Enjoy a traditional Mezé
Cypriot cuisine is a colourful blend of dishes from the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East the best way to taste most of the seasonal specialities is to order a Mezé (Mezédhes). Mezé is the traditional meal in Cyprus that has evolved over the centuries from when housewives had to present unexpected guests with a meal and they had to raid their larders in able to provide a delicious and tempting array. The modern Mezé is an array of about 24 seasonal dishes and in traditional Cypriot style, these dishes should be enjoyed at a leisurely pace so that the meal is much more an 'occasion' lasting most of the evening!
The Mezé begins with a large bowl of village salad (Horiatiki), a selection of traditional dips and some thickly sliced bread. The meal continues withy seasonal vegetables, some fresh fish including Kalamari (squid) and maybe marithes (whitebait) before proceeding to delicious oven-baked specialities including Macaronia sto Fourno (a delicious meat and pasta dish with béchamel sauce and grated cheese) followed swiftly by sizzling meat served straight from the charcoal - if you are wondering if the feast will ever end, the grand finale is always a bowl of chilled fruit.