Crete and Greece is synonymous with some fantastic and traditional foods. From the simple fast food of souvlaki and the wonderfully tasty and fresh salads, to the exotic sounding Imam Baldi and mouth watering moussaka there is a huge range of wonderful foods to delight the taste buds...and we haven't even mentioned the sea food dishes of octopus, bream, sea bass, calamari - the list is almost endless.
Here we pick our favourite dishes that are not only crowd pleasers for the visitor to Crete, but they taste great too.
1. LAMB
Roasted, grilled, barbecued or braised, the Greek and especially Cretan lamb has a taste that is just amazing. Maybe it is the 300 days of sunshine that Crete reportedly has each year that brings out the best in the meat, but you can be almost guaranteed that wherever you go you will enjoy a great lamb dish.
2. BOUREKI
A vegetarian's dream dish full of flavour and extremely filling. The layers of courgette, potato and myzithra (a crumbly, sharp tasting goats cheese) make a truly memorable dish. In Crete it is sometimes served as a pie with layers of filo pastry, either way it is delicious.
3.FRESH FISH
Even though Crete is the largest Greek island and surrounded by the stunning blue waters of the Mediterranean, fish can sometimes be hard to come by. As such it can be a little pricey on occasion, but boy is it worth it. Try a simple grilled Red Snapper delivered to your table 'as is'; head still on, eyes daring you to try one of these tasty little morsels, or ask for a freshly caught octopus cooked on the BBQ with lemon. If you are just after a snack ask for the whitebait and munch your way through as many you can with a carafe of ouzo to wash them down.
4. MOUSSAKA
No trip to Greece would be complete without sampling a traditional moussaka. The layers of aubergines, mince and pasta coupled with each taverna's closely guarded secret sauce recipe is a must have on every visitor's list.
5. SOUVLAKI
A tasty fast food of pork, chicken or lamb that is cubed and cooked over an open flame on skewers. Simple, full of flavour and finger-licking good. Pick them up from the side of the road at weekly markets for just a few cents or pay a little extra at a restaraunt to have it served as a main dish with fries, rice or salad.
6. GYROS PITA
Another fast food favourite of pork or chicken that has been sliced into small pieces. It is served in a pita bread with lashings of yoghurt or tzatziki,fries, fresh tomato and onions. The only problem is that you must have been born with Greek blood to be able to eat one elegantly!
7. GIGANTES Butter beans cooked in a tomato sauce with onions and herbs, what more could be simpler? This is a dish that is mainly served in the winter time but if you can dig it out on a menu during the summer months you are in for a treat. Look for 'Giant Beans' on the appetizer area of the menu.
8. COURGETTES
Thinly sliced and coated with a thin layer of flour before being fried turns the humble courgette into a tasty and filling appetizer to share. Dip into a little tzatziki and let your taste buds explode. During the summer when there is a glut of courgettes you can also find courgette balls and courgette fritters; grated or thinly sliced pieces of courgette mixed with feta or myzithra cheeses and shaped into balls or thick, flattish pancakes. Fried or grilled and served hot with a slice of lemon will have you asking for more.
9. GEMISTA
The flesh of tomatoes and peppers is scooped out and mixed with olive oil, rice and herbs before being stuffed back into the empty skins and baked. Can be served as an appetizer, main course or as part of a Cretan or Greek Meze shared between friends.
10. TSIKOUDIA or RAKI
Nor a food but there is no doubt that you will taste this fiery Cretan spirit before too long on your visit. Made from the remains of the wine making grapes and must, raki is a distilled spirit with a kick. You will normally be given a shot glass or small carafe to enjoy when you have finished your meal. It is said to aid digestion after eating and who are we to disagree?