Kalamata olive paste is a popular dish of the European Mediterranean. In the local culinary tradition, it is in great demand and is sometimes called tapenade. Traditionally, it is consumed spread on bread or crackers – in the morning, along with a cup of strong black coffee. Also, tapenade will be a wonderful and harmonious sauce for freshly cut vegetables, for example. In Greece, pasta can also be stuffed with fish dishes, served in a separate container with hot second dishes of meat and fish. Tapenade received the title of Mediterranean "black caviar" for its unique taste. Kalamata olives are distinguished by a rich fruity taste and a dark purple color, like an eggplant. These are table olives, used in food as an appetizer or dish, and not just for squeezing oil. Kalamata olives are rightfully considered the best table olives in the world. These fruits are also among the healthiest of all olives, as they contain quite a lot of heart-healthy fats, minerals such as calcium and iron, and antioxidants. Kalamata olives have a mild taste, which is achieved due to a rather late harvest – from mid-November to the end of December, when they are fully ripe. Olives of this variety are also characterized by a thin skin and juicy, very tender flesh. Olives have a rich, oily taste, sometimes with bitterness. Kalamata olives are mainly cultivated in the southwest of the Peloponnese in the regions of Messinia (the capital of the region is the city of Kalamata), Laconia and Agrinio. Because of their thin shell, the fruits are easily damaged, and they have to be harvested by hand. Perfectly combined with cheese, garlic, herbs. Thinly sliced pieces of ciabatta or baguette lightly dry in the oven or fry until a tender crispy crust forms. Rub them with crushed garlic and slightly soak them with fragrant Extra Virgin olive oil. Finely chopped Kalamata olives can be mixed to your taste with eggplant, zucchini, seafood, ham, chicken, sweet or hot pepper, mushrooms, avocado, basil, arugula and many others. Apply the resulting mixture in a thin layer on the bread. Exquisitely sprinkle the bruschetta with cheese and garnish with herbs. The perfect snack!