People from Crete have long been praised for their generous and authentic hospitality (aka ‘philoxenia’ in Greek). Coupled with fresh local produce and a delicious cuisine, Crete is a great destination for foodies. Peskesi in Heraklion, was exactly what we were looking for from a downtown restaurant and a quick lunch turned into a complete feast.
Located in the city centre of Heraklion, Peskesi is a combination of authentic Cretan cuisine and fresh produce from their privately owned six-hectare farm, in the area of Harasso, in Hersonissos. As we walked into the stone-built house hidden away from one of the main squares of Heraklion, we entered into a nicely made space decorated with traditional retro objects of Cretan living. The hosts greeted gracefully and showed us to a table at the back of the restaurant in the sunlit patio.
Simple menu of an authentic Cretan cuisine, along with some daily specials and the proper handmade raki to go with it. First things first, we went with our entreés and what is widely known as dakos, the Cretan version of the tomato bruschetta (actually, so much better!), presented in a marble round plate. Then we had a bunch of wafer-thin wild asparagus, grilled to perfection, and the local recipe of steamed snails.
For main, we upped our game and continued with some of the farm’s own organic-fed free-range poultry such as the slow-cooked rabbit with lemon and thyme! The goat stew served with oven-cooked potatoes was also very tasty. Finally, we were treated with some complimentary handmade dessert, served with your personal mantinada, the Cretan fortune cookies sort to speak!
All in all, a very authentic and tasty food experience in a very welcoming place that is definitely worth your visit!
