Out & About Spring 2018

FOOD & DRINK - FOOD NEWS

E aster preparations begin on Holy Thursday when the traditional Easter bread, tsoureki, is baked and eggs are dyed red (to represent life and also the blood of Christ). The holiest day of Holy Week is Holy Friday, when Greeks mourn rather than work. Devout Greeks often do not cook on this day. If they do, it will be simple beans boiled in water and seasoned with vinegar. On the morning of Holy Saturday, the Greeks get ready for Easter Sunday. The traditional mayiritsa soup – which uses

lamb. On the table will also be olives and tzatziki, perhaps houmus and always pitta bread. Spanakopita (spinach and cheese pie) is a favourite dish, too. And always horiatiki salad, the traditional Greek salad of tomatoes, onions, cucumber, olives and feta cheese flecked with oregano and drizzled with some grassy Greek olive oil.

Not Greek, but children will love M&S’s Percy Pig’s new friend the Easter Bunny, who is lemon flavoured. In these limited edition bags, Percy Meets the Easter Bunny, you will find classic Percy Pigs accompanied by his newest pal - and they are vegetarian, too. £1.65 a bag.

the organs and intestines of the lamb that will be roasted – is prepared, ready to be eaten after the midnight service, to break the fast. On the Sunday, it is all about the food and many villages still set up tables in the square and a spit for a whole

Buy…

Honey Raw Greek honey from www.oliveology.co.uk Flavours include sage and chestnut. Prices from £5 for a jar.

Greek olive oil Greek olive oil really is liquid gold. Cretan is good, but the Peloponnese region and Kalamata in particular are famed for their olives. Aldi often stocks Kalamata olive oil at £2.50 for a 750ml bottle – and it beat M&S olive oil in a blind tasting. And Lidl’s topped a Good Housekeeping taste test too. For all kinds of Greek foods try www.agoragreekdelicacies.co.uk They stock baklava at £13.99 for a family tray of 700g and even do a chocolate baklava for £17.99 that is filled with Merenda or Nutella chocolate spread.

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