Aurora festival offers a taste of Greece
Nothing beats having food that has an authentic and homemade taste, and Sharon White, a resident of Yorkville, found that in a Greek Orthodox church in Aurora this weekend.
“We are here on several occasions and we generally come every day on weekends when they are open,” said White when she and a group of friends appreciated lunch last Friday during the Aurora Greek Fest at the Greek Greek church St. Athanasios at 1855 E. Fifth Ave. in Aurora.
The event, which took place from Friday to Sunday, offered food, entertainment and more.
“We have plans for tomorrow and Sunday is also in our schedule,” said White on Friday. “It’s as good or better than any Greek restaurant, and I donate anyone who only obtains only one dessert.”
The semi -annual event – held in spring and fall – serves as a major fundraising for the church as well as a way to present to members of the community, the organizers said.
More than 120 volunteers work every day, the festival takes place. One of them last Friday was Phil Nassos de Naperville, who supervised the Grill team working outside the church.
“We are going to do around 700 chickens this weekend and around 2,000 souvlaki,” he said, watching Souvlaki skewers on the grill on Friday. “We started to marinate them a few days ago.”
Another volunteer, Christina Rasapis de Yorkville, said that she has been working on the festival for over 20 years and that the most popular bakery article, year after year, is probably the Baklava.
“It is the most popular but also the most complicated to do,” she said. “People appreciate things here are homemade. We see a lot of the same people at the same time in spring and fall. When they leave in the spring, they tell us “We will see you in a few months and of course they arise. »»
The officials said that over the three days, more than 3,500 were to attend, with more than 80% of the local community.
Co-president Tracey Collins de Naperville said that the event had more than a 25-year story and that classics like Greek chicken, Souvlaki, Moussaka and Gyrosals were of course on the menu this weekend, as well as new articles, including a vegetarian dinner and new dessert options.
“We changed the marinade on the chicken and made it a little more lemony this time, but we offer the same good food,” she said at the party.
A new non -profit organization, Naperville responds to veterans, has been selected to receive some of the event products, said Collins.
“This is something we started this year-giving part of the profits to a local organization. In May, we gave VFW in Naperville and the American Legion in Aurora,” she said.
Another change this fall was the addition of a few sellers, especially those who sell jewelry and honey and someone who offers makeup.
Ineke Pelella de Naperville said that last Friday, his fourth time coming to the Greek festival in Aurora.
“Gyrosals are my favorites. They are wonderful, ”she said. “I tend to opt for the same things. I love it is authentic and I like to come here because I know things are done with love. ”
David Sharos is an independent journalist for the Beacon-News.
