Opa! Two local church festivals will soon be serving up gyros, souvlaki, moussaka and other Greek favorites.
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, May 14, through Sunday, May 17.
The event features several handmade Greek specialties for sale, including pastitsio (Greek baked pasta dish with ground meat and bechamel sauce), moussaka (layers of sauteed slices of eggplant, ground beef flavored with tomatoes, onions and cinnamon and covered with a custard sauce sprinkled with grated cheese) and Athenian chicken (boneless and skinless chicken breast, 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.
Other menu highlights include gyros, Greek salad, avgolemono soup, pork or chicken souvlaki, pork or chicken kabob sandwiches and 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 (creamy semolina custard in crisp, buttery phyllo, baked golden and soaked in light, lemon-honey syrup), kataifi (shredded phyllo pastry rolled with spiced walnuts, baked to golden crisp and finished with sweet honey syrup drizzle) 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. May 14, 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. May 15 and 16 and noon to 6 p.m. May 17. 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, May 29, through Sunday, May 31.
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 lamb giouvetsi (Greek-style braised lamb shank with orzo and string beans), roast chicken (oven-baked half 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.
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, at 319 S. 20th St. in Wilson, hosts a biannual Greek Food Fest, which features traditional Greek dance performances.
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 baklava, galaktoboureko, 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 ravani (semolina-based cake soaked in a sweet syrup).
Items can be ordered on site or in advance online at http://easton-greek-festival.square.site/s/order. Outdoor dining under a tent is available, and takeout is also an option.
The rain-or-shine festival, which also features church tours, vendors and traditional Greek dancing by the church’s youth, will be held 5-9 p.m. May 29, noon to 9 p.m. May 30 and noon to 5 p.m. May 31. Info: 610-253-8147.
