Milk Street Television Season 1 Episode 16 A Taste of Crete

In the sixteenth episode of season one of Christopher Kimball's Milk Street, viewers are taken on a journey to Crete, the largest island in Greece. Kimball and his team explore the island's unique cuisine, which is heavily influenced by Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors.

The episode begins with a visit to a local market where Kimball learns about some of the island's most popular ingredients, including fresh herbs, olive oil, and feta cheese. He also discovers a traditional Cretan cheese called Mizithra, which is notoriously difficult to find outside of the island.

Next, Kimball visits a local restaurant to sample some of Crete's most iconic dishes. He tries Dakos, a dish made with dried bread, topped with fresh tomatoes, herbs, and feta cheese. He also enjoys a traditional lamb stew called Stifado, which is cooked with pearl onions and served with a side of crispy potatoes.

Inspired by the flavors he's tasted, Kimball returns to the Milk Street kitchen to recreate the dishes himself. He starts with Dakos and shows viewers how to make their own dried bread from scratch. He emphasizes the importance of using high-quality ingredients, especially when it comes to olive oil and feta cheese.

Next, Kimball tackles the tricky task of making Mizithra cheese from scratch. He explains that the cheese is traditionally made with sheep's milk, but that he's using cow's milk for his recipe. He shows viewers how to strain the cheese to get just the right texture.

For the main course, Kimball makes his interpretation of Stifado. He uses beef instead of lamb and adds a few of his own twists, like garnishing the dish with fresh parsley and lemon zest.

Throughout the episode, Kimball emphasizes the importance of using simple, fresh ingredients and techniques that allow the natural flavors of the food to shine through. He also encourages viewers to be adventurous in their cooking and to try new ingredients and techniques they may not be familiar with.

Overall, A Taste of Crete is a delightful exploration of one of Greece's most beautiful and flavorful destinations. Kimball's passion for the food and culture of the region is evident, and viewers are sure to be left inspired to try their hand at some of the delicious dishes he showcases.