Enjoy the scrumptious tastes of Hellas while helping those in need
By: Rich Fisher
Everyone loves good food. It’s a bonus when it’s good for you. And it gets even better when you realize that purchasing such food can help those less fortunate.
So, make plans to visit Yiayia’s Kitchen at the St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Hamilton today and Saturday. From 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day, a large menu of succulent Greek dishes prepared by Greek women as only they can will be offered.
As any viewer of the Food Network knows, a Mediterranean diet is among the healthiest around, so it won’t be a crime to gorge yourself. And the more you eat, the more you help others. All proceeds go to charities, both local and national. It’s just another in a long line of philanthropic events staged by the St. Anargyroi Ladies Philoptochos Society.
The Philoptochos Society is in its 16th year of running Yiayia’s Kitchen. In Greek, philo means "friend" and tochos means "poor." So these friends of the poor use their culinary cleverness to aid the less fortunate, and have a great time doing it.
"It takes a long time for the preparation and we’re exhausted when it’s done," says Fotini Floudas, president of the Philoptochos Society and chairwoman of this year’s Yiayia’s Kitchen. "But we love it."
The Kitchen is coming off a record-setting year in which it raised $20,000 for area organizations such as the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, Mercer Street Friends, Deborah Hospital and Martin House, as well as national organizations such as the American Heart Association and the Ronald McDonald House. Some funds also go to disaster victims.
"When the ladies organization was established at the church (in the 1930s), they wanted to raise money and build a community hall," Ms. Floudas said. "When everything was accomplished, they wanted the money to help other people."
The idea of serving Greek food came from the Greek Festival held at St. George each May. When the women saw how popular the food was, they decided to open Yiayia’s Kitchen and serve even larger portions each November.
As for the name, Yiayia is the Greek word for grandma.
"Everybody likes to go to their grandmother’s house for a home-cooked meal," Ms. Floudas says. "All the food is from recipes from our own members. Some of them are originally from Greece, some were born here and are second- and third-generation Greeks."
Now that you know where your money will go, it’s only fair to tell you what it can buy.
The menu includes Greek classics such as moussaka, pastitsio, spinach pie, roast chicken, baked fish and roast lamb. Appetizers or side dishes include Feta cheese and stuffed grape leaves, and desserts feature holiday breads, baklava, honey cake, spice cookies and more. The bar will serve Greek wines, American beer and, of course, Ouzo.
"The food is not just unique, it’s also the quality of it," Ms. Floudas says. "We use all Greek olive oil, that’s one of the best in the world. We use the imported Feta cheese, it’s not like the domestic. And we have some secret recipes."
As for favorite dishes Ms. Floudas says "the Greeks like the lamb, and the Americans seem to like the moussaka more. Everybody likes spinach pie, especially the vegetarians, and everybody enjoys the stuffed grape leaves."
It’s no accident that one of the most popular Greek saints is Euphrosynos of Alexandria, "Euphrosynos the Cook," a monk who lived in the ninth century.
The food is served buffet-style for those wishing to eat in the dining area. Take-out also is offered, and you can wait in line or call ahead. There will be a delicatessen area set up, selling Greek delicacies that can be used for gifts or to entertain at your own holiday party.
If you need to walk off your meal or work up an appetite, do so browsing through Yiayia’s flea market.
"All the items are donated, but we only take them if they are in excellent condition," Ms. Floudas said.
So take a little trip to Greece. It won’t cost you much, and what it does cost will be put to good use.
Yiayia’s Kitchen will take place at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 1200 Klockner Road, Hamilton (just off Hamilton Avenue and kitty-corner from Nottingham High School), today and Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. For take-out, call (609) 890-9792. For information call (609) 586-4448.

