12 authentic Mediterranean mezzes you shouldn't miss

Mezzes are a traditional Mediterranean specialty. They bring back memories of the feasts of Antiquity when everyone ate from a large assortment of tapas-style foods with their fingers. The spread can go from a dozen to 100's of small dishes, and everyone is free to dig into whichever mezzes suit their tastes, with pita bread on the side. Almost everyone has tried or at least heard of Tzatziki sauce, but there are many more where that came from. Mezzes also represent a state of mind, one that combines conviviality, camaraderie and sharing, like the atmosphere you get from having drinks at home with friends. The next time you're hosting cocktails at your place, try your hand at this tasteful spread of exotic tapas.