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Cyprus A Gourmet's Paradise

By: Mark Bartley

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Although fiercely fought over for years, Cyprus's double heritage of Greek and Turkish influences have blended seamlessly into its cuisine. But Cyprus has also been occupied by many other nations during its turbulent history, so the influence of Armenian, Lebanese, French and even Italian cooking have also played their parts in creating a varied mix of flavours that are now considered to be 'typically Cypriot'.

Meat plays a big part in Cypriot cooking, and vegetarians will find that it features heavily on almost every menu. But Cypriot restaurants are now starting to cater for vegetarians, and the island's crops of fresh fruit and vegetables, pulses and grains are plentiful and have that amzing local freshness. Salads are common in Cypriot cooking, so there should be a happy selection for everyone, no matter what your preferences. Because of Cyprus's hot climate, tomatoes, peppers and avocados are grown across the island and form the basis of many dishes.

The concept of Cypriot dining is very different from the traditional three-course meal. Here, the idea is to sample lots of dishes and share them between friends, echoing the Mediterranean idea of communal dining. Known as Meze, diners are supplied with a seemingly continuous supply of small plates with breads and dips like tahini and humus. Olives feature heavily, as do vine leaves stuffed with rice and meat and the famous souvla. This dish is made from are pieces of meat threaded onto a spit and grilled over charcoal. Meze dining is an excellent way to sample a big selection of Cypriot cuisine, but Cyprus is equally well known for its pot dishes such as stews and casseroles.

Within the Mediterranean Cyprus is one of the more popular destinations as such there are a superb selection of villas in Cyprus to choose from. Luxurious yet maintaining a typically Mediterranean feel, these quality villas offer visitors the chance to try their hand at a little Cypriot cuisine of their own. Although there are plenty of general supermarkets selling the staples, the best way to buy food in Cyprus is to get along to a farmers market that are held regularly in most towns and villages. It is also an ideal opportunity to immerse yourself in Cypriot culture and to learn about local traditions and the people who live and work in the area you are staying. Many people speak english in the south of the island (thanks to a strong British connection), so there are rarely any problems with making yourself understood.

Although meat is a strong feature of Cypriot cooking, the island's connections with the sea are also well represented with regular catches of fish and shellfish coming ashore each day from local fishing fleets. Dining out is still very cost effective, although Cyprus villas offer you the chance of keeping costs even lower while experiencing the full range of flavours and produce that Cyprus has to offer.

There seems to be nothing to hold holidays in Cyrpus back, and excellent transport facilities and international airports in convenient locations on the island enable visitors to reach almost any part of the island easily. With holiday villas, expanses of beautiful beaches, stunning scenery and a rich culture complete with an astonishing array of gastronomic influences, Cyprus may just be the perfect holiday for food lovers.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

The choices of holidays in Cyprus are wide and varied with villas in Cyprus being just one of the options. Hotels of different types are all over this wonderful island, as are self-catering apartments, local guest houses and specialist resort accommodation.

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