Cooker Goes to Greece

Sorta...

Kinda...

Ok, so it wasn't even close. Sigh.

Either way, being married to a Greek man who loves Greek food, it was pretty much decided that we would be attending the Fort Walton Beach Greek Festival over Labor Day weekend. Now, a trip isn't something I would normally share on Cookerblog, but since it was centered around (and the only reason we really went was) the food, I thought I'd share our findings :) Maybe someday I'll demand that Greek husband make these all for me (especially the desserts) but until then, I will share with you about our wonderful adventure!

Packed convention center

The menu, in its entirety, consisted of: plate platter (chicken sampler), chicken oreganato, mezedakia plate (sampler platter), moussaka (eggplant dish), pastitso (greek lasagna), dolmanthes (rolled grape leaves), souvlaki pork platter, souvlaki wrap, gyro, kalamari, spanakopita (spinach and feta dish), tiropita (feta cheese dish), greek salata, greek fries, greek green beans, and manestra (orzo pasta) for main courses.

Kalamari

Delicious lamb gyro with lots of tzatziki sauce

I believe between the four of us that went we either tried every dessert or got some to go. We each tried one, and our friends got a cookie sampler platter to go. I wish I could have tried all of the Greek wines, beers, and coffees they had available- next year I vow to go sans-preggoness so I may really indulge myself!

Baklava Cheesecake



Kok - chocolate filled spongecake with custard filling



Hellas- fresh chocolate torte with cream filling

Another Kok- this time with vanilla custard filling and vanilla cake

Cookie sampler containing
Baklava- chopped walnuts and almonds layered with fillo dough and covered in honey syrup
Katafi - chopped walnuts and almonds rolled in shredded fillo dough and covered in sweet honey rosewater syrup
Diples- rolled egg pastry, honey dipped, and sprinkles with walnuts and cinnamon
Kourabiedes- shortbread cookie made with roasted almonds, covered in powdered sugar
Melomakarona- walnut cookie dipped in honey-orange syrup
Tsoureki- Greek bread

The only dessert we didn't get a picture of were the Almond Crescent cookies- they were HUGE!

Alex's treat: Koulourakia, twisted butter cookies

Mmmmm Mmmmm

Overall, the food was pretty tasty. We also watched some Greek dancers and looked at some lovely posters of Greece and watched a few elderly folks get drunk off the wine and scream OPA (hooray)! Overall, I'd say it was a great day to be Greek... ask them...