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WHEELING -- The parishioners of St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church are ready to welcome the public to their 22nd Annual Grecian Food Festival beginning Wednesday, July 26, through Saturday, July 29, in Center Wheeling.
The festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
"It is our hope that our guests have a wonderful experience at our food festival," said Gus Kayafas, festival director. "We're eager to share our zeal for the gift of life, love of fellowship and hospitality with them."
This year's festival brings new menu items. The Grecian Festival menu for 2023 has expanded to more than 40 items. Included with all of the traditional festival favorites are new selections such as:
ö Soutzoukakia Dinner, baked Greek meatballs cooked in rich red wine sauce served with rice pilaf and green beans;
ö Opa Fries, tavern fries topped with gyro Mezze and tzatziki sauce;
ö Greek Chili Fries, tavern fries topped with Famous MP Coney Island Chili Sauce;
ö Greek Chili Dog, an all-beef hot dog topped with onion, mustard, feta and topped with Famous MP Coney Island Chili Sauce;
ö Salted Caramel Frappe, traditional Greek iced coffee topped with cold foam blended with delicious homemade salted caramel served at the Kafenio -- Greek coffee house.
In addition to great food and fun for everyone, there will also be free cooking classes every day of the festival. Classes will be held at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on all four festival days this year with three different lessons:
ö Kimadopita, a Mediterranean minced meat phyllo pie with a delicious filling of ground beef and pork wrapped in phyllo will be demonstrated Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 2 p.m. by Maria Kayafas.
ö Tzatziki, a creamy cucumber yogurt dip (or sauce) made from simple ingredients including strained yogurt (or Greek yogurt), cucumbers, garlic and fresh herbs such as dill or mint. Demonstrations will be Thursday and Saturday at 4 p.m. by Barb Landers.
ö Dolmathes (stuffed grape leaves), a great appetizer made from tender vine leaves wrapped into little rolls and stuffed with meat, rice and fresh herbs. This will be demonstrated on Wednesday and Friday at 4 p.m. by Barb Landers.
"Among the Greek culture, there is a tradition of Philotimo, the love of doing good for people," said Maria Kayafas. "This comes across in our cooking, our desire to show hospitality to guests, neighbors and family as we eagerly prepare Greek dishes to share our love for others. It's just another way to share our culture."
Landers will be the festival's newest cooking class presenter this year.
"I attribute my culinary skills to my mother and yiayia," Landers said. "My grandparents immigrated from the island of Karpathos, Greece, and taught me many recipes I use today.
"I look forward to presenting two traditional Greek recipes for those who wish to learn more about Greek culinary culture."
As always, the festival will be all about Greek culture and traditions, as well as faith, food and fun.
The authentic food, electric atmosphere and the contagious hospitality makes this one festival no one will want to miss this summer. There is something for everyone to enjoy, and the parishioners cannot wait to share their faith, food and fun with everyone. The festive outdoor setting allows visitors to enjoy the famous gyro sandwiches, Greek tavern fries, Wings of Ikaros or chicken kabob. A flaming aged-cheese called Saganaki will be served daily after 4 p.m. The youth of our community prepare golden fried honey puffs, lemonade and baklava sundaes by day and by night.
The Agape Dancers will perform daily the exciting and colorful dances from various regions of Greece to live authentic Greek music provided by an Ohio Valley favorite, "The Greek Company" and Greek DJ George Yamalis.
In addition to outdoor activities, available upstairs in the Hellenic Center Hall, there will be a variety of festival favorites such as roast lamb and chicken, pastitsio, moussaka, spanakopita, dolmathes (stuffed grape leaves) and Greek village salad, along with a plentiful selection of homemade delicious Greek pastries. Flavorful food items, only authentic to the Greek culture, are being offered. Vendors will also be on hand which will allow guests to bring home a piece of Greece.
However, parishioners are eager to share knowledge of the Orthodox Christian faith with every single visitor. All visitors to the food festival are urged to consider learning more about the Orthodox Christian Church by visiting our St. John's Bookstore, participating in one of the church tours, listening in on one of the Youth and Young Adult Choir Showcase liturgical chant demonstrations, and, of course, conversing with Fr. Demetrios with any questions about the ancient faith.
The sanctuary will be open at noon, 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. during the festival for guided tours. The Byzantine youth choir will perform daily at 4:45 p.m.
Back at the Taverna this year is a delicious new item, a mezze (appetizer in Greek), of chopped gyro meat, sauteed on the grill with peppers, onions and feta cheese and served with fried pita triangles.
The popular Kafenio, a Greek coffee house, returns this year with anticipated fanfare.
"We are excited to bring back this year a festival favorite first introduced in 2021," said 19-year-old Danyelle Dunlevy. "You don't want to miss the Kafenio for an iced Frappe, our newest salted caramel frappe, baklava cheesecake and ladopsomo, a cinnamon sugar fried bread."
Again for this year, all food sales will be in-person, with no pre-orders in the upstairs Hellenic Center. Food can be packaged for visitors by the friendly volunteers to take home or enjoy indoors or in one of the outdoor dining tents.
Follow the festival on Facebook at Grecian Festival for the latest updates and news, or go online and browse www.grecianfest.com for more information or to download a menu. Call 304-232-GYRO (4976) with any questions. Like the event on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GrecianFest
The festival is located within the Centre Market Historic District in Wheeling, and there will be plenty of free parking available on Chapline Street and in the lots across from the church.