Dining on the local cuisine is an essential experience when you visit Crete. It’s a widely accepted fact that your trip to Crete will not be complete without trying out the delicious food. So, make sure you indulge in the local delicacies and satisfy your taste buds with the authentic flavors of Crete. What will you order at a lovely taverna with a stunning view? We have sorted out some of the most popular and unusual dishes you can try on the island.
Staka Cheese
Staka or staka butter, is originally made from boiled goat milk. After storing milk in a container, Cretans leave it uncovered for a few hours to collect the texture occurring on the surface, which they call staka. This appetizing ingredient can be used for cooking, as a side dish, or as a topping for main courses. Cretans usually serve it with fried eggs, fries, or pasta. Its texture reminds of sour cream or yogurt and its incredibly delicious flavor is sure to leave you wanting more.
Skioufichta Pasta
This homemade dish is often cooked traditionally at home, but it can be found on the menu of plenty of local tavernas and restaurants. This beautifully made pasta is cylindrical, elaborately made, and thicker than the usual pasta. After boiling for a few minutes, Cretans traditionally toss it on a pan of hot staka before they serve it with plenty of mizithra cheese. This signature dish is often served in multiple ways around the island, and it is sure to satisfy every palate. Try it with braised veal, cooked to perfection, and escort your meal with a glass of local wine.
Antikristo Lamb
This dish, cherished for generations in Cretan culture, is widely renowned. Before becoming popular in other Cretan prefectures, people in the Mount of Psiloritis used this unique barbeque method; large portions of meat, such as lamb or kid, placed around a robust fire. They let it cook for over 4 hours resulting in a mouth-watering, juicy, and flavorful dish. If you savor the taste of a good meat dish, as Cretans do, then you simply cannot miss out on this delectable taste. 
Snails or Kochlious
The locals cannot recommend enough this dish to their visitors, friends, and family from all around the world. Snails, or Kochlious as residents call it, are an unusual ingredient for a recipe, someone might say. In Crete, snails are considered a delicacy and are often served as a main course, reflecting the island’s rich culinary heritage. Cretan cuisine has a long-standing tradition of serving this delicious dish, which can be found in many restaurants across the island. The most typical way to prepare snails in Crete, is by frying them with herbs and salt, although boiled snails in tomato sauce are also popular. Would you try it?
Gamopilafo
An important part of Cretan culture for many years, this dish is often served at weddings and festivals. Gamopilafo is a traditional Cretan dish made by boiling rice in lamb meat broth. The residents highly regard the dish and is often considered a local specialty. It is typically served with a sprinkle of lemon juice and freshly ground pepper. Apart from its unique flavor, this dish holds symbolic importance for locals. The rice represents prosperity and fertility for newlyweds and reflects the host’s generosity and hospitality towards their guests.
On your trip to Crete, you are sure to indulge in the local cuisine to truly immerse yourself in the island’s culture. Don’t miss out on the chance to sample some of the most popular and unique dishes available on the island. Give them a try without hesitation!