuesdays, I believe. Just ask the locals :)
 

Greek grilling advice and tips?

It's getting warm out and time to break out the grill! I am interested in how do Greek people in Greece grill? I've had so many delicious grilled foods in Greece, I am having a hard time getting the same flavors here in the United States.

I've tried my hand at a few recipes, aiming to capture that authentic taste, but I feel like there's a deeper level of technique and tradition that I'm just not hitting. From choosing the right ingredients to mastering the grill itself, I know there’s a wealth of subtleties that can turn a good dish into a great one.

Do they use certain marinades or techniques? I've watched people in Greece grill - they don't even really follow recipes.

Learning about Greek food and wine pairing

I've recently developed a fascination with Greek wines and am eager to explore their potential pairings with various cuisines. Greek wines, with their rich history and unique grape varieties, offer a tantalizing range of flavors that I believe can complement a wide array of dishes beautifully. However, my experience in effectively pairing these wines is somewhat limited, and I would greatly appreciate any advice or insights from those more familiar with this area.

Particularly, I'm interested in understanding which types of Greek wines (white, red, or rosé) pair best with specific dishes or cuisines. Here are a few specific questions I have in mind:
  1. Assyrtiko: Known for its crisp acidity and citrus notes, which dishes would best highlight Assyrtiko's characteristics?
  2. Agiorgitiko: Often described as smooth and velvety, what kinds of meals would complement this type of red wine?
  3. Xinomavro: With its robust tannins and complex flavor profile, what are the best food pairings to balance its intensity?
  4. Retsina: Given its unique pine resin flavor, are there particular foods that match well with this traditional wine?
Additionally, I'm curious if there are any general rules of thumb when it comes to pairing Greek wines with dishes from other culinary traditions outside of Greek cuisine.

Thank you!

Mediterranean Diet Tied to Lower Blood Pressure, Greek Study Shows!

What do you think of Gyro variations?

There are some gyro shops near me in the United States and they seem to be putting a different spin on the classic dish. There are some variations. What do you guys think of the variations?

I don't recall seeing these variations in Greece, but I could be wrong. Variations such as - gyros made with different meats, like chicken, those made with Greek meatballs, souvlaki, etc.

And what do you think of putting fries in Gyros? I do see that in Greece.

Cumin in Greek Cooking?

When I was in Greece, I bumped into a "spanakopita" in like a turnover style dough. It didn't have cheese and was spiced with cumin. I hadn't realized people use Cumin in Greece until I tasted it in this dish. I was kind of confused.

Do people actually use cumin in Greek cooking? None of the old recipes I have mention it. Could it be a more modern influence?
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