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Greek Wedding FeastA Greek Wedding Feast: as with the majority of countries Greek food is governed by the climate, terrain and geography. Located in the heart of southern Europe on the Mediterranean, mainland Greece, and its numerous islands, has a mix of Oriental and European dishes. World famous for their olive oil, it is the basis of many recipes, each region having a distinctive flavour. Villagers do not have to travel far to find fresh produce either from the land or sea. The latter dominates ľ ’s of the mainland’s boarders giving a heavy seafood influence in their diet.
On mainland Greece there are three main regions which influence the cuisine: the southern Peloponnese Peninsula (including Sparta and Corinth), the middle plains Attica (incorporating Athens, Thebes and Delphi), and to the north rough and rugged Macedonia (Hellespont). Then there are a series of islands, the major ones forming the Aegean and Ionian groups. Warm summer temperatures and cool winters provide a variety of produce, the main harvest being in November. Menu For A Greek Wedding Feast: Ingredients would depend upon the season’s availability. Local white wine “Retsina”, or “Ouzo” (an alcoholic drink flavored with anise) would be drunk. It should be noted that desserts or sweets are not usually served, only for festivities. A wedding menu would take the following shape: Entrees or Mezes (Mezzes), including bread Soup Main Meat and/or Fish Course Fresh Seasonal Vegetables Fresh Seasonal Salads Dessert(s) Special Festive Cakes * * * A “Mezes” or “Mikri Pikila” (small assortment) is the equivalent to a tasting plate, (antipasta, or tapas). It may include dips and other treats such as: Taramosolata (caviar dip) Melitzana Salata (eggplant dip) Tzatziki (Sadziki) (cucumber, yoghurt and garlic dip) Dolmades (wine or cabbage leaves stuffed with rice) Skordosomo (bread stuffed with garlic) Psomi sta Karvouna (toasted bread) Kalamata (olives) Feta (cheese served cut into cubes) Garides Tigarites (fried shrimp) Loloudia Tigarita (fried stuffed zucchini flowers) Keftedes (meatballs) Revitha Keftedes (chickpea meatballs) Gavros Salata (fresh anchovy salad) Sardeles Pastes (fresh raw sardines) Tyropita (cheese pies) Other Dishes For A Greek Wedding Feast: Psarosoupa (fish soup) (or onion, or chicken) Arni (lamb, “souvlaki kalamaki” skewered meat) Astako and/or Media (lobster, mussels) Octopodi Kraselo (octopus in wine) Galeos me Skordala (shark with garlic sauce) Psari tis Skaras (grilled fish) * * * Fasoulia (green beans) Aginaes (artichokes) Patates (potatoes, usually oven roasted) Patata Salata (potato salad) Horiatiki (Greek salad) Moussaka * * * Ravari (semolina cake in syrup) Halvas (pudding with walnuts and syrup) Galatoboureko (Greek custard pastry) * * * Kourakiedes (sugar covered crescent shaped cakes) Baklava (layers of filo pastry soaked in honey with nuts) Melomakarona (honey coaches sprinkled with spice) * * * Kafes (Greek coffee) order “sketo” (plain), “glyko” (sweet), or “metrio” (medium sweet)) * * * Kali Oreksi (happy eating!) Greek Wedding Feast
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