Know your souvlaki (clockwise from left): Greece's flag, Kokoretsi on a spit, horiatiki salad, grilled whole lavraki (or sea b
George Embiricos•
Fresh off my third vasilopita win in four years – read on if you have no idea what that means – I am proud to share my knowledge of Greek cuisine with this list of 60 food and drink terms. No, bundt cake is not included (My Big Fat Greek Wedding, anyone?) The list includes everything from aperitifs to desserts, so brush up on your Hellenic kitchen vocabulary and head out to one of your city's best Greek restaurants for some lamb intestines and shots of ouzo. Opa!
Drinks
Frappé – A foam-covered iced coffee drink made from instant coffee
Gia sas – "Cheers!"
Kafenio – A café, where people often socialize and play games of cards
Ouzo – An anise-flavored aperitif widely consumed in the country
Mastika – A brandy-based digestif native to the island of Chios
Metaxa – A distilled spirit that is a blend of brandy, spices and wine
Retsina – A white or rosé resonated wine
General food
Arni – Lamb
Brizola – Steak
Feta – A rich cheese made from sheep or goat's milk and cured in brine
Filo – Paper-thin sheets of unleavened flour dough
Fourno – Oven
Kali orexi – "Bon appétit!"
Kotopoulo – Chicken
Lathera – Dishes cooked in oil, often vegetarian
Meli – Honey
Mezedes – Small dishes, similar to the Spanish concept of tapas
Octapodi – Octopus, traditionally served grilled
Pikilia – An assortment of appetizers
Pita – A round pocket bread dipped in spreads or used with meat dishes
Psito – A method for roasting meat in the oven
Tapsi – A traditional baking dish
Taverna – A small restaurant serving traditional cuisine
Yiaourti – Yogurt
Soups and stews
Avgolemono – A chicken soup with egg and lemon juice mixed with broth
Fasolada – A meatless bean soup
Psarosoupa – A fish soup
Stifado – A stew, typically made from meat, tomatoes, onions and herbs
Traditional dishes
Barbouni – A small fish, often eaten whole. Also known as "red mullet"
Dolmades – Stuffed grape leaves
Gigandes – Giant baked beans
Gyro – A dish of meat roasted on a vertical spit. Often served in a sandwich
Horiatiki – Traditional Greek salad
Keftedes – Meatballs cooked with herbs and onions
Kokoretsi – Seasoned lamb intestines
Kolokithokeftedes – Zucchini fritters, often served with tzatziki
Lavraki – European sea bass
Marida – Little fish, lightly fried and eaten whole
Melitzanosalata – An eggplant dip
Moussaka – An eggplant-based dish with spiced meat and béchamel
Paidakia – Grilled lamb chops
Pastitsio – A baked pasta dish with meat and béchamel topping
Rolo Kima – A traditional meatloaf stuffed with boiled eggs
Saganaki – Fried cheese, named after the small frying pan it is cooked in
Souvlaki – Small pieces of meat and sometimes vegetables on a skewer
Spanakopita – Spinach pie
Spanakorizo – Spinach and rice cooked in lemon and olive oil sauce
Taramasalata – A spread made from fish roe
Tsipoura – Sea bream
Tzatziki – A sauce made out of strained yogurt, cucumbers and garlic
Yemista – Tomatoes and peppers stuffed with rice
Youvetsi – Lamb with orzo
Sweets
Baklava – A rich pastry made with layers of filo filled with nuts and honey
Galactoboureko – A filo pastry with a rich custard filling
Loukoumades – Fried balls of dough drenched in honey with cinnamon
Kourabiedes – Light almond shortbread served during the holidays
Melomakarona – Cookies with honey and walnuts served during the holidays
Ravani – A sweet cake made of semolina soaked in syrup
Tsoureki – A sweet, egg-enriched bread served at Christmas and Easter
Vasilopita – New Year's Day cake. A coin is baked in and the person who finds it is said to have good luck for the year
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