Beautiful and Delicious Greece
After a brutal winter and many months of being stuck at home me and daughter finally took a well deserved vacation to Greece. She just finished medical school. This was a great opportunity for a mother daughter trip before her super busy residency starts.
I went to Greece in 2018 just in Athens for a conference and was amazed by the beauty and wonderful food there. The Greek food in US does not do any justice to the amazing and variety of food you get in Greece. I always wanted to go back to Greece to visit Santorini and try again all the amazing food there. We both are foodie, so Greece was a great destination for us.
From the moment we landed in Athens, food became the rhythm of the day. Mornings started slowly, with a hearty breakfast at the hotel. Here is our delicious breakfast on the terrace of our hotel in Santorini. The food was amazing and the view is spectacular.
We ate at lot of little restaurants who cooked everything from scratch with heart healthy Greek olive oil and spices like basil, garlic, oregano and so on.
My daughter found this amazing market in Athens that sells fresh seafood, meat and spices to the local. It is called the Athens Central Market (Varvakios Agora). Its only 15 minutes walk from Plaka where we stayed. The market also has few little restaurants inside where they cook the fresh seafood from the market. We both love seafood, so we had go there and give it a try.
We had freshly grilled sardines, caught that morning, lightly seasoned, and kissed by the grill. Sardines are one of the richest natural sources of omega-3 fatty acids, and here they weren’t dressed up or complicated. Just a drizzle of golden olive oil, a squeeze of lemon, and a sprinkle of oregano. Simple, delicious, and incredibly healthy.
Seafood, in general, was the highlight of our trip. Whether it was delicate grilled prawns, flaky white fish, or whole fish roasted to perfection, each dish felt like a celebration of freshness. The Greeks have mastered the art of letting ingredients speak for themselves. There’s no heavy breading or overpowering sauces, just clean flavors elevated with herbs like oregano and basil.
But it wasn’t all seafood. We also had amazing Greek fresh salads, grilled zucchini, artichokes, and so on. This balance is what struck me most about Greek cuisine: every bite is fresh and delicious and made with heart-healthy ingredients.
Then came Santorini, where the food somehow became even more memorable, perhaps it was the sea breeze, the whitewashed views, or the volcanic soil that gives the produce its intensity. We went to this little family run tavern and had the most amazing fresh lamb stew slow cooked for hours with olive oil and fresh spices and it was a pure bliss for our tastebuds.
And let’s talk about that olive oil. This wasn’t just an ingredient; it was the foundation of nearly every dish. Rich in monounsaturated fats and antioxidants, high-quality Greek olive oil adds both flavor and undeniable heart health benefits. You could taste the difference, it was fruity, slightly peppery, and so vibrant that it almost felt like a finishing sauce rather than a cooking medium.
What makes this style of eating so powerful is how naturally it aligns with the principles of the Mediterranean diet. Fresh vegetables, lean proteins, healthy fats, and minimal processing, it’s not restrictive or complicated. It’s intuitive. It’s joyful. And most importantly, it’s sustainable.
This trip reminded me that heart-healthy eating doesn’t have to feel like a chore or a compromise. It can be indulgent in the best way; full of flavor, texture, and cultural richness. Sitting by the Aegean Sea, sharing plates of grilled fish, vegetables, and rustic bread with good company, I realized something important: food is not just fuel. It’s connection. It’s memory. It’s life.
If there’s one lesson I’m bringing back to my kitchen, it’s this - keep it simple, use the best ingredients you can find, and don’t be afraid to let them shine. A drizzle of olive oil, a pinch of oregano, and a fresh catch can go a long way.
And trust me, your heart and your taste buds will thank you.💖