Greece

Greece is a small country on the southern shores of Europe, exposed almost in entirety to the Mediterranean and Aegean seas. Inevitably, this has been a major influence on its food and cookery.

However, it is also true that there is a large part of inland Greece traversed by often inhospitable mountain ranges which provide another important influence. The only notable plains are in Thrace, Macedonia, and Thessalia. Otherwise the terrain is rocky and steep, mostly terraced and planted with trees which will withstand the heat and aridity. One is the queen of the Mediterranean, the olive, relied upon for nourishment and to add flavour to the cuisine. Vine cultivation has also been of great importance, for fruit, but even more for wine-making.