Definition
Mediterranean, a Cuisine subclass, spans **countries around the Mediterranean Sea**, including **Southern Europe (Italy, Spain, Greece, France)** and **the Levant/North Africa (e.g., Lebanon, Turkey, Morocco)**. Hallmarks include olive oil, seafood, legumes, vegetables, herbs, grills, and shared plates. In Florida-centric lifestyle content, it powers **restaurant roundups, mezze/tapas guides, cooking classes, and festival coverage** that celebrate fresh, shareable dishes and indoor-outdoor dining.
Local Context
APPLY when the restaurant/recipe/event **explicitly identifies** as Mediterranean or blends **multiple Med regions** (Greek mezze + Levantine grills + Italian seafood). DO NOT apply to single-nation stories if you have a more specific class (:Italian, :Greek, :Spanish, :Turkish, :Moroccan, :Lebanese). Co-tag both if the venue/menu clearly spans. Common co-tags: :Dining, :Restaurants, :Seafood, :HealthyEating, :DateNight, :CookingClasses, :FoodFestivals, and locality classes.
Examples
- Mediterranean small-plates date night: Greek grilled octopus, Lebanese hummus, and Spanish olives.
- Hands-on class: Moroccan tagine basics—spice blends, preserved lemon, and couscous.
- Tampa Bay Mediterranean festival—food vendors, live music, and olive-oil tastings.