BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Organizers and volunteers from two local churches are once again getting ready to serve up gyros, souvlaki, spanakopita and other Greek specialties.
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Bethlehem
First, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, at 1607 W. Union Blvd. in Bethlehem, will host its biannual Greek Food Festival Thursday, Sept. 19, through Sunday, Sept. 22.
The event features several handmade Greek specialties for sale, including pastitsio (alternate layers of penne pasta and Greek-style chopped beef, topped with bechamel sauce), moussaka (layers of Greek-style chopped beef, thinly sliced potatoes and eggplant topped with a rich cream sauce and baked) and Athenian chicken (boneless and skinless chicken, filled with spinach, feta and other Greek cheeses, baked and topped with light gravy).
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral is located at 1607 W. Union Blvd. in Bethlehem.
There are also sides such as green beans, orzo, rice pilaf, spanakopita and Greek fries (with salt and oregano).
For those with a sweet tooth, parishioners and volunteers also will be making and selling baklava, finikia (honey-dipped orange cookies), galaktoboureko (custard filling inside filo dough, topped with honey and cinnamon syrup) and other desserts.
Online orders, accepted during festival hours, can be placed at StNicholas.org/Order.
Guests also can place orders on-site. Tent seating will be available.
The free festival, a tradition for more than 45 years, also showcases Greek music and dance troupe performances.
Hours are 4-8:30 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Info: 610-867-1327.
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Wilson
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, at 319 S. 20th St. in Wilson, will host its biannual Greek Food Fest Friday, Sept. 27, through Sunday, Sept. 29.
The free festival, which has been a tradition for about 50 years, features several homemade Greek specialties for sale along with Greek music and dance performances.
Greek favorites, made from scratch in the church’s kitchen, include platters such as Athenian chicken, lamb shanks (served with orzo), roast chicken (served with string beans and rice pilaf), souvlaki (skewers of marinated pork on a bed of rice) moussaka (layered sliced eggplant, potatoes, ground beef, onions, tomatoes, seasonings and topped with bechamel sauce) and pastitsio (layered macaroni, ground beef and cheese, topped with bechamel sauce and baked to golden brown). All platters include a small Greek salad and roll.
Other menu highlights include gyros, Greek salad, dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), souvlaki sandwiches and spinach and cheese pies.
For those with a sweet tooth, the festival also serves up a variety of homemade desserts, including galaktoboureko (custard pastry in phyllo, baked and topped with honey syrup), kourambiedes (sweet butter and almond cookies, topped with powdered sugar), karidopita (rich walnut spice cake with a delicate honey syrup), kataifi rolls (shredded wheat pastry filled with walnuts, topped with honey syrup) and baklava (layers of phyllo and walnuts, baked and topped with honey syrup).
Items can be ordered on site or in advance online at http://easton-greek-festival.square.site. Outdoor dining under a tent is available, and takeout is also an option.
The rain-or-shine festival will be held 5-9 p.m. Sept. 27, noon to 9 p.m. Sept. 28 and noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 29.
Traditional Greek dance performances by the church’s youth will be held at 6 p.m. Sept. 27 and 28 and 1 p.m. Sept. 29. Info: 610-253-8147.
