Chef's Diary

From Land & Sea: The Ingredients That Define a Mediterranean Summer

There are some ingredients that simply taste better in summer. Fresh fish and seafood, ripe tomatoes, fragrant herbs, courgettes, aubergines, peppers, sweet watermelon and fragrant melon all reach their seasonal best, shaping the flavours of the Mediterranean table. Together, they tell the story of a season where exceptional ingredients inspire simple, generous cooking.

At Myrtos, our cooking follows that same rhythm. Guided by the seasons and inspired by the Greek landscape, we let exceptional produce take the lead, bringing together the best of land and sea.

Led by the Seasons

One of the defining characteristics of Mediterranean summer food is its focus on exceptional ingredients. Rather than beginning with a recipe, Greek cooking often begins with what’s in season – fresh seafood, sun-ripened vegetables, fragrant herbs, sweet summer melons, bright citrus and olive oil.

Across Greece, generations of cooks have understood that great ingredients deserve thoughtful treatment. Every element has its place, whether it’s the sweetness of a perfectly ripe tomato or the freshness of just-caught seafood. It’s an approach that has shaped Greek cuisine for generations and continues to inspire the way we cook at Myrtos today.

A Season Guided by Nature

In Greece, the seasons have always shaped the way people gather around the table. Summer meals are lighter, longer and often shared outdoors, built around whatever has been harvested that day or brought in fresh from the sea.

It’s a tradition that has been part of everyday life for generations. Rather than expecting the same ingredients all year round, people naturally cook with what’s at its best, allowing each season to bring something different to the table.

That connection to the seasons continues to inspire the way we cook at Myrtos, where the menu evolves to celebrate the freshest ingredients available.

The Best of Land & Sea

Summer offers an abundance of ingredients that have become synonymous with Mediterranean cooking.

Fresh Seafood

Whether it’s beautifully fresh fish, octopus or shellfish, seafood plays an important role during the Greek summer. Cooked simply with olive oil, herbs and lemon, it reflects the confidence of ingredient-led cooking.

Summer Vegetables

Tomatoes, courgettes, aubergines and peppers are at their finest during the warmer months. These humble ingredients appear throughout Greek kitchens in salads, mezze and slow-cooked dishes, bringing colour, sweetness and freshness to every table.

Summer Fruits

Watermelon and melon are among the defining flavours of a Greek summer. Served simply, paired with cheese or enjoyed as a refreshing finish to a meal, they capture the sweetness and abundance of the season.

Herbs and Olive Oil

Fresh oregano, dill, parsley and mint bring brightness and depth to Greek cooking, creating the distinctive flavours found across the country’s regional cuisine.

At the heart of it all is extra virgin olive oil, an ingredient that doesn’t simply finish a dish – it helps define it.

Why Simplicity Matters

The finest ingredients rarely need much encouragement. A squeeze of lemon, a drizzle of olive oil, a handful of herbs. That’s often enough.

In Greek cooking, simplicity isn’t about doing less – it’s about knowing what each ingredient brings to the dish and allowing those flavours to work in harmony. Every element has a purpose, bringing balance, freshness or texture without overshadowing the ingredient at its heart.

That philosophy is reflected throughout the menu at Myrtos, whether it’s the clean flavours of our Kefalonian organic sea bass, finished with extra virgin olive oil and lemon, or the freshness of our taramosalata, lifted with dill oil and trout roe. Each dish is carefully composed to allow exceptional ingredients to remain the focus.

A Taste of Summer at Myrtos

Across our current menu, the flavours of the Mediterranean summer appear in different ways. Bluefin tuna is paired with Cretan rock samphire, tomatoes and capers, while prawns saganaki brings together sweet prawns, ripe tomatoes, feta and a gentle hint of chilli. Our stuffed chicken breast celebrates the season with courgette, sun-dried tomatoes and graviera cheese, while our rotisserie cauliflower is finished with parsley, pomegranate and dukkah.

Even our side dishes, from Greek wild greens with lemon to whole butter lettuce with anchovy and chives, reflect the bright, ingredient-led character of Mediterranean summer.

Whether you’re joining us for lunch in the sunshine or dinner with family and friends, we hope you’ll enjoy a taste of the Mediterranean summer, one shaped by the seasons and made for sharing.

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