Dinners

I'm sorry... if you've been following the blog these 4 years, you know that food is really important, so naturally, that is where I am beginning.  Because we have been ordering communally, my favorite way to eat, and a part of Greek culture, the dishes just keep coming out and there isn't a time I can take a photo of the table laden with food.  So here are some before and after shots of our group meals.

Before:  Tsipouradiko, in Santorini

I finally articulated my strategy with the group meals.  I always insist on ordering for the students (though I will ask for requests).  One student asked me if he could order what he wanted, and I answered that there are a limited number of group meals, and if he didn't mind, my goal was to stretch them with unfamiliar foods, but done family style, so they could sample a really wide range of things and then know what they like and don't without always resorting to the familiar or having to commit to eating a whole plate of something weird.  The students seemed to get that, even though the first night we ordered a chicken and goat risotto, goat pasta, two kinds of snails, fennel pie, along with Greek salad and roast pork!  The second meal included grilled squid, which was presented as a whole squid -- body attached to tentacles-- instead of rings.  This group is very game, and most of them seemed to have tried at least a snail.  Watching them open up to new foods is one of my favorite parts of the trip.

After:  Davandouri, in Athens. The table of the short-haired

The other table at Davendouri., the table of the long-haired.

 I did manage to capture some photos with the meal only partially eaten.  I will try not rhapsodize too much about the taste since that is just a tease, but I will say that no matter how much I've built up my expectations, Greece never disappoints.  It is hard to have a bad meal unless you hit the really touristy places, which are pretty recognizable.

What can I say about the fruit -- these are the watermelon, honeydew, nectarines and apricots that we got at the end of the meal. One of the students remarked that they were so sweet, it was actually a substitute for dessert.  If only we could focus more on the quality of our produce, we'd probably slow down the obesity epidemic in the US.