‘Greece, Festival, Flavors’ Tickles the Palate, Brings the Finest Greek Cuisine to the Spotlight

Deputy agricultural development minister Paris Koukoulopoulos tries goat stew made by ‘Tilemachos’ restaurant’s Yiorgos Tsiligris as festival organizer Dionysis Koukis and the ministry’s general secretary Moschos Korasidis look on.

Tourism minister Olga Kefalogianni with SETE president Andreas Andreadis, head organizer of the event Dionysis Koukis and ‘Athinorama’ publisher Anni Iliopoulou.

Food and fun were at the center of this year’s “Greece, Festival, Flavors” Christmas festival, which took place on 5-7 December at the Helexpo Maroussi center.

Featuring 140 Greek producers and their select products, dozens of acclaimed chefs, wine experts, journalists, thespians, connoisseurs and foodies partook in sampling sessions at the 4^th Greece, Festival, Flavors Christmas fest, which ushered in the holiday season in true gastronomic style.

Visitors had the chance to partake in the wide variety of parallel events, including on-the-spot cooking classes, tasting sessions on everything from wine and cheese to cold cuts and honey, and workshops on wine and its glass to the secrets of the best macaron. Even the street food of Agias Irinis Square, the trendiest spot in Athens as of late, enjoyed its moment of fame.

Actors Thodoris Atheridis and Smaragda Karydi slice the pomegranate-flavored macaron New Year’s cake by Venetis Pastries, presented for the first time at the ‘4th Greece, Festival, Flavors’ Christmas event as the company’s Commercial director Paris Giannakakis and GM Panagiotis Monemvasiotis look on.

The event was organized by the Athinorama city guide, which has for over three decades focused on the dedicated promotion of Greek culinary developments. The Athinorama tasting committee selected the products on show for their overall quality.

Tourism minister Olga Kefalogianni at Santorini’s Cultural Village stand. (Center) Yiorgos Hatziyannakis of the island’s legendary ‘Selene’ restaurant.

GNTO general secretary Angela Varela sampling cold cuts from Lefkada at the Polychronopoulos Delicatessen stand.

Agrino Marketing & Export director Agis Pistiolas exhibiting pulses by local producers to reporter Stavros Theodorakis and Anni Iliopoulou.