Greek Food is a Lifestyle
It IS all it’s cracked up to be.
In one of my previous blogs, I discussed my endless love for Souvlaki. Souvlaki is a staple in Greece — almost every street has at least one of these amazing little shops. Let me try to explain Souvlaki to those who have never experienced it.
Souvlaki has many different forms. The first, and most important (in my opinion), is the classic gyro.
This bundle of joy is your choice of chicken or pork, with a seemingly endless amount of toppings like lettuce, tomato, French fries, and the ever-important tzatziki. The usual price is only two euros and will fill you up for lunch or dinner. This is a great deal, especially for a college student studying abroad on a budget.
There are many other forms of Souvlaki, including:
The meat skewer, which is perfect for those who don’t want a full wrap, is a great option as well. Your choice of chicken or pork is speared with a wooden stick, served with a giant pile of French fries and a lemon wedge. Delicious.
There are tons of other traditional Greek foods, many available for grab-and-go. Cheese pies, or τυρóπιτα, is a Greek staple. Spinach pies, or σπανακόπιτα, are also a mouth-watering thing of beauty.
At restaurants, or the Greek “Taverna,” many different foods are served, usually with a theme of meat and carbs. You definitely won’t leave a Taverna with an empty stomach. Greek specialties are made the right way at Tavernas and are a gathering place for friends and family. You also won’t break the bank at a Taverna.
Why am I so obsessed with Greek food, you may ask?
Obviously, it’s delicious. But, Greek food is more than that — it’s a lifestyle.
The Greek people center their time around leisure activities, whether it be having an afternoon coffee and smoke or gathering with family for a large dinner. And food is a big part of this — food brings people together in Greece.
Some of my fondest memories from my time in Athens were doing huge Taverna dinners with 20 other people. We would normally assign one person to do the ordering for the table, which would normally end with an excess in wine and not enough food (whoops). These times are when I felt most connected with the Greek culture. Sitting around a giant table with good company and good food reminded me to take a step back and appreciate the little things.
As I would walk to class, to the grocery store, or to Syntagma Square, I’d see people sitting outside at a café or Taverna with a little something to eat, a coffee, and a friend or two. This could be at any time of the day. Food in Greece creates an atmosphere, similar to how music in America does. Instead of music being played, the streets are filled with conversation — real, deep conversation that is a rarity in the US. The Greek people don’t need music to fill the space because they have so much to talk about. And food is the force behind it all.
