A gourmet tour of the six best Mediterranean food specialties

For gourmands, one of the highlights of a luxury yacht charter is the opportunity to explore the local cuisine. Whether dining at a Michelin-starred restaurant, a local eatery, or aboard your luxury yacht, you’ll want to add these popular Mediterranean food specialties to your must-try list.

Mediterranean food specialties

1 - Saganaki - Santorini, Greece

No trip to one of the Greek islands would be complete without trying saganaki, pan-seared Greek cheese, served with fresh lemon juice. This delicious dish is one of the most popular mezzes served in Greek tavernas. On the island of Santorini, the cheese is typically covered with filo pastry, fried, and then drizzled with honey. Enjoy with a glass of ouzo - a dry anise-flavoured aperitif – or a dry white wine for the ultimate cheesy treat.

2 - Civet de Sanglier (wild boar casserole) - Corsica

No trip to Corsica would be complete without trying a hearty bowl of civet de sanglier – wild boar casserole – known as Corsica’s signature dish. Wild boars roam freely around Corsica’s rugged mountainous interior, feeding on native berries, figs, and chestnuts, giving their meat a complex, yet delicious flavour. Typically served in the cooler winter months, this dish is guaranteed to delight gourmands. Every Corsican will have their own family recipe, but the casserole is typically made with onions, cloves, juniper berries, chopped tomatoes, bay leaves, and plenty of red wine. It’s typically served with creamy mashed potato.

3 - Scialatielli - Amalfi Coast, Italy

You’ll find this delicious Mediterranean speciality along the Amalfi coast. Scialatielli is a pasta dish that originates from Amalfi. The pasta is fatter and shorter than traditional spaghetti and is traditionally served with fresh seafood, including mussels, shrimp, clams, and calamari, along with fresh cherry tomatoes and parsley. A simple, yet utterly delicious dish, made only better by the elegant surroundings of the Amalfi coastline.

4 - Bouillabaisse – St Tropez, France

This classic hearty French dish is a must-try when visiting the elegant town of St Tropez. Originally a dish made by fishermen in Marseille, it is now one of the most popular dishes along the French Riviera, and for good reason too. This hearty fish stew is made with the freshest catch of the day, gently cooked in a stock with tomatoes, onion, garlic, saffron and herbs. Wash it down with a glass of locally made red wine for the ultimate Provencal feast.

5 - Barbajuan – Monaco

Monaco’s dining scene may be legendary, but no trip to the principality would be complete without trying the city-state’s national dish, barbajuan, a savoury filled pastry. The filling is typically Swiss chard and ricotta, but you can also find ones with onion, rice, and Parmesan cheese. The best place to find this tasty treat is at the local market in the district of La Condamine – enjoy it at a local café with a glass of coffee while enjoying the local life unfold.

6 - Seafood Fregola - Sardinia

Seafood dishes reign supreme in Sardinia and seafood fregola is a must-try. Fregola is a type of pasta found in Sardinia, which is similar to Israeli couscous. It is made with durum wheat semolina that is rolled into 2-3 mm sized balls in a large ceramic pot, then toasted in the oven which imparts a nuttiness flavour. While fregola is served with a wide range of foods, amongst the most popular is with freshly caught seafood, including clams, scallops, and cockles, served in a tomato-based broth, and garnished with fresh chopped herbs.

Which of these Mediterranean food specialties do you fancy enjoying?