THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, May 6, 1995 TAG: 9505060002
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
Of goodness-knows-how-many church and school bazaars each year in Hampton Roads, the annual Greek Festival at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church on Granby Street near Wards Corner is the liveliest and biggest.
The 1995 celebration, now in its third day, looks to be the best in the festival's nearly four decades. Tens of thousands of festivalgoers will have had a high old time and sated their appetites beneath a large white tent when the fund-raising marathon for the church and sundry charities ends at twilight tomorrow.
Mediterranean cuisine is in these days. But, of course, it has has ever been in with Greeks and Greek-Americans. What better place than the Greek Festival to learn why?
Like other peoples who flocked - indeed, still flock - to America by the millions, Greek immigrants did not leave their culinary tastes behind in the old country - be that Cyprus or mainland Greece.
Praise be for such blessings. The United States in the 1990s is a paradise for adventurous eaters. Who other than Americans have so many different foods - covering the spectrum from inedible to incredible to exquisite - from which to choose? This is a country with as many varieties of pork barbecue alone as there are states. There's barbecued lamb at the Greek Festival.
Dozens of women of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church have spent months preparing souvlaki, moussaka, pastisio, spanakopita, tiropita, baklava, galatoboureko and kourambiethes for consumption to the accompaniment of exotic sounds and Mach 2-speed of Grecian music. You don't have to know how to pronounce any of the fare, much less spell it correctly, to relish it.
The Greek presence in Hampton Roads dates from the turn of the century. The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church congregation is composed of several hundred families. Among them are names long familiar - Gretes, Christopoulos, Vourlas, Renesis, Bacalis, Constant, Kotaridas, Soureas, Polizos, Douros, Forchas, Yeonas. . . .
Greek-Americans flourish here. The Greek Festival's exuberance joyfully confirms their community-enriching vitality. by CNB