Food sharing- the done thing?

[Island Bound]

A friend who has just returned from Skiathos mentioned that he ate a lot in the Greek frequented tavernas. He said the done thing seemed to be not to order a meal from each course each, but because of the quantities to share some of the courses.

Is this done on Thassos, or would it be considered rude? We grown ups can eat for England- but our 4 girls have appetites like sparrows so this approach might help avoid some of the waste food they create!

It's no big deal if it would be frowned upon, it would be nice to know though.

[Bert&Lies]

Hi there,
In Thassos, or Greece in general, we had similar experiences.
When some greek friends take us to a greek restaurant, they order food for the whole table, like some fried cheese apetizers, dips,... when you are for ex with party of 4 they make shure, you have at least 4 pcs of each.
as 'main course' they put a large plate with the grilled meat, biftekis, souvlaki, .... whatever you want.
There is a completely different way of eating, it's like a family get together and everyone takes whatever he wants, same story for the drinks. At the end there i allways too much, and you are filled like a balloon.
Most restaurants don't make a problem of it, in case of 2 persons, you can choose for exemple 3 or 4 starters on the table, there is more variety of tastes and you are not frustrated of sending back full plates...

I think that what you said from Skiathos is also true for Thassos, thats also our experience in our 2nd hometown Potos. and we love this way of eating...

So, feel free to ask whatever you like in the taverna of your choice, if they consider it as rude, go elsewhere the next evening .

When I was the first time on theisland back in 1988 when I was a little boy I remember we missed the traditional food from home (after 3weeks) and my mother was allowed to go inside the kitchen from the taverna in Theologos to prepare a meal like we used to eat back in Belgium (think was cooked potatoes, with steak or sth....), this shows how friendly and flexible most of the greeks are...

Hope you enjoy your holiday!!
Bert

[family of three]

every time we have been on a Greek island this is totally acceptable . we love it as there is always so many things we wont to try.


not long now

[lynne read]

Hi Island bound

This is why Greece is loved by so many people, the friendliness and the community, in England you eat to survive here in Greece you eat to socialise so sharing plates of food is considered a compliment also if you do not have a very big appetite like myself you don't feel obliged to eat everything they put in front of you, today we went to a restaurant and they cooked the fresh fish that my husband Jimmy and his friend Kiriakos caught last night we odered salads, cheese croquettes, chips, cheese dishes and ordered drinks there was 9 of us and it cost us 5 euros each not bad eh? but wherever you eat here dont feel frightened to ask, the owners of the restaurants and tavernas are always willing to give you tips on what to have and they take great delight in explaining the dish and how it was cooked and by who so sit back and enjoy.

see ya

Lynne

[family of three]

Lynne you are making me very hungery

[Island Bound]

I'm salivating now too!

Can't help wondering if theres time to nip down to Margate between now & thursday! Theres a place you can get a full Meze for £13, and the food is really yummy! Nah, I think I'll hang in there just a few more days for a taste of the real thing.

Another related question though- Im led to believe that the evening meal time starts a bit later than in the UK- whats an average sort of time to plonk yourself down at a taverna?

[Dawn]

I find that we get eating later and later as the holiday goes on. At the start of the fortnight we'll be thinking about eating around 8.30 - 9pm. By the end of the holiday it can be getting on for 11pm before we go to eat. But no matter how late we are, the Greeks are always later

[blackdog]

But no matter how late we are, the Greeks are always later

We'll be later still Dawn.................

August

Heck, I'll be hungry by then

[Dawn]

Have you got one of those Peter Kay watches then blackdog?

[blackdog]

Have you got one of those Peter Kay watches then blackdog?

Trust me Dawn, they're the future

[jacqui]

Definitely good for sharing! I'd put on at least a stone on holiday if I didn't share my feta starter

[Maggie Owen]

When we went out to Skala Potamia at Easter to complete the purchase of our house, we were invited to stay with Nikos (who built our house) and his wife Eva. They have become like a second family to us.

We ate with them on several occasions and when eating out let them do the ordering. Every meal was a multitude of dishes that everybody shared - all the food came together, not in courses, and we tried so many dishes that we would never have known how to order, including something that looked like a small burger but was made from the stems of young ferns!! Unusual to us but delicious.

I love this way of eating and plan to do a lot more of it in the future!

Maggie