Temecula Greek Festival... OPA!

Greece is one of our favorite countries. We miss being there so this afternoon of All Things Greek was a nice substitute.

The culture of Greece has several Core Concepts. My favorites, which were on display today, are: pride, leisure, hospitality and sincerity. Wow.
The band, Synthesi, clearly knew how to keep its audience musically content, playing classic Greek tunes.


Honestly, it was the food that had the biggest draw. All food served at the festival was authentic Greek cuisine prepared by the members of Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. I had Moussaka and delicious green beans. The description for Moussaka was spot-on! "Perhaps best described as an eggplant lasagna, this dish will leave you wondering where moussaka has been all of your life. Roasted eggplant, potato, zucchini, ground beef, and a bechamel sauce are all layered and baked for a delicious dish that can heal the soul. With a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg, this dish is truly unique and delicious." Steve had a gyro. All was exceptional and very reasonably priced.
The shopping was fun, too. For some reason, I am always drawn to these blue baubles. Just what does the Greek eye symbol mean? For years, tourists to Greece have snapped up the charms, these all-seeing eyeballs, which are supposed to help ward off the “evil eye.” The term refers to negative energy caused by another's jealousy, which Greeks believe can cause minor troubles and even physical symptoms for the victim. Yep, drawn to them!


No day is complete without coffee and Greek coffee is especially unique.
Making traditional Greek coffee requires a specific style of coffee pot, called a briki, and a fine grind of coffee beans. It can be served as sweet as you like it, and you can skip the sugar altogether. Much like many European styles of coffee, it's designed to be shared with family and friends and is often enjoyed slowly while visiting.
Greek coffee is served with grounds in the cup and often a demitasse cup. The grounds are allowed to settle as the coffee is slowly sipped. This is the mud that one finds when finished. It takes a while to get used to.
Dessert was Ekmek Kataifi, described as an all-weather Greek dessert made with layers of kataifi dough baked until crispy and golden, bathed in lemon scented syrup, topped with creamy thick custard and whipped cream and garnished with cinnamon and walnuts. Mouthwatering, indeed!
Outside of Greece, this was the most Greek people we've had the pleasure to be around in a very long time. What a truly delightful way to spend an afternoon.
“The Greeks were the first people in the world to play,
and they played on a great scale.”
-Edith Hamilton, The Greek Way

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