CANTON — A day after ordering a bounty of food at St. Haralambos Church at its annual Greek Fest, I was still raving to my wife about the pastitsio, baked lamb shank, stuffed grape leaves, spinach pie, gyro and assorted cookies.
Dishes and flavors were true to old-world Greek cuisine at the drive-thru event earlier this month.
Gyros ($12) were a clear step above others I've eaten, the meat tender and aromatic. Pastitsio ($12), baked pasta with ground beef and bechamel sauce, was a new discovery for me, the Greek lasagna instantly ranking among the most distinctively delicious dishes I've ever scarfed down. Baked lamb shank ($18), in a tomato-based broth, was another dynamite dish.
So I asked Georgia Paxos what makes the food so sensationally delicious. And it was just as I had suspected. Paxos, a church member who helps with Greek Fest, revealed the food was made from scratch by parishioners with recipes passed down over the generations.
Greek Fest resumes in July and August
And the church volunteers aren't finished yet. Two more Greek Fest drive-thrus are scheduled, from July 15-17 and Aug. 19-21.
So mark your calendars. The church is at 251 25th St. NW. For more information, visit https://cantongreekfest.com.
Or call the church office at 330-454‑7278.
Greek-style green beans are delish
In my three months of food reviews, this Greek feast easily ranks among the best meals I've enjoyed.
Even the green beans were superlative. Flavors were layered and complex, showcasing a combination of spices. The beans are included with all entrees, as well as a choice of roasted potatoes or rice, a salad and rolls and pita bread.
Also highly recommended is the appetizer sampler ($10), which includes dolmades (stuffed grape leaves); spanakopita (layers of phyllo stuffed with spinach); and keftedes (Greek-style meatballs).
Other menu items include souvlaki – grilled pork, chicken or shrimp. Some selections weren't available when I ordered, including plaki, a Greek-style baked cod smothered in onions; meatless moussaka, which is layered with roasted eggplant and potatoes in creamy tomato sauce and topped with a creamy bechamel; and roasted leg of lamb in au jus.
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'What it means to be Greek'
Especially memorable was the pastry platter ($10).
Thin cookies were topped with sliced almonds. Yum! Star-shaped cookies coated in powdered sugar were soft with the right touch of sweetness. Koulourakia (butter-twist cookies) were crispy on the outside and uniquely topped with sesame seeds. Baklava was layered with flaky phyllo dough and sweetened with crushed nuts and honey.
"They give you a little piece of Greece in Stark County," Paxos said of the menu at Greek Fest. "And we show our love through food and we show our appreciation through food.
"It's our way of giving back to the community and showcasing what it means to be Greek."
Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and ebalint@gannett.com
On Twitter @ebalintREP
The Link LonkJune 16, 2021 at 04:02PM
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'They give you a little piece of Greece in Stark County.' St. Haralambos Church to host Greek Fest to return - Canton Repository
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