Greek Food...
What is it? How do I order it?

What's one of the biggest obstacles for tourists in a place you don't know about? Language, language is a huge barrier for many people. Now there are those travelers that wont travel to a place that they don't know the language. We'll call these people linguists, if this is for you go ahead and check out the next article, because this one isn't for you. Who am I talking to in this article? I'm talking to your average Joe, who plans a vacation based on the attractions and not based on language. So now you're here in Athens Greece, and your now faced with several things. How does one ask where a bathroom is? Or how does one read a menu? Well that's what I'm here to help you with, is what your reading on the menu and what it means and how to order it. So shall we begin?

Let's start with salads. I know a lot of people are on the veggie kick and don't condone the eating of meat. Also a lot of people who go out to eat order salads before their meals. Melitzana Salata is one salad you may see on the menu, it's a Eggplant Salad and is pronounced (mel,its,zan,na,sal,ah,tah). Wow that's a mouthful for just a eggplant salad, want to look like a pro, do as the locals do, eat it on bread. Choriataki Salata is what we here in the states call a Greek salad. To pronounce this hard one its pronounced as such, (ho,ree,ah,tee,key,sa,lah,tah). Wow that's a mouthful. Now I wish I had the time to actually go through every salad, but this article can only be so long. So let's move on.

Meat, ahh yes, its what I came for. Greek cooking with meat has some of the best flavors ever. The first meat I'll share with you is some of your basics. Brizoles (bree,zo,les) which basically means steak, in case you want to keep it safe. Khirini (khe,ree,nee) is what you ask for when you're looking for pork. Now for you chicken lovers here are some words that will do you well. Psito or To Fourno (toh,four,no) which Is your oven roasted chicken with potatoes. Next comes Tis skaras (tis,ska,ras) which is grilled chicken in case you're trying to stay safe once again. Garides (ga,ree,des) grilled shrimp, always a safe bet for the sea food lover.

Now I'm going to wrap it up with some more exotic foods. Octopodi (ok,toh,poh,thee) can you guess what that is? I'll give you a second... Its Octopus, some people like that sort of thing, to each his own, but I think I'll stay away from that one. Rega (reh,ga) that's smoked herring in an olive oil styled sauce, I've heard this is very good. The last one, Dolmades (doh,mah,des) is one I've personally had. It's a grape leaf wrapped with ground beef, rice and onions, very good. So get a book for the best bet, but feel free to try out some of this food I've mentioned, it's to die for.