A sampling of events over the next two weeks alone has plenty of worthy examples:
• The Italian Fall Festa (Sept. 11-13, www.italianfallfesta.com)
• The West Carrollton Buttercream Festival (Sept. 11-12, www.buttercreamfestival.com)
• Beavercreek Popcorn Festival (Sept. 12-13, http://beavercreekpopcornfestival.org)
• Cyclops Fest (Sept. 12, http://cyclopsfest.com)
• Huber Heights Marigold Festival (Sept. 12, www.hhoh.org/income-tax/item/351-marigold-festival.html)
• Ohio Fish and Shrimp Festival (Sept. 18-20, http://fwfarms.com/festival)
• Taste of Miami Valley (Sept. 18-19, http://tasteofmiamivalley.com)
• Preble County Pork Festival (Sept. 19-20, www.porkfestival.org)
• Taste of Troy (Sept. 19, www.troymainstreet.org)
Besides Oktoberfest at The Dayton Art Institute happening at the end of the month (which, in full disclosure, I help plan), my other favorite September food and drink festival takes place next door at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. The Greek Festival event, now in its 57th year, will take place Sept. 11-13.
Each year large crowds descend on the Grafton Hill mainstay to enjoy the authentic, delicious food that is prepared for weeks leading up to the event by a team of dedicated volunteers.
Each year organizers estimate about 50,000 pastries are sold and more than 20,000 gyros are enjoyed.
“Almost 5,000 pounds of Mousaka, Dolmathes and Pastitsio are made and sold every year. In 2014 we used over 200 gallons of Tzatziki sauce. We went through 800 pounds of feta cheese, 212 pounds of Kalamata olives, 1,600 pounds of ground beef … 4,000 pounds of Gyro meat throughout the weekend. We go through 25,000 pita’s over the weekend. Over 20,000 pieces of Spanekopita and Tiropita are sold as well,” said Deb Pulos, publicity chair for the festival who has been involved with the event since 1986.
And every homemade delicious bite goes to a good cause, with Pulos explaining that the festival is critical to the overall health of the church.
Bestsellers include Pastitsio (a baked pasta dish that’s like a Greek lasagna), Gyro sandwiches and Lamb shanks. Homemade deserts like Baklava (a sweet pastry made with nuts and honey) and Loukoumades (honey puffs) are also incredibly popular. The Greek coffee is a must to pair with any of the sweets and Greek beer and wines by the bottle are a great way to enhance just about any Mediterranean meal combination you could dream up.
Other items worth sampling include Dolmathes — a tasty combination of ground beef, ground pork and rice all wrapped in grape leaves, with herbs and lemon juice. The Greek salad is delicious and pairs well with a side of Lukániko (Greek sausage) and don’t get me (or anyone else familiar with them) started on the delicious, savory, flaky flavors that Spanekopita and Tiropitas (spinach and cheese pies) offer up.
This year fans will be happy to hear that Greek Pizza is back.
You can’t beat good food for a good cause, but when it’s this delicious it’s a no-brainer. Opa!
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