Gamopilafo

Gamopilafo means "wedding risotto" in Greek and is a dish that was traditionally served in weddings, but nowadays you can find it in many Cretan taverns, as well. In Greece, the rice symbolizes the deep roots of the couple and fertility, and it is connected with the Greek Orthodox wedding traditions. To make gamopilafo, first you have to boil goat or rooster meat (or alternatively lamb or chicken) for 4+ hours until it becomes very soft, and then make a risotto with it. But the secret is in the butter used: it is the so-called "stakovoutiro", the butter from the creamy skin on top of boiled fresh goat’s milk. Gamopilafo was first introduced many years ago in West Crete, but you can find it all over Crete.