Bordered by azure seas, Greece is a country of steep, rocky terrain. Yet from unfertile soils emerged a cuisine of fresh, delicious simplicity.
Classic Greek Flavors
Like a tiny taste of the sun, a handful of classic ingredients typify Greek cuisine's fresh, vibrant flavors: olive oil, lemon, feta cheese, oregano and thyme. They give a burst of flavor to seafood, salads and vegetable dishes.
Bacchus and the Golden Mean
Olives and grapes grow in even the most inhospitable soils. For ancient Greeks, the simplicity of a diet based on these ingredients harmonized nicely with a philosophy of moderation: Too much wine causes grief, but so does too little.
Grecian Formula
A study completed in the 1960s gave props to the Cretan diet, noting the health benefits of eating plentiful fresh fruits and vegetables and olive oil as the primary fat. The study first showcased the health rewards of what today we call the "Mediterranean diet."
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