Greece is a country approximately the same size as the state of New York. Since recorded time, Greece has been a country that not only has conquered, but also has been conquered, thus creating a barrage of cultural influences on its native foods and drinks.

The general acceptance of small nibbles of food with drinks as "provocative to eating" not only added graciousness to dining but may even be the ancient root of the Greeks' predilection never to drink without the accompaniment of food.