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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Travel
Georgina Hayden

Crete treats: a chef’s tour of her favourite Greek island

A couple stand smiling in the doorway of a small rustic shop with lots of plants on the terrace and surrounded by green countryside
A treasure trove … Stefanos and Maria, owners of the family-run Evotry bakery. Photograph: Georgina Hayden

As someone with Cypriot roots and distant Greek heritage, I’m often asked the question: which is the best island? People lean in, expecting a secret – some tiny, untouched haven, known only to locals. My answer is always the same: Crete. With its fiercely proud identity, warm communities and exceptional food, it feels both deeply Greek and entirely itself.

For our anniversary weekend, my husband and I head to Lassithi, in the island’s far eastern corner. As a chef and food writer, I’m drawn to the area’s reputation for exceptional produce: Sitia extra virgin olive oil, creamy xigalo cheese, mountain honey and an abundance of excellent tavernas.

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