Mykonos - Greek Ecstasy and the Vegan Palate
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Mykonos is a beautiful Greek Island in the Aegean Sea. And whether you are going for a few days or are only there for a day as you cruise the Mediterranean you are bound to fall in love with this jewel among hundreds of Greek Isles.
There are so many things I would love to tell you to do while in Mykonos but that would require more than a short blog so I will focus on the food. First I will say that the morning hours are best for shopping, visiting Mykonos Town and taking photos of the beautiful water and Greek architecture. Once lunch time rolls around most of the eateries begin to open and most of them offer traditional Greek cuisine.
Although it is possible to find vegan items on most menus (like salads - ask for no cheese), in most cafe's the employees are not likely to speak a lot of English. Greek restaurant personnel are more gracious about making substitutions than are those in Italy or France, but asking for a substitution is still a tricky skill to acquire for someone who doesn't speak the language.
Tip: Baklava is a classic Greek treat but be aware that it is often made with honey. So if you are a non-honey-eating vegan you will want to find a veganized recipe for baklava to make at home.
Sesame Kitchen is the only vegetarian place to go in Mykonos. It is next to the Naval Museum in Hora. Fresh spinach, vegetable, cheese, and chicken pies are baked daily. A large variety of salads, brown rice, and soy dishes are offered, as well as a vegetable moussaka and stir-fried veggies. Vegetarianism is still something of an anathema to the Greeks but this restaurant serves an excellent range of healthy dishes including many vegetarian and vegan options. The Traveling Vegan will have to pick and choose carefully though and be sure to ask that vegetable-cheese be used on your dish.
For a more formal dining experience you may want to visit the Petasos Beach Resort Spa where you will find a dine vegetarian restaurant. Vegan dishes are easily amended from the vegetarian menu. Follow the signs to Platis Yialos. At the end of the road Petasos beach resort is located on the right side of the road.
In Mykonos you will find a great variety of eateries. I recommend walking around and viewing the different menus and prices before deciding where to eat. There are many over priced restaurants in Mykonos, however a number of inexpensive taverns are available for a quick snack or just to sit outside and enjoy the ambiance with a bottle of water and fresh made bread.
Labels: Greek, Mykonos, restaurant, Vegan, Vegetarian
