How to Feast Like the Greek in Athens

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There is a great deal about Athens to recommend to the thousands of people who visit this ancient city every year. Among these are breathtaking windswept beaches, brilliant blue water, historic landmarks and mouthwatering food homemade with the freshest ingredients. Below are the foods we recommend you try during your trip.

Dolmades

A dish that is wildly popular throughout Greece, dolmades are made a bit differently in each region. The shell can consist of hollowed out vegetables or vine leaf parcel. Stuffing ranges from a vegetarian version (rice seasoned with herbs) to a meat lover’s version (minced meat).

Moussaka

Variations of this iconic Greek oven-bake are found throughout the Mediterranean and the Balkans. At the very basic level, Moussaka is prepared by layering fried puréed tomato, onion, garlic, minced lamb, sautéed aubergine (eggplant), potato, spices and a topping of cheese and béchamel sauce of cream and flour.

Courgette Balls (Kolokythokeftedes)

These tasty appetizers, formed into a patty or a lightly fried ball, may just steal the spotlight from the main course. They consist of puréed or grated courgette (zucchini) blended with mint, dill, or other spice combinations and paired with tzatziki.

Honey and Baklava

Sweets are big in all of Greece, including Athens. The combination of honey and baklava is the perfect cure for the most insatiable of sweet teeth. Variations of baklava include a custard filled pastry, honey with filo and ground nuts and Greek yogurt drizzled with thyme honey.

Taramasalata

Dips are essential to any proper meal in Athens, and king among these is taramasalata, a luscious blend of pink or white fish roe. The popular dip is made with a bread or potato base and finished off with virgin olive oil or a squeeze of lemon.

Fresh Fish

The best taramasalata in Athens would be nothing without fresh fish. Greeks savor fresh fish, eating it in droves and cooking it with little fuss to let its natural flavor shine. Calamari and fish with fins are served fresh from the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, grilled and topped with a lemon and oil dressing.

Fresh Cheese

Eating cheese in Athens is an experience you are unlikely to get outside of Greece. It is served fresh, including feta cheese scooped from barrels of brine. You can also enjoy graviera, salads sprinkled with mizithra and savory tyropita. The final dish, which in simple terms is cheese pie, is available at bakeries.

Athens is ripe with opportunities to celebrate the local culture and get lost in the magnificent tapestry of history that can be found around every corner. Indulging in the local cuisine is the perfect complement to any visit to this magnificent historic city.

Planning a travel incentive or corporate meeting in Athens? Contact Gavel International for more information about our programs.

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Jim Bozzelli

With over 34 years of experience, Jim is fluent in the ins and outs of the meeting and event world. His tenacity and creativity as a strategist have ensured that incentive programs and corporate meetings are highly polished while simultaneously achieving big-picture goals and objectives. Before focusing exclusively on corporate events and incentive programs, he enjoyed over 10 years of success managing and directing national and international sales. During this time, he worked closely with hotels and convention bureaus. His expertise was recognized with rapid promotions along the way. Over 18 years ago he joined the Gavel International team where he works tirelessly with clients to make their events shine by analyzing data, setting goals, negotiating contracts, as well as setting and managing budgets. He is currently the Vice President of Gavel International.