It's all Greek to me

1 week without a post... Bad, bad Jessie! I've got to get some stuff knocked out up here or I'm going to have the world's longest post... [Utah State Fair is Saturday, fried food heaven!]
   Last Saturday Doug and I attended the 35th Annual Salt Lake Greek Festival [http://www.saltlakegreekfestival.com/].  I'd been a couple times in the past but hadn't been for about 6 or so years and Doug had never attended. The last time I went the only things I was open to trying were rice and chicken souvlakia. I wouldn't even eat baklava [which I now love!] Since I've grown more open to the culinary world I went in with the intention of trying just about everything; well not everything but I certainly stepped out of my comfort zone... 
  My absolute favorite thing at the Greek Festival are called Loukoumathes. They are these delicious fried balls of dough [almost doughnut like but not quite] that are drenched in honey and cinnamon. They are automatic diet killers because there is no way you can eat just one and about 24 come in an order. The four of us [Tamra and Chase came with us] devoured all but 4 waiting in line for food...I might have to find a place that sells them year round but that could be dangerous

I thought about "forgetting" to take a picture so we'd have to buy more...

There were 13 items available to purchase in the main food line and Doug and I purchased 8 to try which was about $25 dollars. I wanted to try the lamb too but alas it was $13.00 and we wouldn't have eaten it after all of this and the desserts. Here are the definitions of what we tried:
Keftethes: Basically a Greek meatball with oregano and mint in a tomato sauce. I'm not a huge meatball fan and Doug's not a fan of red sauce but overall they were good. 
Pork Souvlakia: Pork marinated in oil, salt, pepper, oregano and lemon cooked on a skewer. The pork was super tender, moist and full of flavor. It's also the good old stand by of Greek cuisine.
Fried Calamari: Squid [yes squid] rings and arms battered and deep fried. Traditionally when I've order calamari it's always been just the rings so the arms [tentacles] were something different.

Keftethes, Pork Souvlakia and fried Calamari

Pastitsio, Dolmathes, Pilafi and Chicken Souvlakia

Pastitsio: Often described as the Greek Lasagna [but with white sauce]. It's baked pasta with a layer of meat and topped off with a bechamel sauce. The flavor was not what I expected but very good.
Dolmathes: This is Penni's favorite and probably my least favorite... It's a mixture of meat, rice and spices wrapped in grape leaves. The stuffing was alright but I wasn't a fan of the briny grape leaves.
Pilafi: Fluffy rice that has been cooked with lemon and chicken stock. Quite refreshing and not overly lemony.
Chicken Souvlakia: Same preparation as the Pork. Super juicy and really yummy!


   And then came the desserts... There were 10 to choose from and I settled on 4 to try this year. Next year I'll try some different ones except for the fact that I've always got to get Baklava!

The U shaped cookie is called Amigdalota and according to the lady I bought it from a new addition to the Greek Festival this year. It's a soft almond flavored cookie that my dad devoured... The white ball looking cookie is called Kourambiedes. Penni said they are typically served at weddings. It's a very dry and dense butter cookie covered in powdered sugar. The triangle it BAKLAVA! This is what most people think of when they think of Greek desserts. It's layers of phyllo dough filled with a mixture of chopped nuts, syrup and honey. They usually have some clove in there too and are one of Doug and I's new favorites! Lastly is Melomakarona. This is a cookie that has been soaked in honey and topped with chopped nuts. It was fairly dry but had a sweet punch.