I am back in the US.
Reluctantly.
Every time I go to Europe I cringe at the thought of coming home… not just because re-entering this country is a case study in an operations fail. 2 hours to get through customs to a connecting flight. Really?!
That said, Vegas and I are back in the States. We managed to eat our way through Greece first though! Some of it was a bit strange. Some meals were better than others. Overall, the experience and trying new things with Vegas (who still thinks I eat some weird shizz) was better than good.
Entire blocks of fresh feta came atop every Greek Salad.
Seafood salad with shrimp, mussels, and octopus for me, Chef salad for Vegas, and ROASTED feta to share in Oia (Santorini).
GIANT fresh Tiger Shrimp by the sea in Mykonos
Whole fresh Sea Bass – this happened more than once.
Rabbit Stew (couldn’t convince Vegas to take just a bite).
Of course we found the craft beer. It’s normal in the US, but a good craft IPA is hard to come by in Greece!
Greek wine is certainly a #strangebutgood experience. (Stick to the white.)
Baklava. Not so much strange, but too good not to post!
How have you enjoyed making co-workers, friends, or family stare with strange but good creations this week? The link up rules can be found here or by clicking on “Strange But Good” in the menu bar above. In short, I want to see what concoctions have earned you weird looks from co-workers, family and friends! Post your Strange But Good creations, grab the logo below for your blog, and link up here.
Remember to use #strangebutgood in any Tweets and Instagrams of your creations. 🙂
***
While I’m sad to come home, I’m exited to get in the kitchen again. And to eat a bit cleaner. Shhhh…
Have you ever been to Greece?
That block of feta cheese – too much or not enough?
Oh I love Greece! I’ve never been to the mainland but have spent a fair few family holidays as a kid on various islands. My favourite was always Symi as it was so so small, 2 towns took up the whole island and you could see Turkey across the sea! Looks like you had a delicious time 😉
Ohhhh… we will add Symi to the list. I’d like to go to Turkey and take a detour to see more Greek Isles one day. I want to check out Crete too!
For an European most of there dishes are not so strange at all. But as always most #strangebutgood recipes do not really qualify as such to most of the HLB community 😉 But you get those looks when you unwrap your lunch from pretty much everyone around.
This definitely looks like an awesome honeymoon. I am glad you two had a great time!
And I can totally relate to the hesitant feelings towards coming back.
That’s the truth! I think the rabbit would shock most Americans… but I almost lived on that and boar when I was in Italy.
I have loved seeing all your foodie pics from what has looked like a fantastic honeymoon!
I second Juli, most of these in Europe aren’t so strange (well a Greek salad here may not come with a whole block of feta!) but I guess that’s what makes Europe so special and different!
And Vegas really missed out on the rabbit stew – it’s so good!
Thank you! And yeah, you Europeans have it good. That’s why I need to move one day.
All that fresh fish looks amazing!!!! Greece is absolutely on the bucket list. Good tip about the wine 🙂 Noted.
I still stand by the fact that I pretty much came in my pants over that seafood salad. Literally, what dreams are made of! So glad that you had an amazing time–I loved your pictures. I studied the ancient world time and again in school (I almost wrote part of my thesis on it, but switched topics) so seeing Delphi and the like was a dream for me!
LMAO! That’s what I’m here for.
TSA precheck is so worth it! I breezed through customs on my way back from Germany! Greece food looks like heaven. It’s one of the only European countries I haven’t visited but on my bucket list.
Ummmm… what?! Precheck doesn’t help customs here or in ATL. You have to have the Global Entry thing.
I have both. When you go for the interview, you get both.
Damn! I got mine so early I never went through the interview thing and there was no such thing as Global Entry.
I think all salads need to come with a block of feta cheese on them.
wow amazing food! never been to greece – i can only handle feta in small doses!
It’s a little different there – not so salty so you can sit there and eat a whole plate of it. Not that I did that… LOL!
Totally agree, returning is a real struggle. I really see myself living the European life! I’ve never been to Greece but your photos sure made me start looking up flights.
I am the same way! Every time I go to Europe I start scheming to stay.
One day I’ll get to Greece….and everywhere else in Europe!
I can’t recommend it enough! Make sure you get to Italy too – that’s my favorite.
I think our honeymoon eats were veryyy similar- especially all the fresh fish and craft beer (which was hard to find- I think the Volkan was my favorite). Seeing your pictures made me want to go back soooo bad- I hope you and the Mrs. had a wonderful time <3
We had the Volkan too! The guy at the beer restaurant said craft beer been slow to catch one, but it’s really staring to gain momentum now.
I literally ate greek salads everyday for 2 weeks while there. It’s a beautiful place and the only food I like better is Italy!
I am so with you on Italy – nothing could be beat it!
Entire blocks of feta?! I’ll take it! Glad y’all had fun.
ahhhh yum!!! Dying to go to Greece!
Greek food is very similar to Montenegrin food, which is one of my favourite countries I’ve been to. You also get entire blocks of feta there. Mmmmmm. And baklava……. my love.
Add that one to my list too!
A WHOLE fresh seabass to yourself!? THAT is heaven.
Right?! I did that on multiple occasions.
ohh man, i know the feeling. And I wouldn’t want to come home. You should have stayed there and we could have opened up a vineyard. Right? or just be professional tourist.
Don’t tempt me… I’m already ready for the next trip!
Wow I’m seriously drooling!!! That feta salad, tiger shrimp, and baklava look good enough to motivate me to get on a plane stat and dip to Greece. Lol. 🙂 Welcome home and have a great weekend Laura! -Iva
Thanks! I’m still dreaming of all three…
I love the feta blocks!!
Did you eat greek yogurt??
I did! But honestly… it wasn’t much different than Fage (which I love).
Welcome home!!! And I hear ya – I never want to come home from a Europe trip. 🙂
I still want to do France with you guys!
Oh my gosh, eating my way through Europe is a dream of mine. Seriously. FOOD!
I highly recommend doing it. At least once a year. 😉
I do love feta, but that may be too much even for me!
I have never been to Greece, but my husband has and he has raced about ever since!
Ahh. You gotta give Greek reds another try. Sure their big and earthy but there are some great examples. GREG
We did have a couple of good ones when we went tasting, but overall white was much better in restaurants. I’m sure more is out there, it just didn’t seem like there was much of a wine program in many places.
Ahhh that feta! Love it. And mmm to baklava! I loved checking out all of your IG pictures as you explored Greece. It looked like an amazing time!
Thanks Nicole! I’m going to have to work on perfecting a baklava recipe someday soon.
You went to Santorini, you like craft beers, and did not have the Crazy Donkey IPA? How did you miss it? It might be the best one I’ve ever had, and I live in England. And speaking of wines, Santorini has a completely unique type of Vin Santo, which I absolutely recommend if you like sweet wines.
I also see the notable absences of fava and tomatokeftedes (a kind of tomato fritters). Not a fan?
Hahaha! We visited the Crazy Donkey Brewery… twice. 😉 Definitely had the Vin Santo (they also do this in Italy, btw – I have bottles from both countries and we’re going to do a side-by-side comparison). Also had the fava and both the tomato and zucchini fritters. The zucchini was my favorite.
You make me want to go back to Greece and eat all the feta and baklava.