The hunt for authenticity

People looking for an authentic Greek summer experience in the age of Instagram feel a bit like initiates of some secret club, wanting to keep their discoveries well hidden from the world. "Guys, we went to X. What an amazing island! It was like being back in 1980s Greece," a traveler will tell their friends, immediately adding: "But don't go telling anyone else about it, or it will get spoiled too."

Another friend gets mad every time he reads another list of the "Top 10 best tavernas." "Why do people do that?" he asks in an exasperated tone.

The hunt for authenticity is getting harder and harder. Finding a taverna that serves good, traditional Greek food, without fancy vinaigrette and lime dressings, is something to get excited about. We all have our "secret" places - beaches, remote churches, out-of-the-way tavernas and small seaside villages - that take us back to...