Organizers and volunteers from two local churches are once again getting ready to serve up gyros, moussaka, souvlaki and other Greek specialties.
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Bethlehem
First, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, at 1607 W. Union Blvd. in Bethlehem, will host its biannual Greek Food Festival Thursday, Sept. 17, through Sunday, Sept. 20.
The event features several handmade Greek specialties for sale, including chicken or pork souvlaki, pastitsio (Greek-style pasta dish with ground meat and bechamel sauce, served with Greek-style string beans), moussaka (baked dish consisting of layers of sauteed slices of eggplant, ground beef flavored with tomatoes, onions and cinnamon, covered with a custard sauce and grated cheese, served with Greek-style string beans) and Athenian chicken (Baked boneless and skinless chicken breast, filled with spinach and feta, served with rice pilaf).
There are also sides such as green beans, dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), tiropita (baked filo puff swirl filled with a Greek cheese and herb blend) and Greek fries (with salt and oregano).
For those with a sweet tooth, parishioners and volunteers also will be making and selling bougatsa (flaky layers of golden phyllo filled with rich, creamy semolina custard and dusted with cinnamon and powdered sugar), baklava (crisp layers of buttery phyllo, walnuts and warm spices, baked and finished with a drizzle of sweet Greek honey syrup), kataifi (shredded phyllo pastry rolled with spiced walnuts, baked to a golden crisp, and finished with a drizzle of sweet honey syrup) and other desserts…