Greek Food Specialties.     Photo: Brax - VPC

Greek Food? Check!
Greek Music? Check!
Greek Dance? Check!
Greeks? Check!

To bad it's only once a year. But this year's 22nd annual Greek Food Festival celebrated by the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church was another homerun. Great music, dance and of course the people pleasing Greek food... this festival is always a one where people are enjoying themselves.

This year the festival was in late August and had upwards of 10,000 people being thoroughly entertained, according to Lefteris Sakellakos, chairman for the Greek Food Festival... or as he known by all as "Lefty". Lefty indicated that the nearly 100 volunteers try to put out the Greek motif in everything they do.

Volunteers cooking up Greek food.     Photo: Brax - VPC

There were even Geography lessons up for the not so familiar... maps and pictures of different parts of Greece. And if you ask, there are plety of friendly Greeks to teach you a few words... But, "I'll have another of those." workds well too.

The food was authentic. Greek jiros were slowly cooking on the spit. Jiros are a blend of beef and lamb, along with traditonal Greek seasoning of spices and herbs. Then there were plenty of the baked foods along with the baked chicken and shikabob to round out the menu.

There was live music and dancers performing traditional Greek folk dances in many different styles and regional movements to entice the crowd to get up and join them. Many of those in attendance did after they had eaten of course.

Angelica Sosa and her son Eric.     Photo: Brax - VPC

There was even a little skit that was about the "first" Greek immigrans to the US... this performance brought out the chukles as it was really more of a spoof and performed tongue in cheek.

Many of the visitors said that they would never miss this event. Angelica Sosa and her son Eric were totally enthralled and soaking up the different sights, sounds, tastes and smells. Eva Talamontes said "I love this event. I try to come every year. I love the jiros and the baklava".

  Prepared by WestsideReader staff.

(Photos: File - Valley Publishing Company)

Send feedback to:

Editor, WestsideREADER.com

elpasotimes.com elpasoinc.com ktsm.com kvia.com utep.edu newyorktimes.com

Copyright © 2004-2008 Valley Publishing Company:
All Rights Reserved.