greece
Vlacherna Monastery and the Church of Pantokrator Right from top: Spoon sweet quince, a traditional treat in Greece; the seafacing terrace at The White House
Top four: Ionian desserts
1Kumquat preserves
Glykou tou koutaliou—‘ spoon sweets’— feature in traditional kafeneio( coffeehouses) all over Greece, and are often served with a side of Greek coffee. The Corfiot version involves whole, preserved kumquats, which provide zingy pops of flavor. One of the producers of kumquat liqueur, Lazaris Distillery, makes jars of the tart, ambercolored confection.
2 Mandolato
Mandolato is the archipelago’ s own type of nougat— a sticky, egg-based sweet laced with herby Greek honey and local nuts like walnut, almond and pistachio. Crunchy, chewy and smooth, mandolato is a treat that will transport the taste buds back to the Ionian. Zante Pleasure in Zakynthos’ s main town makes homemade souvenirs; the Giatras brothers whip up big blocks in the kitchen to sell in( smaller) chunks.
3 Ladopita
Lefkada’ s olive oil pie, ladopita, is associated with happiness here— and this gently crumbling, cinnamon-scented dessert is sure to bring a smile to the face. It’ s made by whisking warmed syrup and olive oil with flour, baking then sprinkling the cooling mixture with sesame seeds and confectioner’ s sugar. Traditional patisseries in Lefkada sell it by the kilogram. images: awl images; alamy; the white house restaurant
4 Frigania
Frigania shares the format of Italian tiramisu: a layer of soaked rusks, spread with cream, then dusted with a topping. However, dig the spoon in a little deeper and it becomes a love letter to Greek cookery, with Cretan rusks doused in orange syrup, topped with vanilla custard, whipped cream and warming cinnamon. Frigania is in demand during the heat of Greek summer; the servings at Latas Café Bistro in Zakynthos come with sweeping sea views.
summer 2025 • 59