Kardamena is a relatively young resort. Just a few years ago it was an ordinary fishing village. Although the town’s infrastructure has changed dramatically since then, the locals’ love for seafood delicacies has remained unchanged. However, it would be unfair to say that only fish is cooked excellently here.
Visit at least one inexpensive restaurant or the best café in Kardamena and try grilled shrimp, for example — and you will become a devoted fan of the local cuisine forever. We have compiled a list of dishes you should definitely try while vacationing in Kardamena:
souvlaki — meat roasted on a spit and served with sauce and a side dish;
moussaka — a dish of eggplants, minced meat and tomatoes with white sauce;
stifado — pieces of meat cooked with onions in wine;
paidakyo — lamb ribs cooked over an open fire;
katimeria — sweet flat cakes stuffed with cream cheese, cinnamon and lemon;
red cheese — a regular cheese that gets its name from its distinctive color acquired while aging in red wine;
pitaridia — homemade pasta cooked in meat broth;
pligouri — a type of side dish (grain);
poskrebok — wheat bread made with cottage cheese;
holumi — a grilled appetizer made from local cheese;
varvara — a dessert made from wheat porridge with nuts, rose water and cinnamon.
No matter which restaurant in Kardamena you visit, you will be served a huge portion (for example, one portion of salad is enough for three people). And there is no need to order bread separately — you will definitely be brought a large basket of warm buns with herb butter.
National dishes of Kardamena
For dessert, head to a coffee shop. Greek coffee (ellinikos kafes) is an oily, thick, strong and incredibly aromatic drink with a dense foam. It is served in small cups with a glass of cool water. If drinking hot beverages in the heat is not appealing, try the Greek cold coffee drink frappe. Coffee shops serve several varieties: frappe gliko (very sweet), frappe metrio (medium sweetness), and frappe sketo (without sugar).
Among sweets we recommend korné me krema (a puff pastry tube filled with cream and whipped cream), galatoboureko (a roll made of sweet pastry with delicate milk cream), local halva, kataifi, ravani, samali, nishallo, nogul, sherbet, jam made from figs, quince, oranges or peaches, melomakarona, diples and kourabiedes. Most of these desserts are made with natural honey, various nuts, natural milk, cheese, and fresh or dried fruits.
