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Greek Festival

The Weekend of Greek Eats and Treats

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There will be dancing !

OPA ! That’s the most overheard phrase at this weekend’s Dayton Greek Festival.

This Food Adventure has been a fixture in the Miami Valley for 61 years.  It is the perfect time for Daytonians to eat, dance, sing and celebrate Greek culture.  It promises to be a weekend full of good food and drink.

 

HERE’s THE SKINNY on THE GREEK FESTIVAL:

—Festival location:
The grounds of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church
500 Belmonte Park North
(next to the Dayton Art Institute)

Preparing Desserts

Preparing Desserts

Festival Hours:


Friday, September  6       11 am to 11 pm
Saturday, September 7    11 am to 11 pm
Sunday, September 8      11 am to 6 pm

— Friday 11am- 5pm admission is free
5 – 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday all day, admission is $2.

 

GREEK FEST ATTRACTIONS:

There will be live music !

  • Food and pastries, imported beers and wines

  • Unique imported boutique items

  • Cooking demonstrations

  • Kids area “Zorba zone”

  • Church tours

  • Live music

  • Dance performances

 

PASTICHIO

MUST EATS at THE DAYTON GREEK FEST:​

—PASTICHIO:
Layers of Greek pasta, sauteed ground beef and topped with a rich cream sauce (bechamel).  This is a Greek version of lasagna.  It is delicious and the flavor is unique.

 

—LAMB GYRO:

Lamb Gyro

Flavorful lamb,  grilled and served on pita bread topped with tomatoes, onions and tzatziki sauce.  Truth be told, getting a couple of these is probably our favorite tradition.

 

—LOUKOUMADES (Honey Puffs):
Little “Greek donuts,”  these puffs of fried dough melt in your mouth.  A huge hit with kids and adults.

 

Honey Puffs

—GREEK LAMB SHANK DINNER:
Delicious roasted lamb shank served with rice pilaf, green beans, Greek salad and bread.  This is the big specialty of the festival.

​

—TRIGONAS – TIROPITA:
Blended cheeses wrapped in a buttered fillo dough.  The result is a triangle shaped pastry to go filled with hot cheese.

​

—TRIGONAS -SPANAKOPITA:

Trigonas


Spinach and feta filling wrapped in a buttered fillo dough.  This triangle shaped dough appetizer is great on the go, but be careful, the spinach inside is hot if you get a fresh one.

—BAKLAVA
Layers of fillo with a filling of chopped walnuts and cinnamon, covered with syrup.  This is the most popular dessert at the festival.  Don’t leave without getting a few.

​

Lots of different spellings

—KATAIFI
Shredded wheat-like buttered pastry topped with walnuts and almonds, covered with syrup.  This is the dark horse on the dessert menu.  You need to give it a try.

This is one of Dayton’s top festivals. If you have not experienced it, you are missing out on some fun.  The party is hopping on Friday and Saturday nights.  Lots of fun and people watching. 

If you do not like crowds, may we suggest you slip in on Saturday or Sunday at 11am .  The crowd will be light and the food lines will be short.  Parking will be easier too.

**SHUTTLE SERVICE **
We encourage you foodies to use the free shuttle service. The shuttle begins Friday at 5pm, and will run all week-end, from Grandview Hospital employee parking on Shaw Ave. Guests will be dropped off at the Festival entrance.

Thank you for reading this week’s Food Adventure installment.  Find us posting food related articles each and every week, EXCLUSIVELY on Dayton Most Metro.

Like Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Spanakopita

The outside of the church

Follow the gyro smell

Inside the Church

Gyro Central

Pastichio

Fresh Baklava

Honey Puffs

Our Trifecta

Kaitdaifi

Trigonas cheese and spinach

Lamb Gyro

OPA! Dancing, Music, Gyro’s and Pastries

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maxresdefault-1The 2015 Greek Festi val is here. The families of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church welcome you to the annual Greek Festival, Friday-Sunday Sep- tember 11, 12 and 13. The church and festival grounds are located at 500 Belmonte Park North, next to the Dayton Art Institute.!

Hours: FridayandSaturday,11a.m.to11p.m.,andSunday11a.m.to6p.m.

Admission is: Free on Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For the rest of the weekend, admission is $2 per person; children under 12 are free. Folks who wish to beat the crowds will want to visit the festival in the afternoon hours of any of its 3 days.

!Free Parking and Bus Shuttle Service: Parking is available on the streets surrounding the church. Take advantage of the FREE parking and bus shuttle service which begins on Friday at 5 p.m. at the Grandview Hospital Employee Lot on Shaw Avenue or top 2 floors of hospital’s in- door parking garage; Grafton Medical Center Lot, Forest & Grand; or Schrimpf Eye Center Lot at 330 Forest.– shuttles will run during festival hours every hour on the half hour and drop you off at the door.

!What to do at the Festival? For starters – you’ll enjoy traditional foods from the treasured recipes of our parishioners: pastitsio (the Greek version of lasagna), moussaka (eggplant casse- role), dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), lamb and chicken dinners slow-roasted in a flavorful sauce, and delicious gyro pita-wrapped sandwiches. If meatless dishes are preferred, try our vegetarian pastitsio, spinach and cheese pies in phyllo dough, veggie gyros, Greek salads topped with feta cheese and Kalamata olives. Always a hit with the kids are Skyline Chili Coneys, Greek fries and Greek Pizza. Enjoy craft beers, imported beers and wines with a va- riety of hors d’oeuvres. For dessert, numerous pastries, including the always-popular baklava and honey puffs are available.

Take a tour of our beautiful Byzantine-style church which includes a short presentation on the Eastern Orthodox faith. Our Grecian Boutique carries jewelry and other imported items including coin skirts, headbands and wristbands.

Cooking demonstrations are held throughout the weekend. The Zorba Zone will entertain children beginning at 5pm on Friday, throughout the weekend.

!It’s all about the Music..The “Greek Tycoons” and dancers in traditional costumes will entertain all weekend and encourage YOU to join in on the fun.

!We are pleased and honored to bring our culture, heritage and traditions to the Miami Valley. Come be a Greek for a day! OPA!

!Visit: www.DaytonGreekFestival.com,ourFacebookpageorcallchurchoffice937/224-0601.

Holy Cannoli ! It’s all Greek to us !

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Italian Fest is this weekend !!

The weekend after Labor Day is always a big one in Dayton.  Why?  Because, that is the weekend of two huge annual festivals, The Italian Festival and The Greek Festival.
Both events expect to draw big crowds from Friday through Sunday.  Make sure you visit each venue for lots of authentic food items!

Here are some “must eats” that The Big Ragu recommends from each festival for a perfect Food Adventure:

Italian Fest: Cannoli, Italian sausage, Raspberry Sparkletini and the stuffed shell dinner inside the office on Saturday night

Greek Fest: Gyros, baklava, pastisio (Greek lasagna), and the spinach and cheese trigona pies.

Did you ever know that you’re my Gyro ?

For directions and more details visit the respective websites:

www.ItalianFallFesta.com and DaytonGreekFestival.com

 

“Like” Food Adventures on Facebook HERE !

 

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Food Adventures Gears up for the 2011 Festival Season

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Let’s face it, summer is over.   Many are bummed over the fact that the outdoor dining patios are closing, and they have no more days left at the pool.  Ragu is no longer laying out topless, scaring young kids. But the end of summer also brings some good news: Fall Festival Season is upon us !!

We absolutely love festivals, and the fall is our favorite time as the big dogs of the fest world make their appearance.  Two of our favorite festivals, The Greek Fest and The Italian Festival kick off the fall season.

Why are they on the same weekend? We do not know why.  Do the organizers understand the misery they put us through and the nightmare of scheduling our Food Adventure weekend?  Why won’t one of these old cultures move their festival a week later?   We may start a petition to put it on the November ballot, so we can spread out our campaign of gluttony.

First up is our study of the Greek Festival (www.daytongreekfestival.com), which is held at the Greek Orthodox Church next to the Dayton Art Institute.  This huge festival recently started charging a $2 admission fee.  Let us give you a bit of wisdom, GO DURING THE DAY, unless you want to experience the madhouse crowd and sheer pandemonium of trying to find a parking space near this festival.

Trigonas, Greek beer, and Gyros

Sure you can visit the arts & craft area or admire the dancers or a statue.  We prefer, however, to admire the gyros, greek beer, and those little golden honey puffs.  Oh, did we mention the baklava and trigonas in the building area kick  Mt Olymp-ass?  The food is reasonably priced, with most items around $3-$6.  Another highlight is a tour of the Greek church, one of the more spectacular churches in this area.  Oh yea, NO FOOD in the church.  This festival offers a huge variety of Greek food, but for you less adventurous souls, there are Greek french fries, and Domino’s pizza’s “Greek slices.”  Ragu says go for the good stuff, like a lamb shank dinner.  You only get it once a year.

If you are the artsy type, then you may enjoy the Greek Band at night, and the traditional Greek dancing.  These dancers jump over napkins, and are better than our best erotic dance moves.  We love the Greeks, we are huge Telly Savalas fans from way back in the day.

On the other side of town is our other favorite festival, The Italian Fall Festa (www.italianfallfesta.com), held at Bella Villa Hall on County Line Road, not far from

Wine Booth at Dayton’s Italian Festival

the Greene.  Ragu has to come here, he is Italian for goodness sake.  Again, may we plead that you go there during the day, unless you like a brisk walk from the nearby armory, or enjoy walking blocks of streets lined with cars.  As you enter the fest, you may be greeted by the sound of Italian music from the live stage.

The outside grounds of the festival features such fare as Cavatelli, Italian sausages, sub-par pizza, calzones and soups.  However, some of our favorite items are found inside the hall building and not outside on the grounds.  Inside, the hall offers nightly dinners.  Friday is Baked Pasta night, and Saturday is stuffed shells night, while Sunday is spaghetti and meatballs.  You may even find Ragu working a meatball sub booth outside, or the beer and wine booth inside the hall.  Ragu has also been threatening to enter the spaghetti eating contest, held at 3pm on Sunday.

We love, and we mean love the cannoli at this fest.  In fact, you are guaranteed to gain 5 pounds by just walking into the pastry area.  We love gelato because of this festival,  the tasty treat.

A Perfect Cannoli

The pastries are homemade, but unfortunately a lot of the other outside area food is not.   So if you choose to eat outside, be sure to let the vino flow and the food may taste a bit better.  And while you are outside, try your hand at bocce ball, where you can reserve a court for a small fee.

So this upcoming weekend, with a gleam in our eye and food stains on our shirts, we say thank you Dayton, for another year of Festival Food Adventures.

What is your favorite food at these festivals? What are your experiences?  Please comment below!

Visit FOOD ADVENTURES  on Facebook by clicking here and “like” our page to become and official fan.

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Jane’s Best Bets (9/7 – 9/11)

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Photo Credit: Alli Shillito

This week, it’s all Greek to me.  Well, that’s not really the truth.  It’s only partially Greek, with a little Italian, a little German, and a little Hispanic, mixed in with many other things.  Variety is the spice of life, so if you want to spice up yours, check out some of these suggestions for things to do!

On Wednesday, make your way to Courthouse Square for The Square Is Where featuring Gary Hill (Solo Classic Rock).  Art lovers should hop on over to the University of Dayton’s Roesch Library Gallery for the University of Dayton Art Hop.  Looking to find a volunteer opportunity that matches your interests?  Consider attending Generation Dayton’s 2011 Volunteer Speed Match at the Dayton Racquet Club, where you will be able to “date” several non-profits in the area.  Also downtown, head to The Wine Gallery for their Weekly Wine Tasting or to the Trolley Stop for their Old Time Acoustic Jam.

On Thursday, there will be another “The Square Is Where” performance at Courthouse Square, which will feature Alabama Capital. If you are trying to eat healthier foods, consider making your way to the Centerville Farmers Market.  Head to McCormick & Schmick’s for their Greek Wine Dinner…make it a big fat party.  Although you may feel full afterwards, I don’t think it will make you permanently big and fat.  Don’t miss the nice weather and an opportunity to meet some of the players from the Dayton Silverback football team at Quaker Steak and Lube for their Bike Night.  Or head to Wings Sports Bar & Grille for their Weekly Cornhole Tournament.

Friday is when the Greek comes in – in a big fat way!  Go to the Dayton Greek Festival and be sure to eat a gyro…which is the result of butchering (unless you’re eating the vegetarian type) and whose name gets butchered on a regular basis.  The Italian also comes in with the Italian Fall Festa.  Both of these are awesome events that you do not want to miss.  They’re going on throughout the weekend, so make plans to head to one on Friday and the other on Saturday.  The Dayton Music Fest will be going on at a variety of locations this weekend to spotlight Dayton’s indie music scene.  So, music will also be ringing in your ears this weekend…perhaps literally with how loud speakers usually are!  (Please be sure to check out the link for a full listening of bands playing this weekend!)  All you ballerinas who have dreamed of making it big should put on your tutus and head to Victoria Theatre for the Dayton Ballet II Open Auditions.  And if you’re interested in theater, check out The Oldest Profession at the Dayton Theatre Guild or God of Carnage at The Loft Theatre.

On Saturday, you will again be able to get some fresh and healthy produce at the Troy Farmers Market or at the PNC 2nd Street Market, where there will be live music by Eli Everhart.  In addition to the Dayton Greek Festival and the Italian Fall Festa, you will be able to head to RiverScape for the Hispanic Heritage Festival.  If you’re German (or even if you’re not), participate in the German Wine Tasting at Arrow Wine in Centerville.  I’m usually used to German beer, but I’m guessing they have good wine too!  In addition, don’t miss some great live music as part of Dayton Music Fest…there are TONS of options at a variety of places including Canal Street Tavern, Oregon Express, Trolley Stop, and Blind Bob’s.

On Sunday, if you didn’t have a chance because you were working on some home improvement project (or something like that), be sure to check out either the Italian Fall Festa or the Dayton Greek Festival.  There are a couple other festivals going on including Guitar Fest at Stubbs Amphitheater and the Ohio Renaissance Festival.  Enjoy locally grown produce and locally made crafts at the Garden Station Sunday Market.  Make your way to Sinclair for A Day of Remembrance in order to observe the 10th Anniversary of 9/11.  At the Dayton Art Institute, enjoy one of their exhibits, including Exhibit: ‘Trash? Look Again’ and From Romance to Rifles: Winslow Homer’s Illustrations of 19th-Century America.  And if you feel like heading to your local bar or sitting on your couch to watch NFL football, that is perfectly okay too.

And now it’s time for the Dumb Joke of the Week. Drum roll please…

Wear short sleeves…support your right to bare arms!

These are just a few best bets from the DMM Calendar.  There are plenty more events listed there, so if you haven’t, I encourage you to check it out today!  Also, if you have an event to share or promote, please submit it– it’s great marketing and better yet, it’s FREE!  And finally, if you have a dumb joke to share, I’m all ears!

Have a great week Dayton!