“I felt once more how simple and frugal a thing is happiness: a glass of wine, a roast chestnut, a wretched little brazier, the sound of the sea. Nothing else.” Nikos Kazantzakis, Zorba the Greek
I cannot speak of dining on Crete without mentioning my friend Kostas Hamogiorgakis – who owns Taverna Goules in the hills south of Rethymno. Here’s to you Kostas, thanks again for teaching us about Cretan hospitality – photo by my lifelong friend photographer Jay Thomas
The health and longevity Cretan’s are notorious for, it’s in large part due to the ideal climate and atmosphere of that island, true. However laid back and ideal Crete may be though, it’s certain the Cretan diet plays a huge role in making Zorba’s island one of the healthiest on Earth. For those who intend to visit the land of the Minoans, here’s some wonderful food and wine tours to put on your bucket list.
Authentic Crete – 2 days & 1 night
This excursion into the culinary traditions of Crete is hosted by Cretan food tour legend George Portokalakis (at right). For €545 euro per person, guests get immersed in Cretan organic cooking and wines, raki and wine tasting, and even a chance to milk the goats. You read that correctly, I was amazed at just how many goats there are on Crete. Nice critters they are too, especially in stew. Sorry.
Anyhow, here’s the short list of what comes with this culinary exploration:
- Accommodation at the Thalori Traditional Complex in a twin/double room house for 1 night
- Return transfers to / from Heraklion airport, port, hotel
- Cretan cookery lessons on day 1
- A visit to archaeological sites of Gortys and Phaestos (guiding/entrance fees are extra)
- A lunch at Kokkinos Pyrgos sea front restaurant with sea specialties
- A visit to producers vineyard with picnic lunch
- A visit to local winery and tasting of wine and raki
- All transport to and from the excursions
- All cooking materials and ingredients
- Breakfast and lunch on days 1 and 2, and dinner the food prepared during the cooking class accompanied by water, local wine and raki
One Day Cretan Cuisine Cooking Class
Visitors to Crete’s capital can learn to cook the real deal in a private kitchen in the center of Heraklion. This is a great class for learning pure vegetarian aspect of the Cretan diet. For €115 euro per guest the hosts not only give a tour of the food market, but the course includes:
- 3 ½ hour cookery lesson with the host/instructor
- All ingredients and cooking materials plus your apron use
- The meal you’ve cooked with local wine
- Recipe booklet
Making zucchini fritters at Vamos – courtesy the village’s Facebook
The hands-on class takes you through the process of making stuffed tomatoes, peppers, courgettes, and aubergines, along with preparing Dolmadakia (little stuffed wraps) with vine leaves, sorrels or pumpkin flowers. This is a 3 hours well spent if you want to get your hands on traditional Cretan gastronomy.
Savoring Crete – 6 nights
Spend your Sunday through Saturday, year round, learning and loving Cretan cuisine in this unique regional cooking tour. The trip begins 40 km south of Heraklion in Asteroussia This is the best way to get immersed in the culture and lifestyle of Crete, and learn how the locals cook authentic Cretan dishes from organic, local ingredients. From the fields to the kitchen, to the table, this is one of the best cooking tours we’ve seen for really “getting it” where the Cretan diet is concerned.
Best of all guests get to experience a variety of local traditions driving about Crete from the hills outside Heraklion, to Rethymno, and jaunts to Lake of Zaros, local monasteries, and superb seaside restaurants. The cost, based on two persons, is €3325 euro for a double room. Here’s what’s included:
- Accommodation at the Thalori Traditional Complex in a twin/double room house for 6 nights
- Return transfers to/from Heraklion airport
- A welcome drink and snack on arrival at the airport
- Cretan cookery lessons on day 2, 3, 4 and 5
- A visit to archaeological sites of Gortys, Phaestos and Knossos (guiding/entrance fees are extra)
- A visit to the women’s co-operative of Marathos
- A visit to the monasteries of Arkadi and Odigitrias
- A visit to Argyroupolis natural springs and Matala caves and Zaros Lake
- A gastronomic walking tour of Heraklion
- A visit to local bee-keeping honey producers and tasting of produce
- A visit to local wineries and tasting of wine and raki
- All transport to and from the excursions
- All cooking materials and ingredients
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner and a local wine and raki every night
Courtesy Vamos Traditional Village
Cretan traditional cooking lessons in Vamos
Located about half way in between Chania and Rethymno, Vamos is a picturesque traditional village you’ll never forget. Like I said earlier, the best way to “get” Cretan food traditions is to experience first hand, the ages old customs of the villagers there. As for Vamos, there’s few places better suited to acquaint you. The famous Mrs. Koula leads you into a world of home cooking most Crete restaurants only hint at.
Here’s the skinny for each student of these 4 hour cooking classes:
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Daily classes in small groups
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Learn to cook 5-6 different dishes
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Get the written recipes
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Suited to any special dietary requirements
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Full information about the ‘Cretan traditional cooking lesson” program is provide through our tourist office
- All ages welcome
From the Vamos Village Facebook archives
Foodie’s Crete
This short 4 day culinary tour explored the real landscape of Cretan food tradition, the people of the island. The tour does take in some of beautiful sites and special places of Crete such as Knossos and the Chania harbor etc. but the highlight for foodies is the “hands on” cooking such as that held at the 17th century farmhouse amid wonderful organic gardens just outside Chania. Small villages to the ecological prototypical farm where 5th generation olive oil producers still thrive, Cretan is all about culture and tradition, you’ll find. More village cooking experiences, waterfront restaurants to drool over, and an up close and personal foodie experience, that’s what this tour is about.
Included for the per person price of €800 euro are:
- 3 nights in double or twin room at selected or similar hotel
- English speaking guide, specializing on food tours, throughout tour
- All ground transportation by licensed a/c mini van, chauffeured by professional driver, as program
- All activities and visits as per program. including tickets, tastings and meals as described
- Breakfast and dinner daily
- Souvenir – booklet with all recipes cooked
Peza Wine Roads Luxury Tour
The wines of Crete are AMAZING! I bet you never knew that. Well, for the enthusiast to discover all that the vines offer there, and in style, this is a bus ride into Dionysian wonder. For a day trip to remember, explore the back roads of Crete and some of the most wonderful wineries you can imagine. Guest ride in style to explore the products and methods of such idyllic producers as Miliarakis Vineyards, the charming village of Choudetsi and the elegant Tamiolakis Estate, and a magnificent Cretan food experience at a secret village restaurant. The last winery on the tour is the famous Lyrarakis Estate,
This day tour includes:
- A luxury fully airconditioned19-seater bus
- An experienced guide
- Pick up and drop off to the accommodation
- Admission to 3 wineries
- Tasting of 14 different Cretan wines
- 3 course lunch incl. half a bottle of wine per person
