COOKERY AND CONFECTIONERY

ZAKYNTHIAN DIET

The Zakynthian diet has eastern influence as well as a flavour of the west from Italy, France and England, but its roots are traditionally Greek.

We will concentrate on the traditional and healthy part of the Zakynthian diet. You can learn how villagers prepare their food. How they use fresh product from their garden, eat meat from their farm, and catch their fish. How they knead and bake their own ‘black’ wheat germ bread, make local cheese, cure their own ham, dry fruit, and gather olives from their olive groves. A villager uses his own olive oil and drink home made wine.

You will also be introduced to the traditional confectionery which accompanies every celebration, such as Mandolato which is made with egg white, almonds and honey; Pastelli which is made from sesame seeds, honey, almonds and cinnamon: Fitoura which consists of milk and semolina. Galaktoboureko, Baklavas, Karidopita (walnut cake) and ‘glyka tou koutaliou’ sweets of the spoon, are other traditional sweets which can be enjoyed at every festivity and celebration.

Programme

• You can see the traditional ways to make cheese, bread, various sweets and other foods.
• We will visit traditional bakeries, cheese makers, and confectioners.
• Lunch in a traditional restaurant