The whole of Crete and the prefecture of Lasithi in particular, produce some of the best quality olive oil in the whole world. It is therefore not surprising to find a vast variety of olive oil-based recipes here. Rabbit cooked in olive oil with bay leaves, sun dried string beans in olive oil and tomato sauce, snails -a particular favorite- cooked in olive oil with vinegar and rosemary, and a favorite snack "dacos", consisting of dry barley bread soaked in olive oil covered with crushed tomato, chopped onion and garlic. No wonder, these people live long lives over a hundred years in many cases!

Crete is and always has been a producer of exquisite honey. In fact, the word "candy" derives from Candia (the name of the port of Iraklio) since under Venetian rule this constituted a major exporting commodity.