Living like a "Pasha in Ioannina"
The proverbial phrase "Pasha in Ioannina" is not accidental; it encapsulates the sense of absolute well-being and nobility that characterises this historic city. The gastronomy of Ioannina, influenced by the Byzantine and Ottoman heritage, is a feast of high standards that satisfies even the most demanding traveller.
The Treasures of the Lake and the Mountain
The trademark of local cuisine is undoubtedly the products of Lake Pamvotida. Eels and trout, cooked with traditional recipes, as well as special frogs' legs, provide flavours found nowhere else in Greece. At the same time, the mountains of Epirus supply a wide variety of wild herbs and aromatic plants, enhancing the region’s fine meats and the famous pies of Epirus. The pies of Ioannina, with the handmade, crispy phyllo and the various fillings of greens, cheeses or meat, are in themselves a whole chapter of local art.
The Tradition of Sweets and Liqueurs
Ioannina’s syrupy baked sweets are renowned for their quality and finesse. The traditional baklava, kantaifi and the famous sker bourek (sugar pie), soaked in fine butter and syrup, are the perfect end to any meal.
A unique local specialty is non-alcoholic liqueurs. These are unique liqueurs resulting from the blending of organic vinegar with fruit nectar and aromatic herbs. They are served with crushed ice and are extremely refreshing. In the Castle’s traditional cafés and the narrow streets, you can also try the "sherbetia", fruit- and flower-infused sweet wines, evoking a more romantic era.
The Treasures of the Lake and the Mountain
The trademark of local cuisine is undoubtedly the products of Lake Pamvotida. Eels and trout, cooked with traditional recipes, as well as special frogs' legs, provide flavours found nowhere else in Greece. At the same time, the mountains of Epirus supply a wide variety of wild herbs and aromatic plants, enhancing the region’s fine meats and the famous pies of Epirus. The pies of Ioannina, with the handmade, crispy phyllo and the various fillings of greens, cheeses or meat, are in themselves a whole chapter of local art.
The Tradition of Sweets and Liqueurs
Ioannina’s syrupy baked sweets are renowned for their quality and finesse. The traditional baklava, kantaifi and the famous sker bourek (sugar pie), soaked in fine butter and syrup, are the perfect end to any meal.
A unique local specialty is non-alcoholic liqueurs. These are unique liqueurs resulting from the blending of organic vinegar with fruit nectar and aromatic herbs. They are served with crushed ice and are extremely refreshing. In the Castle’s traditional cafés and the narrow streets, you can also try the "sherbetia", fruit- and flower-infused sweet wines, evoking a more romantic era.
