Oakland Greek Festival Is Off The Hook, Travel To Greece in Oakland
The food is the best! Gyros in Greece are much different, they don't have ground meat, but they are excellent just the same. They serve; Gyros; ground meat, tomato, onion, and tzatziki sauce -yogurt, sour cream, garlic & cucumber, served with pita bread), Spanakopita; Spinach & feta pie in phyllo, Tyropitakia; Feta Cheese Pie Triangles in phyllo, Loukaniko; Greek Sausage; Cooked on grill with oregano and lemon), this year they added a treat; Avgolemono Soup; Greek Lemon Chicken Soup. All of which I eat on my first day! I'm still full. It's not everyday you get this quality of Greek food in one location. These are not trained professionals in the kitchen, they are authentic Greek grandmothers showing off their talents (maybe with a little grandma to grandma, or yaya to yaya competition) in the kitchen handing down there skills and tradition to the next generation.
There is also Souvlakin; marinated chunks of meat on little skewers Chicken and beef, Greek Halloumi; cheese grilled, topped with capers salad dressing, Dolmathes; stuffed Grape leaves, Greek salad; lettuce, tomatoes, onions, olives, feta cheese, vinaigrette, and to my surprise they had a Greek salad in a pita with my favorite salad dressing 'Greco Fusion' from Elio's Family Restaurant (The Eliopoulos's) they now bottle and sell. Ironically they had an AD at the Gyro booth for the dressings that I made (Photos, layout and printing). They happen to be a customer of mine, I made the restaurant and the dressings website eliosfoods.com and eliosdining.com
If you end the day with a Greek espresso be prepared to have something that resembles mud in the bottom of your cup, Greek style they don't filter out the grounds. When you go to a Greek festival be prepared to do as the Greeks do. What I love about the Oakland Greek Festival is the atmosphere, they import a Mykonos type windmill as you walk through the front door, the center piece is the beautiful Greek Temple, with rows of pillars, Greek blue windows. Inside the temple is one large room where a wispier will echo throughout the temple, religious icons painted on a copper sealing. Not many know but the rocks are also imported from Greece.
You can dance to several bands, watch period dressed Greek dancers, while you sip on a Imported Greek wine or American/Greek wine made in California; Lolonis, they even have Retsina - defiantly an an acquired taste. Or if you prefer there is micro brew, and Mythos; a Imported Greek logger. And of course, there are plenty of non-alcoholic beverages including a Iced Frappé coffee. Lots of vendors selling Greek Imports, cloths, jewelry, religious icons, paintings, photography, tee shirts, music, etc. There are also cooking demonstrations, if you want to try your hand in cooking Greek style.
The people are fun to work with, they are all members, or friends of the church and volunteer (Like I do). I always volunteer to bartend, proceeds go to build their church, it's a great cause, and event, usually packed out.
The Oakland Greek Festival is as close to Greece you will get in America. You can get discount coupons from there website www.oaklandgreekfestival.com/ Elio's, and Luke's Grill in San Leandro www.yelp.com/biz/lukes-grill-san-leandro havesome Greek dishes for those of you who crave Greek food in betweenGreek Festivals. Or you don't have a Yaya to whip up something for you. The next festival up, local to me is the Castro Valley usally inOctober. The Festival's sometimes hosted in Hayward at the Centennial Hall. I prefer when it's out doors in Castro Valley at their church,but with the weather so unpredictable it's a safer bet for them inside.It's another place to enjoy great Greek food, family and entertainment.I typically bartend there too. Hey, it's easier than working the salad bar like I did one year. www.cvresurrection.org
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Posted by StacyPoulos.com at 5/24/2010 1:01 PM 
Categories: California, Eat Pray Love Laugh, Festivals and Fairs
Tags: Greek Food Greek dance lessions Kids. Greek Festivals California Oakland Greek Festival Lolonis Greek wine Bay Area Fun Travel To Greece
Categories: California, Eat Pray Love Laugh, Festivals and Fairs
Tags: Greek Food Greek dance lessions Kids. Greek Festivals California Oakland Greek Festival Lolonis Greek wine Bay Area Fun Travel To Greece
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