By By JESSICA SIEFF / Niles Daily Star
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Nick Giannakakis and his family have been bringing mouthwatering food to the Niles area for years with their family owned and operated restaurants Prime Table Restaurant and Millennium Steakhouse. And for the past four years Giannakakis has been in charge of the traditional Greek dishes served up to Michiana during the annual Greek Festival at Saint Andrew Greek Orthodox Church in South Bend, Ind.
This year's festival, which begins today and ends Sunday, will surely be no different.
"The Greek annual festival is a community event," said Father George Konstantopoulos of Saint Andrews. "The entire parish is involved in putting this on every year."
Visitors to the Greek festival can get a taste of authentic Greek food like Spanakopita – spinach and cheese baked in flaky layers of phyllo dough. Chicken Souvlaki – a marinated chicken ka-bob served with Greek salad and Greek style beans. And this year's new addition to the menu: Pastichio – a baked pasta with ground beef and cheese and bechamel sauce.
"Our people have been cooking for days, so you're going to get the real stuff," said Konstantopoulos.
Giannakakis, chairperson for this year's festival and Tim Karamalegos – co-chair, were busy with preparations on Thursday. "We start the setups on Monday morning," Giannakakis said. "Cooking starts on Friday."
The menu for the festival is filled with cultural tastes and treats. "Of the whole menu, because it's not an every day thing, the roast leg of lamb is a favorite," said Giannakakis. "And to enhance their favorite dinner, there's also Grecian beer and imported Greek wine." There are also plenty of desserts to pair up with a cup of Greek coffee including the infamous Grecian delicacy Baklava, Koulouria ('buttery twisted shortbread) and Loukoumathes – one of Giannakakis' personal favorites. "You can never eat enough," he said.
The festival has been, "an opportunity in the last 33 years for the community at large to enjoy the Greek culture," said Konstantopoulos.
Along with the food there will be plenty of music and dance. The church's bookstore will be open filled with specialty gifts and tours of the church will be available as well. (Those interested in a tour are required to wear appropriate attire.)
Both Konstantopoulos and Giannakakis were hoping for a good turnout and good weather. Konstantopoulos said turnout is consistent each year and added that this year they've added the option to pay by credit or debit card for food or gifts, to accommodate more visitors.
The festival is "one of a kind," said Giannakakis, who adds he hopes plenty of people come down for the celebration this weekend, then disappeared back into the kitchen.