Greek Food - A breif guide to the many greek specialities on offer at bars, cafes and tavernas all over Samos.

'Mezedes' (Appetizers)

Cold Mezedes may include ;

Taramosalata (this is a pate made from smoke fish roe)

Tzatziki (a dip made from yoghurt, cucumber and garlic)

Elies (Olives)

Feta (this is the well known greek white goats cheese

Htapodi (Octopus)

Garides (Shrimps)

Kalamaria (Squid)

Dolmades (Stuffed vine leaves)

Melitzanosalata (Aubergine Dip)

Hot Mezedes examples ;

Keftedes (Meatballs)

Fasolia (Borad white beans)

Loukanika (Small sausages)

Tiropitta (Small cream-cheese pie)

Spanakopita (Small spinach pie)

Bourekaki (Small meat pie)

Kolokythakia (Deep fried courgette

Melitzana (deep fried aubergine)

Saganaki (fried cheese)

Greek people often make a meal out of three or four of these rather that having a main course.

Main Courses

These are a selection fot he most common main courses, of course Greek food is very diverse and you will discover many more main courses at tavernas all over Samos.

Moussakas (layered aubergine, minced beef and potatoes topped with cheese sauce)

Pastitso (pasta with minced meat and bechamel sauce)

Dolmades (Cabbage or vine leaves stuffed with minced meat and rice)

Gemista (Tomatoes and green peppers stuffed with minced beef and rice)

Giouvetsi (Lamb or Veal stew with pasta)

Stifado (Meat stewed with onions and cinnamon)

Souzoukakia (Meatballs in tomato sauce

A Greek Village salad is often ordered as a side order and consists of peppers, onions, olives, tomatoes and feta cheese.

Snacks

Some of our favourite Greek snacks include;

Small souvlakia sticks

Giros (sliced grilled meat on pitta bread with tomato, onion and tzatziki

Souvlaki Pitta (pitta bread rolled round grilled meat

Tyropitta (Small cream cheese pie)

Samos Wines

Chosen by the Vatican as its sacrimental wine and appreciated for 3,000 years, the muscat of Samos is one of the best sweet wines in the world. Under French management from 1890 until 1933 production has since been managed by a cooperative of local producers.

The vineyards of Samos decend the mountain in a succession of narrow terraces, they are a valued source of income for many inhabitants of Samos.

The Samos Muscat varies from the Samos Nectar (a sweet wine with a sugar content of 500 gr./litre) and the Samania Golden (a dry white wine with only 220 gr./litre

Samaina which is dry white wine is sold in small 500g bottles, best enjoyed chilled, although most locals drink it at room temperature. Also avaialble is Samaina Special sold in 750g bottles and ouf course the popular Samaina Golden.

Samos Nectar should be enjoyed chilled and was used as an aperitif by middle class women in the 19th century. It has an amber colour with a apricot flavour.