Ever since a tropical storm forced cancellation of the 2009 Cranston Greek Festival, the Church of the Annunciation has been presenting a mini-version of its storied food fest that’s held every September on the parish’s spacious grounds at 175 Oaklawn Avenue.
It’s the Greek Food Fair, a unique two-day event featuring unlimited Greek foods and pastry as well as culture that will return this weekend on Saturday and Sunday but will be held inside – not outdoors like the three-day event in September – the Rev. Peter G. Mihailides Center.
“Our famous pastry makers have been working overtime,” mused Paul Pliakas, a public relations guru for the Greek Orthodox parish. “We’ll have all the popular pastries at this weekend’s food fest just like we offer in September.”
However, as Pliakas cautioned, “With that in mind, we always tend to sell out of all famous treats like baklava and Koulourakia. Therefore, we’re advising people to come early, enjoy a delicious Greek lunch or dinner – have some dessert – and take some pastry home to have with your morning coffee or evening tea.”
This weekend’s Greek Food Fest will be held Saturday, April 28 from 11 a.m. to 7p.m. and Sunday, April 29 from The menu, as Pliakas pointed out, will have everything from roasted lamb, pork souvlaki, roasted chicken and such special side dishes as spanakopita (spinach pie), tyropita (cheese pie) and dolmades, rice stuff pilaf, grape leaves as well as oven roasted potatoes and Greek salads.
And, as Pliakas said with a wide smile on his face: “Of course, we’ll have our famous gyros sandwiches ready and waiting.
When asked to explain what exactly that offering is, Pliakas offered: “It’s a blend of beef and lamb, bread crumbs and spices grilled and served with onions, tomatoes, tzatziki sauce on grilled pita bread.”
In keeping with tradition, this weekend’s Greek Food Fair will offer to-go lunches and dinners as well as those caloric creations called Greek pastries that the parish’s all-volunteer baking brigade has been preparing especially for the two-day food and fun fest.
The complete lunch/dinner menu includes: roasted lamb plate, pork souvlaki plate, roasted chicken plate and pastitsio. There will be side offerings like spinach pie, tyropita, dolmades, rice pilaf, oven roasted potatoes, Greek salads, French fries and soft drinks.
Pliakas said the Greek Pastry Shoppe will have baklava, galaktoboureko, rizogalo, koulourakia, karydopita, kourabiethes, regular coffee, Greek coffee, frappes and baklava Sundaes.
He also issued a reminder for people to make their calendars for Sept. 7-9, that’s when the Cranston Greek Festival will return to the Church of the Annunciation’s always jam-packed grounds.
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