Food Odyssey, A Historical Culinary Tour of Chania

Overview

Travel off the beaten tourist path on this 4 hour delicious culinary adventure with an experimental archaeologist- food historian, Gourmand World Cookbook Award Winner. Get a glimpse of Chania gastronomy and society and satisfy your appetite for fascinating food history, food politics and culture with delectable tastings.

Following the trails 'carved' by the Arabs, Jews, Venetians, Ottomans, Greeks from Asia Minor and other immigrants who have passed through Chania, adding their flavors to the local cuisine, you will experience a multisensory food event and delicacies from one-of-a-kind specialty food shops while enjoying the opportunity to understand better the culinary history of the city and how the locals eat.

Itinerary

1. Chania Town

   Meet up with your guide in front of Chania Town Hall. As you walk to a local coffee shop, learn from her about the food history of the area.
   Start your food adventure with olives, handcrafted cheese made according to ancient Greek information, homemade bread made according to Byzantine baking method and sip on herbal tea the way that Cretans enjoy it .
   Learn about the herbs and wild greens that are used in the local cuisine.
   Move on to delighting your taste buds with some kalitsounia, the famous Cretan small pies which are filled with cheese or wild greens or a combination or them.
   Admission included.

   40 minutes

2. Visit a bougatsa factory and then savour the most delightful bougatsa (a kind of cheesy/milky pastry pie) in the city and learn about the skills of the cooks and the food consumption during the Ottoman occupation of Crete.

   30 minutes · Admission included
3. Municipal Market of Chania

   Visit the Central Market of the city, discover a whole world made of cheese, cured meat, fish, vegetables, bread, rusks, pies, olive oil and honey and sample some of the best products.
   
   Visit a coffee shop in the market: Learn about the coffee culture in Greece tasting the so- called Greek coffee and its savory accompaniments that were popular in 19th and early 20th century.

   30 minutes · Admission included
4. Chania Town

   Visit a phyllo factory.

   10 minutes
5. Old Venetian Harbor

   Walk through the Venetian part of the city and learn about the Venetian trade and food politics and their impact on Cretan gastronomy and food security.
   - Have a short multi-sensory experience.
   -Visit a Cretan knife maker.

   40 minutes · Admission included

6. Walk through the Ottoman part of the city and taste an almond beverage of Byzantine origin under the shade of a plane tree.
   Learn about beverages made with flowers and nuts.

   30 minutes · Admission included

7. Your final stop will be in a local taverna, where you will have a chance to enjoy a short lesson on ancient cooking and you will be treated to fine delicacies of traditional and historic Cretan cuisine.

   40 minutes · Admission included

Meeting and pickup

In front of Chania Town Hall

Good to know

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Children must be accompanied by an adult
• Casual dress, comfortable shoes and clothing recommended
• Please advise of any food restrictions (e.g. allergies) upon booking. Your guide will do the best to accommodate your specific needs
• Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
• Food tastings are subject to change without notice
• A maximum of 8 people per booking
• Subject to favorable weather conditions. If canceled due to bad weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.