The 15th Annual Greek Festival runs March 4 - March 6, 2011 at The St. George Greek Orthodox Church located at 74-109 Larrea in Palm Desert. Ariana Savalas, daughter of late actor Telly Savalas, hosts this year's festival which invites everyone to be a Greek for a day.
The Palm Desert Greek Fest is a community celebration of Greek culture - from guided Church tours to Byzantine icons, live Greek music and traditional folk dancing, souvenirs, ethnic groceries, and religious items. The heart of this festival is the wonderful homemade Greek food and pastries created from generational, family recipes. The members of St. George prepare an assortment of authentic and traditional Greek style foods.
Back again this year is the signature Greek style lamb chops marinated and grilled served with Greek seasoned fries as well as Greek Chicken with lemon juice, olive oil and Greek oregano plus plenty of Gyros (thinly sliced lamb in a pita with a spicy Tzatziki yogurt sauce), feta cheese and Kalamata olives in a Greek Salad and plus Flaming Saganaki which is a unique dish made from Greek Kasseri cheese set ablaze with Greek Brandy until the top is bubbly and browned. The fire is quenched with refreshing tart lemon juice and served with a shout of "OPA!" just like in a traditional Greek village.
The ladies of the church have baked a wide selection of pastries and deserts, including world famous Baklava, Koulourakia (traditional Greek cookies), Kourabiethes (butter cookies dusted in powdered sugar) and Galatobouriko (Greek custard wrapped in filo pastry, sweetened with light syrup) plus Diples (Delicately rolled, pastry dough, crisped & drenched in honey & sprinkled with cinnamon and walnuts). Also, found in the Kafenio (Coffeehouse) are Loukoumathes (golden puffs of pastry, smothered in honey and sprinkled with cinnamon and walnuts) served with a cup of Greek Coffee.
The Festival is also serving Mezedes (appetizers), Pastitsio (seasoned ground beef and macaroni topped with a tasty Béchamel sauce), chicken and pork Soulvlakia (skewered and grilled over an open flame), Loukaniko a spicy Greek sausage, Dolmades (marinated grape leaves stuffed with rice and seasoned ground beef), and Spanakopita (filo pastry with spinach and cheese filling).
Try the authentic Greek grocery to take home a taste of Greece to your kitchen. The Bakaliko is the festival's answer to the old-time Greek general store. The shelves will be stocked with imported Greek food and sundry items direct from Greece, including specialty ingredients needed for Greek food and pastry preparation.
Entertainment Highlights:
In celebration of the 15th Anniversary year, Ariana Savalas will be the guest celebrity host. Ariana sings both in Greek & English and comes to the Greek Fest direct from the X-Factor in Greece where she was recently a guest performer for Simon Cowell's newest show. Live Greek music will be performed by "The Greeks" a traditional Greek Bouzouki Band performing from noon until festival closing daily. Traditional dancers will present for demonstrations of Greek folk dances at 2 pm, 4pm & 6pm both days. Festival attendees are encouraged to join in and spend a weekend in Greece.
An active Kids Area called Hercules Kids Zone with a bounce house, rock climber/slide and carnival games will be available as will an array of 20 vendors with exotic, Mediterranean wares. Complimentary guided church tours will be available at 12:30, 2:30, 4:30, 6:30 PM both days highlighting the award-winning, Byzantine mosaic artwork, iconography and the history of the ancient orthodox Christian faith.
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