Jevay 
My trip to Athens, Greece was birthed out of cancellation. I had spent the year prior planning (again) for a trip to Amsterdam. However, closer to the time of the trip the weather just wouldn’t cooperate! There was this freak rain storm coming and my flight was going to be delayed, or worse, cancelled. I was on the phone with the Delta travel agents trying to find another trip that I could go on and she said, “How about Athens?”. At the time, that didn’t make any sense to me. I’m trying to cop a pair of wooden shoes, not see fallen columns! But, the more we talked, the more intrigued I became.
I let the city of Athens sit on my mind for about 48 hours and decided to give it a try. I mean, why not? I’m trying to see the world anyway. I cashed in my miles and upgrade certificates and booked my first solo trip around the world! What do we say to fear?, Not today…
I arrived in Athens not really knowing what to expect food-wise. I knew that I would get the history, but what is the landscape of the food over on this side of the world? To fully get an idea of the food scene I would need to use Viator to scope out the scene. I booked two tours: Greek Food Walking Tour in Athens & Athens Evening Food Tour. These two tours would show me food from the people’s angle! On both tours I was led away from tourist traps and brought to authentic Greek restaurants where I could try the local cuisine. Spoiler Alert: there’s no hummus on the menu.
To say that I was taken aback by the delicious food would quite literally be an understatement. In fact, I was blown away by the food in Athens! The cuisine of Athens is made up of fresh produce, herbs, and a magical hand that allows the ingredients to speak for themselves. Here are a few of my favorite dishes that made my trip to Athens, Greece so worth it!
Moussaka: A traditional Greek dish made with layers of eggplant, minced meat, and a béchamel sauce. Think cozy lasagna. I tasted moussaka at O Thanasis, a popular restaurant in the heart of Monastiraki, and I really couldn’t get enough. The dish was seasoned perfectly, and you could tell that the meat had been marinated before assembly.
Galaktoboureko: is a sweet Greek dessert made with semolina custard and phyllo pastry dough. It’s then coated with a sweet glaze. I enjoyed this dessert while overlooking the Temple of Poseidon at the Cape Sounion restaurant.
Loukoumades: My favorite dish of Greece were these delicious bite-sized dough balls soaked in honey syrup! Loukoumades had me hooked from the first bite. Traditionally they are served with chopped nuts, but I saw them drenched in milk chocolate at some places. By the end of the week I preferred them with just the honey syrup. You can find loukoumades practically everywhere. They have become such a special treat that you’ll find speciality shops that only serve them on multiple corners.
If Athens isn’t on your bucket list, you should add it! Greece is more than its islands and well worth every penny I paid and every calorie I consumed.
Happy reading, Happy eating.
-jevaydanielle