A Greek Food Odyssey

It has been a while since I last posted as I have been on holiday in Zakynthos, Greece. I spent a truly amazing week there with one of my sisters and was lucky enough to relax, rest and rejuvinate for an entire week.

We made sure to have a good balance of chilling and exploring, and had the pleasure of staying at a hotel that offererd a great range of vegan-and-gluten-free-friendly food. I have to admit that I was a little nervous before going on the holiday as I like to keep on track with my plant-based, gluten-free eating whilst I am travelling, however I needn't have worried as the chef and staff were more than happy to make meals to accomodate my needs (and my sister who is vegetarian); that being if we couldn't find something in the buffet, which boasted a large fresh salad bar and more than 10 hot food dishes ranging from jasmine rice to sauteed aubergine for both lunch and dinner. Whilst I steer clear of all meat and dairy products, I do indulge in sea food from time to time so had to have some of the fresh octopus on offer at the buffet!

Interestingly, the hotel grows all of its food organically at its farm which is located next door. This meant we also got to enjoy freshly produced extra virgin olive oil every day which was so mouth-wateringly delicious that we found a way to incorporate it into our breakfast, lunch and dinner every day! To top this all off, the hotel was adult-only and nestled in the hills of the southern side of the island, so we got to enjoy complete peace and quiet. Check out the hotel if this interests you - I cannot recommend it enough: http://kerivillage.com.

View from the hotel's restaurant

My sister enjoying a sunrise meditation at a lovely
spot we found outside of our room

We had one day of bad weather so decided to go exploring Zakynthos Town which was a half an hour drive away. Before our holiday I did some research on restaurants in the town and stumbled upon a vegan restaurant based in the heart of the town called Yard of Taste (found on www.happycow.net - a global database of vegan restaurants). My sister and I had lunch here and it was some of the best veggie food we have ever tasted. All of the food was organic and homegrown and the culinary creations were outstanding. I had a multigrain salad which included buckwheat groats, quinoa, aduki beans and pine nuts smothered in a creamy vegan citrus dressing. Their hummus was also to die for - so fresh and rich in flavour.

On top of that the decor was like a Pinterest board come true; a mix of boho prints and vintage furniture that all fitted so well together. We could have stayed there forever. We also got to meet the lovely owner who told us all about her passion for fresh, whole foods and the idea behind the restaurant. As the only vegan restaurant in Zakynthos, I can only imagine that business will boom over the coming months.

If you find yourself wanting to book a sunny getaway then I cannot recommend Zakynthos enough. It is easier than you think to keep up your healthy eating habits whilst you're abroad, and if you reach out to the place you are staying at before you travel there (which I did) as well as extensively comb Trip Advisor reviews, then you can ensure that you book the right place to meet your needs. It also means no fuss once you arrive!

I am really impressed with the offering of fresh, healthy foods in Greece and it shows that the current rise in demand for healthy vegan food is spreading everywhere, which is great. And if you do find yourself somewhere that doesn't quite match up to your healthy food requirements then it doesn't hurt to travel armed with a good supply of Nak'd bars, just in case.

Now that I'm back I'll be posting some more recipes and photos, so watch this space!

- Anna