Sts. Constantine & Helen Church Greek Food Bazaar Oct. 16-18, 2009

A trip to Greece is closer than you think at the 38^th Annual Greek Food Bazaar at Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, Reading, Pa. Featuring a variety of homemade Greek delicacies and taste-tempting pastries, the three-day event promises to take visitors on a whirlwind excursion to the Mediterranean — without ever leaving Berks County.

Thousands of visitors are expected to attend the festival to enjoy food, wine, arts and crafts, fine gold jewelry imported from Greece and live Bouzouki music. Volunteers have been baking pastries and the famous Greek sweet-bread for weeks in preparation of the festival, which serves as the major annual fund-raiser for the church.  Another highlight of the Bazaar is tours of the church interior, which features one of the largest collections of Byzantine iconography in the United States. Guided tours of the church are provided every hour.

Many visitors come each year to enjoy the Athenian Style Chicken Platter with a side of Rice Pilaf or Pastitsio (a Greek pasta quiche) and Greek Style Green Beans cooked with tomatoes and seasonings, a Greek Salad, and roll and butter for just $10. On Friday, the festival features Fish Plaki, Greek-style baked fish platters for lunch or dinner.

There are also a la carte items, such as Shis-Ke-Bob, Calamari (Squid) cooked in tomatoes and wine: Moussaka (Eggplant Casserole) and Arni Psito (Roast Lamb) as only the Greeks know how to make it in the popular Taverna room. A variety of Greek wines and the popular Ouzo are also available for adventuresome souls.

While enjoying their meal in the main dining hall, visitors are treated to traditional Greek music by Stavros & Maria, a popular brother-sister duo from the Reading area.  After a hearty meal, there is plenty to see and explore on the church grounds.

An Agora (Greek market) room offers packaged Greek foods and prepared dishes to go. The Kafenio (Greek coffee house) features fresh-brewed Greek-style coffee and pastry.  Visitors can also shop in the Fine Gold Jewelry Room and Greek Gift Shop, featuring many items imported from Greece. There is also artwork on display and for sale by Greek and Greek-inspired artists.

A popular stop for all visitors is the Pastry Room, where you can pick between favorites such as Baklava (almonds, butter, and honey layered in flaky pastry), Teelikta (walnuts, butter and honey rolled in flaky pastry); Kourabiedes (butter cookies topped with powdered sugar) and Koulourakia (Greek twisted butter cookie). Another taste treat is Loukoumades (Honey Balls) which consist of fried dough covered with syrup and sprinkled with nuts. Honey Balls are made Saturday and Sunday only.  The aroma of Souvlaki (Skewered Pork) and Gyro (Seared Meat) is overwhelming and inviting under the large white tent set up for your outdoor dining. Both types of meat are made into pita bread sandwiches topped with a tangy yogurt sauce.

Bazaar hours are noon to 8 p.m. Friday (Oct. 16), noon to 12 a.m. Saturday (Oct. 17), and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday (Oct. 18). Free admission and free parking. The Bazaar will be held rain or shine.

Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church is located at 1001 East Wyomissing Boulevard in Reading, Pa., just off Route 222 South (Lancaster Avenue). Additional parking is available at the adjacent Holy Name High School.