NEWS

Greek Fest Express a sold-out success

By PETE FONTAINE

Posted 5/26/21

By PETE FONTAINE The wide smile on Theofanis "Frank" Markos's face told the entire story - last weekend's Greek Fest Express was a sold-out success. "We did well," Markos offered Sunday evening after the last gyro sandwiches and souvlaki dinners were

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NEWS

Greek Fest Express a sold-out success

PROUD PARISHIONERS: Ladies like Afrodite Fotopoulos, Dina Fotopoulos, Garifalia Melanis, Betty Ann Andriotis and Kiki Melanis were among the many members of the Church of the Annunciation who volunteered in a number of capacities during last weekend’s Greek Fest Express in Cranston.

(Herald photos by Pete Fontaine)

CLASSIC COOKS: The Rev. Nick Lanzourakis, assistant pastor at Church of the Annunciation, enjoys a lighter moment with these men who used their skills to cook chicken and souvlaki kabobs during the Greek Fest Express. The group includes, from left, John Fotopoulos, Paul Pappas, James Haritos and Anthony George.

SPECIAL SLICER: Jonathan Mitrelis slices some of the gyro meat from one of 12 spiral grills that were used to fill countless orders for the highly popular gyro sandwich last weekend in Cranston.

GREEK GOODIES: Giulian Campopiano holds a shopping bag filled with orders of delicious Greek food and pastries that his family members Anita Campopiano, Kassiane Campopiano and Anthony George enjoyed after ordering online during the Greek Fest Express.

Posted Wednesday, May 26, 2021 1:40 pm

By PETE FONTAINE

The wide smile on Theofanis “Frank” Markos’s face told the entire story – last weekend’s Greek Fest Express was a sold-out success.

“We did well,” Markos offered Sunday evening after the last gyro sandwiches and souvlaki dinners were packaged and later picked up during the unique online-ordering event. “We sold out of almost everything, so on behalf of our Church of the Annunciation family, we thank each and every person that supported this event.”

In keeping with what has become a storied tradition at the Cranston-based Greek Orthodox parish, many parishioners turned out to help, grilling specially seasoned and cut pieces of chicken and pork for the famous shish-kabob dinners and slicing the loaves of lamb and beef that are cooked on 12 spirals for the gyro sandwiches.

“We actually had families in our volunteer workforce,” Markos said, noting that Andrew Mihailides and his wife, Lise, brought their daughter Juliana and son Nicholas to help with grilling the pita bread that’s used to wrap the gyros and souvlaki sandwiches. “Our parishioners are proud of their Greek heritage and enjoy sharing it with the Rhode Island community in general.”

And they again did so, Markos offered, with exceptional teamwork.

Experienced restaurateurs were among the volunteers. Laki and Betty Ann Andriotis once owned and operated Crusty’s Pizza on Warwick Avenue, and Kiki Melanis and her husband, Bill, have long operated Bill’s Pizza in the Phenix section of West Warwick.

Likewise, former pizza shop owner John Fotopoulos and Paul Pappas, whose family enjoyed years of success at the former Arbi Inn in Cranston, utilized their skills and years of experience during last weekend’s event, as did James Harritos, former chef and owner of the Bank Café in Pawtuxet Village.

Whether it was an actual dinner or items from the selection of pastry, Markos said, “we sold out of almost everything.”

When asked if the Greek Fest Express will return in 2022, Markos said: “Oh yes. And we’ll be back sooner than that with our annual Cranston Greek Festival in September.”

That gathering, which was canceled last year because of the COVID-19 crisis, is among Rhode Island’s most popular food events. Markos said additional information will soon be available.