15th Annual Santa Fe Greek Festival

From A St. Elias the Prophet Greek Orthodox Church press release...

The 15th Annual Santa Fe Greek Festival, hosted by the St. Elias the Prophet Greek Orthodox Church, is scheduled to take place in a new location with new dates and times for 2012!   This year’s festival will occur on Friday, June 15 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Saturday, June 16 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center.  This is a festive and lively event and a great way to experience Greek culture in Santa Fe!  Enjoy Greek food, pastries, music and dancing!

“We are very excited because this year we are moving our Greek Festival to a larger venue that has better kitchen facilities and more viewing area for everyone to see the Greek band and Greek dancers,” said Kerry Tramontanas, festival chairman and treasurer of St. Elias the Prophet Greek Orthodox Church.  “We are also expanding the festival from one day to two days and we will have beer and wine available for the first time” added Tramontanas.

“We have recruited many of the Santa Fe restaurant owners and chefs who are of Greek descent to create a new menu for the festival this year!” said Violet Santikos, advertising chair for this year’s festival.  This year’s new, improved a la carte menu and the restaurant owners serving food are:  Leonardo Razatos of the Plaza Café Southside, who will be preparing souvlaki (Shish-Kabob) with choices of grilled chicken, pork or veggie served on fresh pita bread and topped with tomatoes, onions and tzatziki sauce as well as Greek Fries that are seasoned with herbs, oregano and feta cheese.  Andy Razatos of the Plaza Café Downtown will be preparing authentic gyros (beef & lamb) on the spit with fresh pita bread and tomatoes, onion and tzatziki sauce. 

Dean Alexis of Upper Crust Pizza and Tortilla Flats will be providing Greek calzones filled with feta cheese, Greek olives, spinach, onions and seasoned with oregano as well as a Greek salad.  Alexis will also be contributing Greek-style Chicken that is oven-roasted and marinated with salt, pepper, garlic, oregano, lemon juice and olive oil and served with  Greek-style rice. And, finally, Greg Menke of The Beestro Catering Service will contribute spanakopita (a filo pastry dough triangle filled with spinach and feta cheese) and dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) with avgolemono sauce (egg-lemon sauce).

“We will definitely have our delicious Greek sweets available including, baklava, kourambiedes (powdered sugar cookies), melomakarona (honey cookies with walnuts), koulourakia (Greek twist cookies—great to dunk in coffee) and loukoumades (fluffy fried balls of dough coated with a light honey sauce and a  sprinkle of cinnamon) as well as our Greek coffee!” added Santikos.

New Mexico’s premier Greek band, The Aegean Sounds, will be serenading festival attendees and the “Palamakia Dancers” from Albuquerque will be performing on Friday night and on Saturday.  We will also have our Greek Agora (Greek import store) that will bsell Greek gift items as well as canned and bottled Greek foods throughout the festival.

There will be several raffle prizes where you can buy a ticket to win too!

The 15th Annual Santa Fe Greek Festival will take place at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center at 201 W. Marcy Street on Friday, June 15 and Saturday, June 16  from 11 a.m. to  9 p.m. on both days.   Admission is $3 for adults and children 12 and under are free.   All food and drink tickets can be purchased at the door.  For more information about the Santa Fe Greek Festival, please contact Violet Santikos at 505-577-4742 or visit our website.