Not many people may be aware of this, but Salt Lake is blessed to have many people of Greek ancestry who live here. Once a year, the second week of September, they set up a bunch of extremely large tents next door to the Orthodox Cathedral and hold a big Festival. I absolutely LOVE the Greek Fesitval. I look forward to it all year long. They have the best food, and it's such a fun atmosphere. The entire city seems to come out for it. I enjoy it so much it's as if once a year, my last name becomes Edwardsopolous.
There's a long line for the food, which is served cafeteria style and a la carte. I always spend too much money on foods I can't pronounce very well - Souvlaki (meat on a skewer), Pilafi (lemony rice), Keftethes (meatballs), Fasolakia (green beans), Pitas, etc. This also means I always eat too much at the festival. Last night a girl came by the table to let us know how to get "to go" boxes if we needed them. Hello - as if the food would even have a chance to go home with me.
There's Greek music playing in the background, and performers doing traditional Greek dances. It looks so fun that you feel like getting up on the stage yourself.
And then there's the pastry building - Baklava (nuts and honey baked in layers of buttery phyllo dough), Almond Torte, and my favorite, Galopita (a Greek custard). There were 9 of us in our group last night, and we bought three boxes full of pastry, then sat around the table sharing it. Of course, sharing is good sometimes, but let me tell you, once I get hold of the galopita, there is not much in the way of sharing that is happening.
It's especially fun going with a big group of people. It's hard to find a seat for all of your group at the same table sometimes, but no one really cares, because it's a great way to mix and mingle with other people from around town.
Greeks seem to be so joyful and fun-loving. They hang on to the good things about their culture, and invite the rest of us in to share it. OPA!
(My thanks to Inge for taking all the fun photos!)
There's a long line for the food, which is served cafeteria style and a la carte. I always spend too much money on foods I can't pronounce very well - Souvlaki (meat on a skewer), Pilafi (lemony rice), Keftethes (meatballs), Fasolakia (green beans), Pitas, etc. This also means I always eat too much at the festival. Last night a girl came by the table to let us know how to get "to go" boxes if we needed them. Hello - as if the food would even have a chance to go home with me.
There's Greek music playing in the background, and performers doing traditional Greek dances. It looks so fun that you feel like getting up on the stage yourself.
And then there's the pastry building - Baklava (nuts and honey baked in layers of buttery phyllo dough), Almond Torte, and my favorite, Galopita (a Greek custard). There were 9 of us in our group last night, and we bought three boxes full of pastry, then sat around the table sharing it. Of course, sharing is good sometimes, but let me tell you, once I get hold of the galopita, there is not much in the way of sharing that is happening.
It's especially fun going with a big group of people. It's hard to find a seat for all of your group at the same table sometimes, but no one really cares, because it's a great way to mix and mingle with other people from around town.
Greeks seem to be so joyful and fun-loving. They hang on to the good things about their culture, and invite the rest of us in to share it. OPA!(My thanks to Inge for taking all the fun photos!)
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