Greek Pastry Sale

from November SB Magazine

by SB Magazine

Community

a Sweet

TASTE OF HISTORY TASTE OF HISTORY

Photos: St. George Greek Orthodox Church

CELEBRATING 65 YEARS IN 2021, SHREVEPORT’S GREEK PASTRY SALE MAY BE ONE OF THE LONGEST-RUNNING FOOD EVENTS IN LOUISIANA

BY CHRIS JAY

Among the many food events that were sidelined, postponed, or canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I missed one event more than any other: the annual Greek Pastry Sale at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Highland. Since 1956, this fundraiser has been organized by the local chapter of the Philoptochos Society, a Greek women’s philanthropic organization. The Greek Pastry Sale may very well be one of Louisiana’s longest-running annual food events, yet it comes and goes each holiday season with relatively little fanfare, lost amid the hustle and bustle of larger, flashier events.

Perhaps the sale wouldn’t meet most people’s definition of a “food event.” There’s no live music, no VIP tent, no sponsor-branded selfie stations. What it lacks in festive atmosphere, the sale makes up for in the quality of foods available for purchase. Each year there’s a slightly different assortment of Greek sweets, breads, appetizers, and entrees available for pre-order, including favorites like baklava and spanakopita as well as harder-to-find Greek goodies like tsourekia, a sweet bread made with lots of mong the many food events that were eggs and butter, and tiropites, a cheese-filled appetizer 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I missed one event more than any othconsisting of countless layers of phyllo so thin that they melt on the tongue. The sale is timed each year to coincide with the advent of holiday entertaining. In a shrewd business move, the women who originally organized the sale recognized that mid-November is an ideal time to go to market with dozens of delicious, handmade party snacks. Proceeds from Sale may very well be one of Louisiana’s longest-running the event benefit a long list of Shreveport-area organizaannual food events, yet it comes and goes each holiday tions including the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana, Caddo Council on Aging, Community Renewal of Shreveport, the Deaf Action Center, and the Gingerbread House.

Perhaps the sale wouldn’t meet most people’s definition of a “food event.” There’s no live music, no VIP tent, no sponsor-branded selfie stations. What it lacks in festive atmosphere, the sale makes up for in the quality of foods available for purchase. Each year there’s a slightly different assortment of Greek sweets, breads, appetizers, and entrees available for pre-order, including favorites like baklava and spanakopita as well as harder-to-find Greek goodies like tsourekia, a sweet bread made with lots of eggs and butter, and tiropites, a cheese-filled appetizer consisting of countless layers of phyllo so thin that they melt on the tongue. The sale is timed each year to coincide with the advent of holiday entertaining. In a shrewd business move, the women who originally organized the sale recognized that mid-November is an ideal time to go to market with dozens of delicious, handmade party snacks. Proceeds from the event benefit a long list of Shreveport-area organizations including the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana, Caddo Council on Aging, Community Renewal of Shreveport, the Deaf Action Center, and the Gingerbread House.

A part of the joy of the Greek Pastry Sale, which turns 65 this year, is in poring over the brightly colored order form that is mailed out each October. If you’re new to form that is mailed out each October. If you’re new to traditional Greek food, the order form may read like an traditional Greek food, the order form may read like an eye exam chart: kourabiedes, strifta, finikia, and koulourakia are just a few items that can be pre-ordered and picked up on the day of the 2021 event. For those and picked up on the day of the 2021 event. For those who prefer to make last-minute decisions, there are always some cookies, bread, and other goodies available ways some cookies, bread, and other goodies available for walk-up purchase, though their availability dwin-for walk-up purchase, though their availability dwindles throughout the day. This year, for the first time, pa-dles throughout the day. This year, for the first time, patrons can pick up a gyro dinner on the day of the event. Prices on pastries range from a few dollars apiece to a $28 box containing 15 assorted items. The gyro meal will cost $8. An order form may be downloaded from the St. George website, www.gosaintgeorge.org. These days, a new generation of volunteer bakers are These days, a new generation of volunteer bakers are stepping up to assist with the sale. In many cases these young women are the granddaughters of event founders. “We’re trying to get more young people involved,” said “We’re trying to get more young people involved,” said Rev. Fr. Ioannis Krokos, who presides over St. George. Rev. Fr. Ioannis Krokos, who presides over St. George. “I think it’s great that the next generation, God willing, “I think it’s great that the next generation, God willing, will be carrying on this important tradition. Sometimes, we’ll have 20 or 30 ladies in the kitchen, baking up a we’ll have 20 or 30 ladies in the kitchen, baking up a storm, and I’ll go visit them just to enjoy the smells.” storm, and I’ll go visit them just to enjoy the smells.” The main reason why I never miss a year of the Greek The main reason why I never miss a year of the Greek Pastry Sale is simple: It’s beautiful to see cultural heritage celebrated and shared in this way. What better way to share thousands of years of history and tradi-way to share thousands of years of history and tradition with others than by handing them a box of cook-tion with others than by handing them a box of cook ies? That way, they can taste all of the love that’s been handed down from one generation to the next...even if they can’t pronounce the names of the cookies.