Rethymno Gastronomy tour

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Details

DURATION

3 - 4 hours

DIFFICULTY

Easy

GROUP SIZE

2 - 6 persons

SCHEDULE

Every day except Sunday

TYPE

Small group

PICK UP TIME

10:30 or 17:30

PICK UP PLACE

Four Martyrs Church, Gerakari 6, 741 00

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Highlights

Discover the impressive old town's narrow streets, the stone built Venetian old houses
Dive into Rethymno's magnificent culture
Enjoy a greek coffee in a small and quiet "kafeneio"
Explore the genuine flavors of Cretan gastronomy and all the superb sweet delicacies
Visit a local's workshop of "baklava", "kantaifi" and other phyllo pastry
Taste the famous thyme honey of Crete
Feel like a local for a day, by tasting the delicious homemade raki and the extraordinary mezedes

ITINERARY

Every Stop a Unique Experience

1st Stop

The traditional "kafeneio"

Starting off, we will visit a beautiful "kafeneio" in a unique scenery, where you can enjoy an authentic Cretan breakfast, which consists of a traditional Greek coffee and a handmade extra thin cheese pie (as we called it "sfakianopita") covered with homemade thyme honey. There will be an introduction to the historical imposing monuments, traditions, customs, and the connection to Cretan Gastronomy by your guide, as you all enjoy your Cretan breakfast.

1st Stop

The traditional "kafeneio"

2 nd Stop

The workshop of Mr. Hatziparaschos

2nd Stop

The workshop of Mr. Hatziparaschos

After that, travelers will be able to see right inside the old town of Rethymno; a Venetian mansion of the 17th century houses Giorgos Hatziparaschos' phyllo workshop, the oldest of its kind. He is famous for making phyllo for ''kantaifi'' and ''baklava'' more than 63 years now. While the ingredients are simple - flour, water and some salt - the proportions according to Hatziparaschos took years of testing. Traditional phyllo is an essential ingredient for traditional syrupy sweets dipped in honey, such as kantaifi and baklava. If you are lucky, you will watch the master on the job. A fluid mixture falls into a special machine in the back room, where butter aromas are on the air and Mr. Giorgos' hot copper pan doesn't stop turning. Above the flames, hundreds of thin and baked strings of kantaifi are created. Sprinkled with the right balance of cinnamon and chopped walnuts, kantaifi is one of the most favorite sweets.

3rd Stop

Taste the Cretan "mezedes"

Our next stop is a homemade Cretan cuisine with local ingredients in a retro space full of photographic memories of old Rethymnon, in a quiet alley of the old town. At this stop, you will meet the owner Mr. Gregory who is really nice, friendly and kind, a genuine personality as if from a movie. His little traditional hospitable ''mezedopolio'', is a real hidden gem. You will feel like a local, drinking his homemade aromatic raki and tasting the high quality and delicious homemade ''mezedes''.

3rd Stop

Taste the Cretan "mezedes"

4 th Stop

Thyme honey tasting

4th Stop

Thyme honey tasting

After a short walk, we will head to a small shop with Cretan natural products so as to try the taste of genuine Cretan thyme honey and learn the history as well as the process of collecting honey. It is very important that this honey is produced in the mountains; this element makes the taste so much different from the other kinds. Especially when these mountains belong to a truly unspoilt environment, away from the urban pollution, in a local ecosystem of extremely dense aromatic flora of endemic, self-sown flower plants, trees and shrubbery.

5th Stop

Enjoy handmade "loukoumades"

The following stop is the most appropriate place to continue our tour, with the best ''loukoumades'' in the whole city! Incredibly crunchy from the outside, but so soft inside, sprinkled with sesame and cinnamon powder...simply amazing!

5th Stop

Enjoy handmade "loukoumades"

6 th Stop

Fortezza castle

6th Stop

Fortezza castle

Up to this point, you will be fully informed about the history of our town and all the monuments that we have passed by, as well as the secret local spots one should definitely visit once in Rethymno. The end of the tour will be in front of the gates of the Fortezza castle where you will have all the time to wander around by yourselves and get fascinated by the view. Due to the fact that the escort of this tour is not considered as a guide of the State, he cannot enter with you inside the fortress. However, if you wish to have an official history guide we would be happy to book one upon communication. Enjoy!