Geographical newness is in part to thank. The island’s popular black volcanic Perissa and Kamari beaches are big draws, as is its arguably most famous Red Beach near Akrotiri (which is the place to go for archaeology buffs). Santorini curves round a giant lagoon in the Cyclades islands, offering stunning views from sky-high towns, eclectic cuisine, lovely galleries, thriving nightlife and excellent wines.
Beautiful beaches, beautiful scenery and very relaxing atmosphere on every corner of the island!
CUISINE
Starters (mezedes)
Try mezedes such as: Tzatziki (a yoghurt, cucumber & garlic dip), taramosalata (fish roe pureed with lemon juice, oil & either bread crumbs or potato) & humus (chickpea dip). Every taverna though has its own variation on the theme.It's Greek salads (horiatiki salata) that often make such a big impression on visitors. You could make it up yourself from slices of onion, tomato, cucumber, olives, & chunks of feta (a salty & crumbly sheep's milk cheese), with olive oil & oregano sprinkled generously over the top.
Instructions to eating a greek salad: Dig in with your fork & Dip in with your bread!Look out also for
- Dolmades (vine leaves stuffed with minced beef and/or herby rice),
- Melitzana (aubergine - fried or as a dip with tomato & onion),
- Gigantes (giant butter beans in tomato sauce)
- Saganaki (fried or grilled cheese)
- Briam (aubergines, courgettes, peppers & tomatoes - ratatouille style),
- Melitzanes Fournou (aubergine baked with tomatoes & onion),
- Kolokithia Tiganita (courgettes fried in batter) & fassolia & bamies (green beans & okra served in a tomato sauce with herbs). And finally Santorini's specialty Domatokeftedes (tomatoes, onion, flour)
Main courses
Totally Greek menus include stuff like:- Moussaka (layers of minced lamb with aubergine & white sauce),
- Sikoti (grilled liver fried with herbs & garlic),
- Stifado (a casserole based either on veal, rabbit or beef with herbs, vinegar, tomatoes, onion & garlic)
- Fricassee (lamb or pork pieces cooked in a lemon & egg sauce).
- Pastitsio (minced meat with macaroni, tomatoes & cheese under a béchamel sauce) Meatballs come under various names:
Biftekia (meat balls with bread,egg,oregano)
Soutsoukakia(meatballs with bread, garlic, in a sausage shape)
Keftedes (small meat balls, with bread, onion, plenty of basil, usually fried)Barbecued meats can be particularly tasty - look out for:
- Souvlakia (lamb, pork or veal grilled on a skewer),
- Kotopoulo (chicken)
- Gyros (similar to a doner kebab).There is usually excellent fresh fish available although it'll probably be the most expensive dish on the menu.. You'll come across:
- Calamari (squid),
- Barbounia (red mullet),
- Astakos (lobster)
- Marides (whitebait), a cheap option but very delicious.
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