Mousaka: A greek cuisine special.

We could say that mousaka is the most iconic Greek specialty dish. It contains all the vital vegetables iconic of the Greek summer and is so delicious that you have to try it at least once during your vacation in Chania. Fried sliced potatoes, fried sliced eggplant, minced meat, and Greek herbs are altogether inserted in the oven in a dish with a lush topping of Mornay sauce. 

Pastitsio: An all time clasic.

Equal as famous and equal as tasty comes Pastitsio. It is a Greek Cuisine special that is also indicative of Greek summer. It also contains minced meat, mornay sauce, and spaghetti which are all baked in the oven for the perfect and balanced summer food special. 

Pastitsio is a lighter alternative for those who like to avoid fatty foods while on vacation as it contains no fried raw vegetables while being very tasty and a traditional Greek Cuisine meal that tourists love.

The expected greek cuisine specials.

Many of our guests who are having their dinner in Chania by us have already known some famous Greek dishes. Their popularity is widely recognized as they are easy to make and super tasty, indicative of Greek and Mediterranean cuisine.

Gemista- Stuffed vegetables is one of them as it contains ingredients widely available during the Greek summer season and is a very balanced meal while providing you with all the necessary nutrients for the whole day. 

Cretan Dakos may be for many who are seeking a dinner in Chania a starter meal but many of the guests’ reviews have stated that it can easily be a full course. With its carbohydrates (Cretan rusk), its healthy fat due to the mizithra cheese and with fresh ingredients of Greek countryside it provides you with a light meal option that many love.

Greek Salad: A food with many variations. 

Salads are always an all-time classic. We have already talked about the Cretan Salad and its close derivative is the famous Greek Salad. Colorful, tasty, fresh, and nutritional it’s a favorite side dish- or even a main course- for many. Greek salad may be the most recognized food of Greek Cuisine, and for a good reason as it complements all the other foods that you may come across on your vacations. 

Greek Cuisine: Don’t forget greek pastry and Desserts!

A good meal in a greek restaurant not only contains the greek specialities that we already talked about but also a good dinner has to do with the desserts that come after the main course.

Greek cuisine has a lot of traditional desserts that we, at Olive Tree Restaurant in Platanias are insisting that you try. They are healthy, made with original and pure ingredients, and can elevate your dinner.

We recommend that you seek and try Greek Halva which the main ingredient is sesame seeds. Sweet, balanced and healthy it can complement your Mediterranean or Greek cuisine experience as it provides you with the necessary sugars and energy while being a healthy option without the presence of additives and colorings.

Cretan and Greek Cuisine: A strong bond.

Crete and Greece have a lot of common dishes and food and desserts that you will absolutely love. In addition, Cretan cuisine also has some specialty dishes, herbs, endemic flora, agricultural production, and desserts that we especially talked about on our food blog. We recommend that you learn about Greek and Cretan food culture, as well as visit our sea-view restaurant in Platanias and taste for yourself the delicacies our country has to offer you. 

We are a Cretan cuisine restaurant and especially in the summer months many of our guests who are enjoying a meal in Chania are choosing Cretan salad as their main course. After all, it’s a complete and balanced food option that can supply you with the necessary energy for your whole day while on vacation in Crete. Many Cretan restaurants are using inspiring ingredients for their Cretan Salads, and here are the top 4 ingredients to elevate the taste of your Cretan salad either at your home or in order to have it as a special request meal while on vacation in Crete.

Best Cretan Cuisine Restaurant’s favorite: Mizithra.

  Our restaurant in Platanias has a big affection for Cretan dairy products. Mizhthra soft cheese is one of them and it is commonly used by many restaurants on salads. Being lightweight and nutritional it perfectly complements and elevates the salads while adding less fat compared to other cheese. Mizithra is a soft white cheese that is traditional produced in Crete and especially in the mountainous areas that tourists on vacation in Chania love to hike. It gives all salads the necessary fats and the creamy texture all of our guest’s TripAdvisor reviews love. 

 Olives: A Cretan Cuisine favorite.

  All restaurants that specialize in Cretan cuisine are incorporating the use of olives and olive oil on their dishes. Olives are the treasure of Cretan gastronomy and it is also the main agricultural product of our island. It suffices to say that most Cretan dishes are using olive oil extensively and on a daily basis. Many variations of the Cretan salad also incorporate olives on Cretan salads. 

 Cretan Olives may be uses in various forms. Cretan cuisine restaurants are using them in raw form after they mature them in brine or in salt and can be consumed as a whole after removing the kernel. Another creative way of consuming olives on Cretan salad is in shredded form without the kernel.

This is something many of our guests who are on vacation in Chania are loving in our restaurant, as they are having no stress consuming olives in a processed manner without having any anguish or difficulty on removing the kernels.

Caper: Adding spiciness to your Cretan salad.

Caper is a plant whose seeds are used extensively in Cretan Cuisine. Both taverns and restaurants are using caper seeds in order to add flavor, color, and spiciness to many of their Cretan delicacies. Caper has a distinctive earthy texture and also a special spicy taste which most guests of the restaurants in Chania are loving. Caper is to be consumed as a whole as it contains no big seeds or kernels and it definitely compliments the taste of olive oil and mizithra which we already talked about. 

Avocado: A new addition to many Cretan restaurants near you!

It may sound strange, but avocado is now a new addition to many traditional restaurants in Crete. Even on some traditional dishes, chefs have successfully incorporated avocado into their meals.

Crete has for years now a big and viable avocado production. Acres of cultivated avocado land are now established in Crete and especially in Chania. It is then normal for Cretan cuisine restaurants in Chania to use this -now Cretan- product. The microclimate of Crete is ideal for avocado production and it also has a distinctive taste when compared to its North America counterparts.

Avocado is used on Cretan salads as well as it successfully bonds all ingredients while having a natural earthy taste. It also provides us with the necessary healthy fats that make the Mediterranean diet so famous worldwide.

All of the above ingredients belong to Cretan Cuisine  and as of every year, we welcome you to taste and discover them in our beachfront restaurant in Chania. Having a delicious meal doesn’t always have to do with the number of Cretan dishes and recipes but also with the simplicity of dinner. Cretan salad is all about, simplicity, nutritional value, and health benefits. We invite you to discover it!

What Greek Restaurants in Chania are looking for: Authentic Greek Dishes.

Our restaurant in Platanias, Chania is from day 1 promoting the healthy way of life, healthy eating and a balanced and healthy in nutrients diet. Our authentic food promotes Greek and specially Cretan food culture, and we believe that is a way of learning our culture and our authentic hospitality.

Our guests have pointed out some of the best dishes of our restaurant which we have already envisioned and referred about  which use only fresh raw materials, organic vegetables from our Botanical Park and Gardens,  and pathos in preparation and execution of every dish. Respect to tradition is also of critical importance and we have also managed that in our Greek Restaurant in Chania.

Sea views: Part of a romantic dinner in Chania. 

A successful meal has to be combined with a lovely view in order to be memorable. Our Greek restaurant in Chania passes this test and stands out with its sea views of Platanias Sea in which many of our guests  are spending their vacations on. 

Dinner with a view in Chania excites all the senses and elevates the whole atmosphere in order to enjoy your meal in a relaxing and welcoming environment and Olive Tree Restaurant provides that with pleasure.

 What best Greek Restaurants strive for.

  Many restaurants around Platanias are trying to be considered of Mediterranean or Greek cuisine. However, only a few have years of experience, trust in their staff, imaginative food dishes, and service excellence to be categorized as best restaurants in town. 

What You Should Watch out for on Restaurants in Chania.

A good meal is always part of a good and successful vacation. There are many ways and details that you can observe to be certain that you will get to experience the best food in town.

Friendly, smiling, and welcoming staff is always a sign that the restaurant you are looking for is working properly.  Happy personnel means a good relationship with the restaurant and a business that is successful.

 Fresh ingredients and signature dishes of Crete have to also be present in a rated restaurant. A dish that is unique and presented by the rated chef of the restaurant means that this business is constantly trying to evolve and portray its unique cooking characteristics and culture to its clients. 

Good reviews are also a welcoming addition to a fine Greek restaurant. Reviewers are honest and transparent concerning their food experience and almost always a well-rated restaurant means a successful and with no surprises meal. Even if not all reviews are perfect, the things that people may not favor can justify the character of the Traditional Greek Restaurant, or may not be to the reviewer’s taste. 

Our Olive Tree Restaurant tip.

A romantic meal in our  town  is always something that people who are having vacation are dreaming about. In order to be sure that you enjoy your meal to the fullest we insist that you make a reservation  at our restaurant in Platanias. By doing this, you will be certain that you are having the best table available, our kitchen will be informed of any special requests and offer you the best hospitality and meals possible. At the end of the day, this is what the best restaurants in Chania town have been offering to you for many years!

Cretan Cuisine restaurants in Chania: What they look for.

Olive Tree Restaurant lies in Platanias, Chania region and is a proud ambassador of Cretan Cuisine, thus it is considered one of the Cretan cuisine restaurants in Chania. Carefully selected fresh and organic ingredients, recipes from the past, use of local and seasonal ingredients are only a few of the parameters that define a Cretan cuisine restaurant. Cooking oils also play an essential role in Cretan Cuisine, and extra virgin Cretan olive oil is primarily used in raw form in salads and food, as well as when frying is needed.

Traditional Cretan Salad

A traditional Cretan salad is the pinnacle of Cretan Cuisine and what is readily available in every Cretan restaurant. Cretan salad is a variation of the Greek salad or most commonly known, Horiatiki. Cretan Cuisine normally makes dishes with whatever fruits/ vegetables sprout at that season on Cretan fields, and Cretan salad is no exception.

Onions, Tomatoes, cucumber, zucchini, eggplant, eggs, peper, olive oil, vinegar, sea salt, Mizithra White Cheese  are only a few of the ingredients that are readily available and comprise the traditional Cretan Salad. Occasionally except for extra virgin olive oil, oregano and caper is also added at the end in order to intensify the taste and aromas of the salad.

Graviera Saganaki

Graviera is a traditional matured hard yellow cheese that Crete is proud of. We introduce you to the Graviera Saganaki, which is cheese fried in the frying pan. No specific preparation is needed, apart from getting the specific cheese. Extra virgin olive oil, organic flour, Cretan Honey and sesame seeds are the only essentials.

After you rinse Graviera slices with water, you then add them to the flour mixture and then fry them in extra virgin olive oil which is already boiling.After you deep fry them for some minutes you let them dry in paper towel and then you pour Cretan honey as well as sesame seeds (white and black) for extra taste and texture. Many Cretan Cuisine Restaurants also offer this Cretan delicacy as a dessert, after a scrumptious dinner

Tzatziki: An all time classic.

Cucumbers are in excess during Cretan summer. This is why tzatziki is consumed so extensively during that period and Crete is no exception. It is a side dish that can be combined with nearly everything in your diet. When prepared correctly it is a nutrient and light side dish which can be combined with anice, garlic and spearmint, some of the key ingredients of Cretan cuisine too.

For making Tzatziki in your home you will need: Extra virgin Olive Oil, Greek drained yoghurt, garlic, peper, salt, vinegar and whatever aromatic herb or seasoning you like. After you cleanse and grate the cucumbers you then add all the ingredients and mix them thoroughly in order to make a nice mixture for you to enjoy with your meals.

Cretan Cuisine: The epitome of healthiness.

Healthy, nutrient and pure are the elements of Cretan Cuisine and Cretan cuisine restaurants in Chania which honor our islands traditions are many.It is your task to choose the right restaurant when on your vacation in Chania. Our mission is to be a proud ambassador of Cretan Cuisine and honor Cretan recipes and way of life. Stay posted for new uploads into our blog .

We suggest that you adopt many of the dishes, traditions and ethics of our proud homeland! It is altogether one of the many aspects which will connect you with Crete, and also be a lively memory of your happy vacation days.

Oregano: A Cretan Gastronomy king.

Oregano is probably the most commonly used aromatic herb in Cretan Gastronomy. We could generally say that oregano is a popular herb not only in Cretan Cuisine, but also in the Mediterranean cuisine as well. Oregano is used in many Cretan gastronomy dishes such as dakos, cretan lamb, many Cretan barbecue preparations and much more.

It can be used in raw form, or it can also be used while sizzling in order to add a distinctive flavor to whatever you sizzle. You can use oregano in every Cretan gastronomy dish you can fancy, as it has a flavor that nearly everyone likes. You just need to be careful and use it in moderation, because if you overdo it it can make your dishes taste bitter.

Basil: A Cretan Cuisine all time classic.

Basil is a very famous aromatic plant used widely in Mediterranean cuisine. Cretan Cuisine is no exception as it uses basil as decoration in many Cretan dishes, or as a base in order to make fantastic dressings, or sauces. A very famous use of basil is on spaghetti. Basil paste sauce is a very famous sauce in spaghetti in combination with other Cretan ingredients such as garlic, onion and tomatoes. It also works as a nice edible decoration on many Cretan gastronomy restaurants as it gives a lively natural color to our beachfront restaurant’s dishes.

Rosemary: Ideal for meats of Cretan Cuisine.

Another authentic Mediterranean cuisine herb is Rosemary. It is commonly used as a preservative and also in order to induce flavors into the dish. It is an ideal herb used with meat, especially lamb, poultry and calf. It is also a good supplement for fried fish which Crete is also a proud producer due to its maritime and fishing tradition. It is a perfect aromatic herb for those occasions, while cooking with rosemary is vastly well known. It has a very strong and bitter taste and you need to be careful of the quantity in order to take advantage of its flavors and aromas.

Thyme: Α perfect herb’s supplement.

Thyme is another herb very famous in Cretan Cooking and Gastronomy. It has a very strong and distinctive taste which also bees love and prefer in order to make the famous Cretan thyme honey. Thyme is commonly used in Cretan Gastronomy in Pies and in many dishes that contain meat and poultry.

There are many chefs that make a herb combination with thyme. Thyme is commonly combined with basil and oregano as a perfect aromatic herb that compliments meat, poultry and fish and elevates their taste.

Grow herbs ideal for Cretan gastronomy in your garden.

While all the herbs are readily available in supermarkets we insist that you plant herbs that you mostly use in your cooking. Having fresh herbs in your kitchen or patio will give you the freshness you demand from your cooking and you can have a sense of accomplishment by cooking with your own ingredients as well. Especially herbs used in Cretan Cuisine like Basil or Oregano require minimum care and little space in order to supply you with the necessary quantity for cooking at home.

They can be also easily planted with seeds, or in the case of Basil you can also cut a small branch, leave it for some days in a glass full of water and then plant it in a small flower pot. Its free, its easy and you will have fresh aromatic herbs for your traditional Cretan food inspirations .

We have already talked about Cretan products and in this article we will inform you about 2 famous Cretan gastronomy summer dishes that you can make in your home. They will taste fantastic, they are easy to make, local products are being used- but first and foremost local healthy ingredients are being used in those recipes that for us, in Olive Tree Restaurant, resemble the Greek summer.

Cretan Gastronomy Restaurants : What nature has to offer.

When talking about Cretan food we are certain that we use ingredients readily available and healthy. We try to avoid fatty ingredients during the greek hot summer months as it is preferred to stay hydrated and eat light in order to be more comfortable and energetic during the day.

Summer in Crete has a lot to offer food wise as our rich soil is perfect for crop production. You may have seen that especially in the villages many locals are planting their garden with vegetables and fruits in order to have a fresh and healthy source of food. These ingredients are also paramount on dishes being made in reputable Cretan gastronomy restaurants. We are proud to be one of those traditional restaurants in  Chania region ,and we will reveal two of the most reputable Cretan gastronomy dishes for you to enjoy.

Gemista: A cretan gastronomy restaurant’s favourite.

Gemista is not only famous in Crete but also all over Greece. We could say that Gemista ( Greek Stuffed Vegetables in the Oven) is the No 1 famous dish of Cretan summer. Main ingredients are whatever vegetables you can find in your garden- or in the grocery shop. Most famous vegetables are tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, potatoes and whatever vegetable you can imagine that can be stuffed with filling. After we clean and scoop off the inside of our vegetables we mix the inside of the vegetables with rice while adding olive oil to the mix.

This is a very famous Cretan dish as it combines raw ingredients found in our garden with healthy olive oil, rice and aromatic herbs and ingredients such as garlic and parsley. While this food is delicious it is also very healthy as it is baked in the oven, and can be eaten cold- which makes it another excellent picnic food idea. Especially in Greece, most Greeks prefer to eat Gemista cold and is super famous as a -by the sea- food while being for a swim. It is also widely classified as the ultimate traditional family dish for many Greeks .

Boureki- Cretan Gastronomy Restaurants finest. Born in Chania.

A special food made exclusively in Chania is Boureki. Boureki is also found in many gastronomy restaurants in Chania where it is mostly known. It is also made with healthy ingredients from Cretan soil and is full of nutrients while being tasty and perfect for summer. It is also preferred to be eaten cold, making it also an excellent food for picnic- or a quick snack while on journeys in Crete.

Boureki is classified as a pie  You can make the pie’s dough with flour of your choice or with your preferred recipe for the pie. Then, for the filling of the dough, Mizithra, a local dairy product low on fat , is mixed with sliced raw fresh potatoes as well as fresh sliced zucchini. Alternatively, you can also mix other cheeses into the mixture or add another pure Cretan cheese, called Anthotiro . Spearmint is also added to the mixture that has a distinctive aroma, an earthy taste and can elevate the taste of the cheese being used, especially mizithra.

Olive oil is also added to the mix in order to be more malleable and we insist that you improvise, adding whatever you fancy into the mix- but in moderation. Many make this traditional cretan dish with cheese on top for extra flavour and some add egg yolk to the mixture they put in the cooking tray while others put oregano for extra taste. The choice for this exquisite dish of Cretan gastronomy is completely up to you!

An Olive Tree Restaurant Idea.

We believe that healthy, fresh and pure ingredients are the most crucial part of the preparation. Good ingredients make a big difference in the cooking process. We would like to suggest that you start to grow some basic ingredients in your patio- or your small garden. You can also grow some fresh vegetables into big pots.

Many vegetables do not require a lot of space or care and can provide you with fresh raw ingredients needed into everyday cooking. Vegetables such as tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants require little effort and can provide you with necessary ingredients for a fresh and highly valuable dish. After all eating the vegetable that you grew gives you also a fine sense of accomplishment !

What is Bougatsa?

Bougatsa is a special kind of pastry (mostly sweet) being eaten commonly as a breakfast. It may have a lot of toppings or garnishes ranging from semolina, nutella, pastry cream, minced meat and many others. Bougatsa is a speciality commonly seen in Northern Greece and especially around Thessaloniki and Serres area.

The main ingredient of Bougatsa is a special oily pastry phyllo dough and whatever ingredient is used as a filling inside it. It is baked and served hot right off the oven, where it is cut into pieces and put into your dish in small but delicious bites. Depending on the filling we commonly eat Bougatsa with sugar on top or powdered sugar and cinnamon as a traditional Greek dessert.

Original Cretan food: The Bougatsa of Chania dessert.

On the contrary, Bougatsa of Chania is an original Cretan food recipe that is different from the normal Bougatsa we informed you about. Bougatsa of Chania is an original Cretan dessert found only in Chania and which has no variations. It is one recipe with no alteration on the filling. Bougatsa of Chania is also made with a Phyllo pastry dough very similar to the one being eaten in Northern Greece.

However a very distinctive difference happens on the Garnish of original cretan Bougatsa. Bougatsa of Chania is being made with traditional phyllo dough which only a few know to still make in the Chania region, and also original extra virgin Cretan olive oil. The filling though it’s completely different, as we only use fresh mizithra cheese in order to make the bougatsa’s filling. Mizithra is one kind of fresh dairy product very popular in Crete.

It is also part of our Traditional and original Cretan food as it is a fresh and low in fat dairy product that we use in abundance on many preparations. This soft white cheese is the main filling ingredient in the Chania Bougatsa and while it is soft and creamy, it is also low on fat and rich in healthy nutrients that are paramount in your breakfast.

Original Cretan food- Where to taste traditional Bougatsa in Chania.

Although bougatsa of Chania is well known in our prefecture and there are many businesses that offer this delicacy, there are only two authentic old bougatsa shops that offer this original cretan food. Both of them are in a close distance near Agora Market square and it is very easy to find them by asking locals in the vicinity. We suggest that you go there early in the morning and also combine bougatsa of Chania with an original Greek coffee for a full and energized start to your day.

Bougatsa of Chania: A long History.

Although Bougatsa of Chania is relatively unknown to people outside of the Chania region, this original Cretan food delicacy has a long history that dates back to Constantinople, and to a shoe maker (!) rather than a pastry chef or a baker ! This story dates back nearly a century, when this Cretan delicacy was introduced to our city and it keeps on surprising us with the healthy ingredients and distinctive taste.

The Olive Tree Restaurant point of view.

We fairly believe that food is a way of learning a place’s history, tradition and culture. We strive to promote traditional and original Cretan food in the way our ancestors would do many -many years ago. By visiting our blog  you will see more original Cretan recipes and Cretan dishes that attribute Crete in the best way.

Our goal is to keep promoting the Cretan diet and making it extensively known to the public. This is why many of our visitors say that we are a traditional Cretan restaurant with authentic recipes, food and people. We invite you to discover us !

We, at Olive Tree Restaurant in Platanias strive constantly to offer traditional, nutrient and healthy food to our customers. In this blog we will show you how to make traditional Cretan Dakos, a bio, healthy , full meal with ingredients that can be classified as vegetarian. This means that its an ideal alternative for everyone, anytime of the day.

Traditional Cretan Food: An introduction.

Traditional Cretan food is made with carefully selected ingredients of our homeland. Ingredients that elevate your experience and offer you a full healthy and balanced meal. Dakos is made with traditional Cretan Barley Rusks and a traditional healthy Cretan dairy product called Mizhthra. Mizithra is a fresh dairy product made primarily with goat’s milk, hence its white and low in fat. It has to be consumed fast because it has no preservatives and chemical additives. Next crucial ingredient is extra virgin Cretan olive oil .

This is the pride of our island and our biggest agricultural export product. Hand picked bio tomatoes are also a crucial ingredient not only in Dakos but in Traditional Cretan Food altogether. Tomatoes are used almost always on all food preparations, and Dakos is not an exception.

Table Olives is also an ingredient that many prefer to add in the recipe. Table olives have a lot of variants (depending on the olive variety) and you may add some olives as a garnish on top of Dakos. They add to the overall flavor due to their distinctive taste characteristics.

Cretan Oregano is another ingredient that as an aromatic herb can elevate the taste of every dish. Hand-picked and dried Cretan oregano has an original peculiar taste and is an ideal ingredient in Cretan Cooking.

Traditional Cretan Dakos: Why it’s a full meal.

You may wonder why we, at Olive Tree Restaurant, propose Cretan Dakos as a full meal. Many of our guests in our restaurant in Platanias order Dakos as a small starter dish before their main course. However due to its ingredients you can eat it as a full , healthy and light meal any time of the day.

Mizhthra Cheese is a healthy dairy product full of protein and healthy fat, whereas barley Cretan double baked rusks offer you essential carbohydrates. Olive oil and olives offer you the necessary fat to keep you energized during your daily routine. During the hot summer months it is advisable not to overdo it with fatty and fried food, hence Traditional Cretan food “Dakos” is an adequate food option enough to keep you energized for hours to come.

How to Make Traditional Cretan Food- Dakos.

In order to make Dakos at home you have to do only some minor steps. After you clean the tomatoes you then use a grater in order to scrub them on top of the barley rusks. Then you apply Mihthra cheese on top of the grated tomatoes while you pour a generous amount of olive oil and olives on top of it.

Olive oil will be absorbed by the Cretan rusks and provide your dish with the necessary humidity. On top you then apply the oregano and you are almost ready to enjoy it. Don’t forget to combine it with some organic Cretan Wine for a full traditional Cretan food experience!

A tip from Olive Tree Restaurant.

We invite you to enjoy Dakos, and other traditional Cretan food in our beachfront restaurant in Platanias, Chania. Carefully selected ingredients and dishes will indulge you into Cretan Cuisine. However, you may taste Traditional Cretan Dakos in your home as well, after you follow our instructions. If you prefer spicy foods we certainly insist that you also put caper on your Cretan Dakos. Caper offers extra spiciness and crunchiness to your meal and it is also an ideal combination with oregano which is also present in Cretan Dakos.

Bon Appetito!

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

One of the core ingredients for gastronomy restaurants in chania is bio extra virgin olive oil. Olive oil is a key ingredient in the mediterranean cuisine as it is found all over the cooking process, cooked or raw. It is of paramount importance on all the mediterranean cultures from ancient years,and Crete is amongst the 3 biggest producers of extra virgin olive oil in Greece.

Extra virgin has to do with the quality of olive oil, as it has quality scaling valued on acidity. The bigger the acidity the worse the quality of olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil has acidity of 0, 3% up until 0, 8 %. Then it is virgin olive oil, from 0,8 % acidity up till 2 %, and then its labante olive oil which is not suitable for cooking (most of the time) and with acidity of more than 2 % has other uses. Cretan Gastronomy Restaurants in Chania always choose the extra virgin olive oil in order to elevate their quality.

Bio Tomatoes

Tomatoes are also a big factor in Mediterranean and Cretan cuisine. Not only do they come first in numerous salads, but almost always all of the mediterranean dishes start with tomato sauce. Bio Tomatoes have a distinctive taste, unique flavour and they lack all of the harmful pesticides- fertilizers most of the regular tomatoes are produced with. This is why they have a unique nutritional value that the cretan gastronomy restaurants like Olive Tree Restaurant in Platanias strive for.

Bio Onions

Onions, dry or green, is another key ingredient in mediterranean cuisine as well as the gastronomy of Crete. Onions are used in the Cretan or Greek salad and are used most of the time in cuisine as the preparation of cooking, when we fry them in sizzling extra virgin olive oil. They have a unique flavor and when fried they elevate the taste of dishes as they have a strong aroma that everyone loves. Bio Onions have no toxins because they have no fertilizers and pesticides used in the production phase. By this way, Cretan Gastronomy Restaurants have great ingredients to work with and start on a good foundation for a successful dish.

Limited edition Cretan Cheese (Graviera).

Limited edition pure Cretan Cheese is also an ingredient that can elevate the taste and distinctiveness of a dish. In Crete, we have a special hard yellow cheese called Graviera which is a mature dairy product made with a mixture of sheep (primarily) and goat’s milk. It has to endure a maturing process, which in the past was made in Mitata  and apart from the nutritional value, it also has a sentimental and folklore value for us Cretans. It has a strong distinctive flavour and it compliments various dishes like spaghetti, and salads. Graviera can also be eaten as a dessert served with Honey.

Local Wines

Except for our well known extra virgin olive oil, in Crete we tend to produce top quality wine that we also use it in cooking in Cretan gastronomy restaurants as well as for drinking. For white wine you can look for the Vidiano variety and for red wine, Kotsifali as well as Liatiko wine will sure astonish you in combination with our gourmet cretan dishes we carefully prepare for you in Olive Tree Restaurant.

We look forward to treating you to Cretan Hospitality!

As of every summer, we, at Cretan Restaurant  Olive Tree , are ready to welcome summer season 2021! As always, we provide high quality dining to our sea view restaurant in Platanias!

Carefully selected ingredients, aromatic herbs and seasonings from our Botanical Park and Gardens of Crete  bond harmonically with the inspiration and imagination of our top chefs.

Cretan Restaurant Olive Tree Platanias Chania- Our Core Values

We value your safety and respecting all covid-19 rules, we have specifically trained our staff and waiters for the new safety protocols, both in the kitchen and in our beachfront dining area.

Like every summer, you will find us with new prototype dishes and recipes in the cosmopolitan area of Platanias, for an enlightening healthy dinner. Vegetarian or not, our new menu dishes will make your dinner an extraordinary gastronomic journey.

We look forward to welcome you to our sea view restaurant. For information and reservations please get in touch with us at: Tel.: +30 2821068188

email: info@olive-tree.gr