Greek catering etiquette

In the land with rich products, the practice of food is often deeply rooted in people's hearts and easily rises to the cultural category. For example, the Greeks will te

In the land with rich products, the practice of food is often deeply rooted in people's hearts and easily rises to the cultural category. For example, the Greeks will tell you with simple proverbs that both the spirit and the stomach need nutrition. So what is the catering etiquette in Greece? The following is for everyone, I hope to help everyone!

Greece is a southern European country, located in the Mediterranean region at the junction of Asia, Europe and Africa, with a typical Mediterranean climate-hot and dry summer and mild and rainy winter. Wheat, barley, oats, corn, grapes, olives and figs are widely cultivated in Greece.

Ancient Greece was regarded as the "cradle of western civilization", and there were records about food for a long time: Homer's Epic described aristocratic banquets, sacrifices before going out to war, and picnics of soldiers in the war; The Iliad records the barter trade and people's all-night feasts.

Authentic Greek dishes are mainly grilled seafood, plus salads and desserts. The diet includes whole wheat bread, Mediterranean fruits and vegetables, fresh meat, cheese and olive oil, wine and exotic spices. Traditional Greek dishes are usually divided into four courses: the first course is appetizer and seasoning, with toast; The second course is seafood and vegetables, both raw and cooked, and usually there are Greek specialties-olives; The third course is the main course, including finfish, tuna, poultry and beef and mutton; The fourth course is dessert, which consists of cake, cheese, walnuts, almonds, figs, pears and raisins.

The beauty of food lies in simplicity. As a Mediterranean tourist destination, Greece has its own flavor, whether it is a seafood feast or a street snack. Although Greek food is not the best in western food, it is not difficult to find the shadow of Greek food in famous Spanish food, French food and Italian food. Just like the characteristics of Mediterranean cuisine: healthy and light, rich in nutrition, good at seasoning with spices.

Health foundation: olive oil and wine

Greek food, like their truth, is simple, natural and healthy, such as fried sardines, a famous Greek dish. This dish looks simple, cooked by a Greek chef, but it has an endless aftertaste.

First of all, the raw material is fresh sardines, and the fish should be pickled first. Put olive oil, onion and garlic in the pot, and fry sardines in the pot. When one side is fried, add parsley leaves and oregano or lemon to taste. When it is completely cooked, put it on a plate, drizzle with olive oil, and add lemon and lettuce to the plate. This simple method of frying sardines combines garlic, onion and celery, and has rich and varied flavors.

The practice of roasting fish in Greece is similar, generally with olive oil, lemon, coriander, onion, fresh oregano, fennel and other auxiliary roasting. Grilled fish and fried fish taste rich but not greasy, thanks to the famous Greek specialty-olive oil.

Olive oil is closely related to Greek civilization. In Greek legend, olives are a gift from the goddess Athena. In the Old Testament, on the day when the flood receded, pigeons brought olive branches to Noah's ark to show peace and tranquility.

Greek olives are mostly olives, with sharp ends, dates and high oil content. They are native to the coastal areas of the Eastern Mediterranean Basin and northern Iran on the south bank of the Caspian Sea. Olives and olive oil are an important part of Greek cuisine and almost become the standard of dishes. Greeks love olive oil very much and often spread it on bread, which is also the difference between Greece and other countries in southern Europe. Although olive is inferior to butter in aroma, it is far superior to butter in health care effect. In the cooking of other Mediterranean cuisines, such as French cuisine, Spanish cuisine and Italian cuisine, you can often see people using olive oil. This light and bitter vegetable oil can lock the original flavor of food.

Studies have shown that olive oil can not only lower cholesterol and blood pressure, but also reduce the risk of intestinal cancer and breast cancer, prevent aging, and so on. Adequate sunshine in the Mediterranean is also suitable for grape growth. Grape skins are rich in yeast used to make wine. As we all know, the Greeks advocated the "Dionysian spirit", and this country is the birthplace of Dionysian-Dionysus. According to legend, he is the patron saint of grape cultivation and wine making.

Original ecological ingredients: fresh dairy products from Greece

Under the chemical action of olive oil and spices, Greek food is famous for its salty taste. Like other Mediterranean countries, Greece has a four-course meal order, as well as a tall candlestick, napkin and champagne. However, Greek food is far less complicated and delicate than French food, and it is not as complicated and changeable as Italian food.

Next, let's talk about another simple food-Feta cheese. In Greece, shepherds raise sheep, goats and pigs. This is the characteristic of agriculture in the Mediterranean region: drought-tolerant crops, woody cash crops and raising livestock are combined. So the Greeks also have mutton, cheese and yogurt on the table. Although there is a debt crisis in Greece now, it also shows the characteristics of light industry and heavy agriculture in this country to some extent. Therefore, the quality of mutton in Greece is excellent, and high-quality goat milk is the source of dairy products.

Fida cheese is Greece's "international big shot". As a representative of feta cheese, it has long been famous in the world. Traditional feta cheese is made of goat's milk-white, hard and crisp, with holes in it. This is also the "trick" to distinguish between true and false Fida cheese. In addition, because the production and fermentation are carried out in salt water, the taste of cheese is very salty. When eating, soak in cold water or milk for a few minutes to reduce the salty taste. Nowadays, goat milk and milk are occasionally used to make feta cheese.

How important is Fida cheese to the Greek diet? It can be used from appetizers, main courses to snacks. Because the cream content of Feida cheese is generally around 40% ~ 50%, seasonings are also added when making Greek salads. Sweet and sour tomatoes, slightly astringent olive oil, spicy onions and fragrant cucumbers are all "obedient" after being stirred by salty cheese.

In addition to making cheese, the famous Greek specialty is Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt is thick and solid, with milk fat as high as 10%, and yogurt tastes heavy.

This kind of yogurt is usually produced by season. Greece is hot in summer, but the fermentation of yogurt needs to be carried out in a cool environment, which is dry in summer, with low water content in pasture and low milk production of cattle and sheep. Therefore, in the past, Greek yogurt could only be produced by season.

Greek yogurt can be drunk directly or used as sauce and seasoning for barbecue. So, when you see the Greeks adding yogurt to Luo Songtang or mushroom soup, or directly pouring yogurt into vegetable salad, or spreading yogurt on whole wheat bread, don't make a fuss.

Greeks advocate wine culture.

Greek culture is similar to China in many ways. Greeks, like China people, like to say that their country is the birthplace of western civilization and one of the oldest ancient civilizations. When they heard that I was from China, they all expressed their admiration for China and proudly said that China and Greece are the two greatest countries in the world.

Greeks like to drink, and it is white wine and the like. The most famous wine in Greece is "Uzo", 42 degrees. Its reputation in Greece is as great as Wuliangye in China, but its price and sales volume are similar to that of ordinary liquor in China. The taste of "Uzo" is a little licorice. Put some ice cubes before drinking, and then shake them a few times, and the transparent liquid will turn white, look soft and taste good.

In Greece, people usually go to restaurants and bars to drink. Unlike China people, they don't eat and drink at the same time. They just drink, bring some dried fruits and olives at most, and regard getting slightly drunk as a social fashion.

Greeks pay attention to protecting the environment.

Greece? It is a tourist attraction, and its natural scenery and cultural landscape have attracted countless tourists. But the environmental protection in these places is very good and impressive. Although many ancient sites are dilapidated, there is no littering and the environment is dirty.