5 Reasons to Visit Greece

If you love coming to Zizikis for a fabulous meal or a memorable happy hour maybe it's time you consider a visit to the old country. With beautiful scenery, fascinating culture and truly divine cuisine to name a few, Greece offers a plethora of reasons for you to visit. Here we limit ourselves to just 5 of the top reasons our readers should consider Greece as their next destination.

1. A world apart: Traveling to Greece for the first time is a life-altering experience. The unique culture and the beauty of the stunning landscapes, alone, would be enough to amaze you. Add that to the rest of what Greece has to offer and prepare yourself for a long-lasting experience that you will remember forever.

2. A great climate: Greece is perfect for those who enjoy the sun, as for over two thirds of the year the country basks under clear, sunny skies. Not too hot but not too cold, Greece delivers the ideal climate offering everyone the opportunity to enjoy memorable holidays with a wide range of activities.

3. Diversity. Greece has a great range of places and landscapes that cannot be found together anywhere else. It’s like having a miniature world, where everything is included: from countless beautiful islands and beaches, to huge snow-covered mountains, great forests and spectacular cities.

4. Heritage: Get the chance to see, live, some of the most amazing monuments of the world, such as The Parthenon, the Archaeological Site of Delphi, or the breathtaking medieval town of Mystras, in the Peloponnese.

5. Island life: Greece is the land of islands. Islands of different shapes and sizes; different personalities; different possibilities. Where some of the most beautiful beaches of the world are waiting for you. Here you will get the chance to relax body and soul, under the sun, enjoying crystal blue water and fun activities.

If we had to choose another reason to visit Greece, it would be the extraordinary taste of Greek cuisine. The world’s most exquisite Mediterranean flavors are before you. Food here is ten times better and healthier not only because recipes have been perfected over time, by generations of Greek families, but because Greek food is based on fresh products. But you can find all this right here in DFW.

Slim and Greek - The Mediterranean Diet

How would you like to dine like Zeus and drink fine wines every day? If you're following the Mediterranean Diet - this is you.

Red wine and most of the ingredients in traditional Greek cuisine and Mediterranean dishes are great for the heart, and keep participants happily fed. (satisfied both with filling and taste, OPA!)

Heart attacks are quite rare in the Mediterranean, due to the diet of olive oil, soups and veggies, fresh fish, fruits and low calorie cheeses. Not to mention the heart-healthy and cholesterol benefits of eating beans (and did we mention - we have the biggest beans ever. They're called GIGANTE beans and rightfully so!)

Visit Ziziki's or Ziziki's Taverna for a heaping bowl of Gigante Beans, a healthy helping of Greek salad and some oilive oil & cheese. Oh, and some red, red wine. You'll leave healthy and happy! Opa!

Recipe: Greek Spice Cake

Photo Courtesy of Taste of Home

Who doesn't love cake? The brown sugar, almond extract, cinnamon and cloves is what really gives this cake it's exotic taste. Serve it warm for a special treat. See, you can have your cake and eat it too! Opa!

Prep: 25 min.
Bake: 50 min. + cooling
Yield: 12 Servings

Ingredients
1 tablespoon shortening
2 tablespoons plus 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup canola oil
1 cup buttermilk
3 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 teaspoons almond extract
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup chopped pecans
1 teaspoon confectioners' sugar

Directions

Grease 10-in. fluted tube/bundt pan with shortening; lightly coat with 2 tablespoons flour. Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat the sugars, oil, buttermilk, eggs and extracts until well blended. Combine the remaining flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, cloves and baking soda; gradually beat into the sugar mixture until blended. Stir in pecans. Transfer to prepared pan.

Bake at 325° for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.

Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

If you try this recipe, be sure to tell us what  you thought in the comments!

10 Tourist Trivia Facts About Greece

We're bringing you a little bit of Greek Tourist Trivia. Maybe you have a trip to Greece in the future, maybe not. Either way, who doesn't love some fun trivia facts?

1. The official language in Greece is modern Greek, but in tourist areas English, French, German and Italian are also spoken.

2. Greece is eight hours ahead of Dallas, TX time.

3. For a stay of more than three months, a resident's permit must be obtained from the Aliens Bureau. Phone +30 (210) 7705 711.

4. Driving in Greece is on the right, and there are many car rental agencies in the various tourist centres. Tourists may use an International Driving Liscence if they wish to drive. Motorcycles are very commonly used in Greece and on the islands, for convenience reasons.

5. Greece uses the metric system, and the visitor from Anglo-Saxon countries which have not yet converted may find the following conversions usefull: 1 inch = approx. 25 mm 1 mile = approx. 1.6 km 77oF = approx. 25oC 1 kg = approx. 2.2 pounds

6. Shops and supermarkets in areas frequented by tourists are usually open all day long, from 9 am to 10 pm. A periptero is a sort of kiosk that sells all kinds of things, ranging from chocolate and chips, to batteries and magazines. These kiosks are very useful, they can be found easily and many are open 24 hours / day.

7. Water in all areas where tourists are likely to find themselves is chlorinated and perfectly safe to drink. Yet bottled water, you will find, is very popular, primarily for convenience reasons.

8. The sun in Greece is very bright and strong. In fact, most TV channels interrupt their regular summer program several times per day to broadcast Sunbathing Report. This report will tell you how long it is advized that you stay in the sun according to the time of day and your geographic location all around Greece.

9. There are no restrictions on amateur fishing, and visitors can even indulge in underwater speargun fishing without a licence, as long as they stay at least 200 meters away from the shore. When spear fishing, it is advised to go in pairs.

10. The drinking age in Greece is 16. The drinking age here at Ziziki's in Dallas and Plano, is 21. Happy hour is Monday through Friday from 4 to 6pm. Come join the fun!

The History of Happy Hour

The term Happy Hour actually has its roots in Navy slang from the 20s, when the time for the scheduled period of entertainment on-ship was referred to as the happy hour. After the National Prohibition Act was instituted in 1919, speakeasies adopted the term for the hours patrons arrived to drink illegal cocktails prior to eating at restaurants that observed the prohibition. The term then began to be applied to the consumption of illegal liquor before dinner in the home as well.

Happy Hour really kicked into gear thanks to an article in a 1960s Saturday Evening Post issue where the Navy's scheduled entertainment time was mentioned. Bars and restaurants latched onto the concept to increase alcohol sales. 

Typically held between the hours of 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Happy Hour evolved into an after work event where co-workers would get together at the end of a work day to socialize and relieve stress. Every local tavern and popular restaurant boasted a happy hour of sorts, often offering cocktails at a discount for those hours.

The best Dallas happy hour is here at Ziziki’s is Monday through Friday from 4-6pm. Come blow off some steam with us.