Greek Food
Greek cuisine is a Mediterranean cuisine. Contemporary Greek cookery makes wide use of vegetables, olive oil, grains, fish, wine and meat. Other important ingredients include olives, pasta, cheese, lemon juice, herbs, bread and yoghurt. The most commonly used grain is wheat; barley is also used. Common dessert ingredients include nuts, honey, fruits and filo pastries.
It is strongly influenced by Ottoman cuisine and, especially in the cuisine of Anatolian Greeks, shares foods such as gyros, moussaka, dolmades and baklava with neighbouring countries. To an even greater extent, it is influenced by Italian cuisine and cuisines from other neighbouring southern European countries.
Speciality dishes that are popular in Zante include:
- Lamb Kleftiko - Cooked slowly in parchment
- Pastitsio - Greek baked pasta
- Dolmades - Stuffed vine leaves
- Gyros - Pork or Chicken served in pita bread
- Seafood - Grilled Calamari, Salmon & Shrimp
Not forgetting the old favourites of Tzatsiki and Greek salad, full of the flavours of summer and to finish off your meal with Zante's signature dessert Frigania.
Wine & Drinks
Zante has a surprisingly rich wine culture, shaped by volcanic soil, salty sea air and centuries of Venetian influence.
If you enjoy discovering local wine the island is a gem, with small production, big character and bottles you won't easily find outside the Ionian Sea.
Verdea - The islands historic white wine, dry aromatic and slightly rustic in the best way.
Avgoustaitis - Made with Zante's rare red grape, is a deep elegant wine with notes of plum, pepper and herbs.
However, on a hot day, it is much better to stick with a bottle of water, which can be bought from kiosks, mini markets or shops and is both thirst-quenching and cheap.
A good alternative on a hot day is a fresh juice, with fruit picked from the tree there and then, or a nice cold Greek beer.