Greece
Foundation for the Culinary Arts
Throughout history, Greece has been a country that has repeatedly conquered and been conquered, creating a broad variety of cultural influences on its cuisine. The Greeks are credited with laying the foundation for the culinary arts. When the Byzantine Empire absorbed Greece in 330 BC, Balkan and Turkish influences blended into Greek cooking. In successive invasions, Slavs, Franks, Serbs, and Venetians introduced their culinary traditions. For more than 400 years, Greece was part of the Turkish Ottoman Empire. As a result, many classic Greek dishes still have Turkish names today.
Chef Mimi Rippee provides an essential overview of the nation and its cuisine, and includes numerous recipes. There are also excerpts from chef Peter Conistis' book, Greek Cuisine: The New Classics, from Ten Speed Press. |
