This night we decided to go to the Greek Fest at St. Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church in Niles. Our friend, Pat, Louann, and Jim, met at our home for the short drive to the church. The evening is a bit chilly, but the thought of the Greek food is warming.
An entrance fee of $2.00, $1.00 for seniors – at least getting old has some benefits – is charged. As we pass through the gate, we are handed a tiny cup of mavrodaphne, a sweet, red dessert wine. A great way to get everyone in the mood for the Greek experience awaiting us.
After a brief tour of the church, we followed the path to the back. As we turned the corner we are blessed with the sight of numerous booths and the heavenly smells of roasting lamb. Fortunately the line to the food tent is not too long.
Entering the tent we are bathed in the scents of roasted souvlaki, Athenian chicken and Bacalao “Plaki” (cod fish). Aluminum trays brimming with moussaka, pastitsio, dalmathes, and spanakopita line the table. Alas, so many decisions to be made.
After a brief discussion with Rosemary, a decision is made regarding the food. We’re going to share entries to get the most of our dining experience. Rosemary orders the pastitsio and I the moussaka. A half order of dolmathes (stuffed grape leaves) and an order of spanakopita complete our menu for the evening.
We wend our way through the growing throngs of people to a table near the bandstand. Our friends follow us with Jim bringing up the rear, a bottle of Retsina in hand. After we find a table, Jim hurries back to the tent where they are roasting the lamb and returns with a plateful.
Our feasting begins. Let me tell you that I have never tasted better moussaka and pastitsio – except for that served by our daughter, Yvonne. I’m not much for lamb, but the lamb we ate that night was extraordinary. I had two helpings. All this food was washed down with Retsina. I cannot believe how much I ate.
After dinner the “Olympian Dancers” graced the stage. The women were dressed in traditional regional (Cretan and Metaxades) attire and the men in the white and black military (Foustanella) tunics. They performed various folk dances and concluded with the men doing the Zorba dance. Fantastic!
Jim said we could not leave before we tried some loukoumathes. I didn’t know where in my stomach I could put anymore food. This dessert – hot, deep-fried puffs slathered in honey and cinnamon – melted in your mouth. I couldn’t stop eating them.
A short ride back to our home for coffee and discussion of the events of the evening rounded off a perfect evening with friends.
My candy for the day – ah so wonderful.
Ciao
An entrance fee of $2.00, $1.00 for seniors – at least getting old has some benefits – is charged. As we pass through the gate, we are handed a tiny cup of mavrodaphne, a sweet, red dessert wine. A great way to get everyone in the mood for the Greek experience awaiting us.
After a brief tour of the church, we followed the path to the back. As we turned the corner we are blessed with the sight of numerous booths and the heavenly smells of roasting lamb. Fortunately the line to the food tent is not too long.
Entering the tent we are bathed in the scents of roasted souvlaki, Athenian chicken and Bacalao “Plaki” (cod fish). Aluminum trays brimming with moussaka, pastitsio, dalmathes, and spanakopita line the table. Alas, so many decisions to be made.
After a brief discussion with Rosemary, a decision is made regarding the food. We’re going to share entries to get the most of our dining experience. Rosemary orders the pastitsio and I the moussaka. A half order of dolmathes (stuffed grape leaves) and an order of spanakopita complete our menu for the evening.
We wend our way through the growing throngs of people to a table near the bandstand. Our friends follow us with Jim bringing up the rear, a bottle of Retsina in hand. After we find a table, Jim hurries back to the tent where they are roasting the lamb and returns with a plateful.
Our feasting begins. Let me tell you that I have never tasted better moussaka and pastitsio – except for that served by our daughter, Yvonne. I’m not much for lamb, but the lamb we ate that night was extraordinary. I had two helpings. All this food was washed down with Retsina. I cannot believe how much I ate.
After dinner the “Olympian Dancers” graced the stage. The women were dressed in traditional regional (Cretan and Metaxades) attire and the men in the white and black military (Foustanella) tunics. They performed various folk dances and concluded with the men doing the Zorba dance. Fantastic!
Jim said we could not leave before we tried some loukoumathes. I didn’t know where in my stomach I could put anymore food. This dessert – hot, deep-fried puffs slathered in honey and cinnamon – melted in your mouth. I couldn’t stop eating them.
A short ride back to our home for coffee and discussion of the events of the evening rounded off a perfect evening with friends.
My candy for the day – ah so wonderful.
Ciao
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