A meze with a migration story: it came to Turkey from Crete in the 1920s and never left the Aegean coast.

What is Girit ezmesi (Cretan feta spread)?

Girit ezmesi means “Cretan spread”. It arrived with the Turkish families resettled from Crete during the population exchange of 1923, and it stayed in İzmir and along the Aegean, where it is still most at home. It is feta-style white cheese whipped with fresh basil, garlic and a serious amount of good olive oil, sometimes with walnut folded through. Salty, herbaceous and much brighter than most yogurt-based mezes — it tastes like the Mediterranean rather than like Anatolia.

How we prepare it at Anatolia Grill

We whip the cheese so it stays slightly coarse rather than turning into a paste, use fresh basil rather than dried, and finish it with olive oil. Served cool with warm homemade bread, 139 CZK. It is the meze we recommend to guests who want something different from the usual yogurt-and-eggplant lineup.

Grit Spread on our menu

• Dish: Grit Spread
• Menu section: Appetizer
• Price: 139 CZK
• Allergens: G — see the allergen key printed on our menu

Frequently asked questions

Where can I eat Girit ezmesi in Prague?

At Anatolia Grill Restaurant on Na Poříčí, Praha 1 — open every day from 08:00 to midnight.

What does Girit ezmesi taste like?

Salty and fresh: the feta gives it body and salt, the basil and olive oil give it a Mediterranean lift. It is one of the brighter mezes on the table.

Is it vegetarian?

Yes. Cheese, basil, garlic and olive oil, with no meat.

Why is it called Cretan?

It came to Turkey with Turkish families resettled from Crete after 1923 and took root on the Aegean coast, where it is still a standard meze.

Visit Anatolia Grill Restaurant

We are on Na Poříčí, a few minutes’ walk from Náměstí Republiky, in the centre of Prague. The kitchen is open every day from 08:00 to 00:00, so breakfast, a late lunch and a midnight plate are all on the table.

• Address: Na Poříčí 1933/36, 110 00 Praha 1 – Nové Město
• Open: every day, 08:00 – 00:00
• Restaurant: +420 777 946 662  |  Meat Market: +420 727 974 844

See the full Anatolia Grill menu, book a table by phone, visit the Anatolia Meat Market next door, or order online for delivery and pickup.