When: Saturday, October 2, 2010 6:00 pm
Where: St. Elias Festival
11th Street (Btwn Red River and Trinity)
Austin, TX
Three generations of Central Texas families are bringing a taste of the Mediterranean to Austin this October for the St. Elias Mediterranean Festival, an outdoor festival of Mediterranean culture on October 1st & 2nd. The event will take place across a full on 11th Street between Red River and Trinity streets.
For 78 years, the Jabour, Dagar and Attal families have been the driving force behind the annual Mediterranean Festival. As part of their tradition, these families cook up their menu specialties from scratch every year, personally hand-rolling thousands of grape leaves, mixing up dozens of fresh batches of tabouleh, and baking enough baklava to feed an army. This dedication to heritage and remarkable food has been handed down from generation to generation, helping this feast become a celebration for more than seven decades.
Understandably, one of the biggest draws for the festival is the food. Food booths operated by the families who support St. Elias Orthodox Church will be serving up authentic Lebanese, Greek and Middle Eastern delicacies. Highlights will include kefta, a grilled ground beef dish served with onionsmand parsley; hummos, a blend of chickpeas, garlic and tahini sauce; tyropita, a delicious pastry stuffed with delicate cheeses; spanakopita, pastry stuffed with a mixture of spinach and cheese; and kibbeh, a recipe of lean ground beef stuffed with bulgur, onions and pine nuts. The dessert menu is also a pleaser and will include dishes such as nammoura, a traditional dessert cake made with semolina,
However, the Mediterranean Festival is a celebration of music as well. An event for the entire family,
guests will enjoy special appearances by the Ellinakia and Levendia Greek Dancers; and live music
from LAAND Greek Band with Middle-Eastern D.J. Chris Ferris, who will perform both evenings
A mere $5 donation is suggested to attend the St. Elias Mediterranean Festival; a portion of the
net proceeds will go to Caritas of Austin and the IOCC International Orthodox Christian Charities.
“It has really been a labor of love that has continued the tradition of the festival for 78 years,” Jabour
says. “What I’m really looking forward to is an opportunity to expose the festival to those who have
never experienced it before. It has been considered one of our best-kept secrets, but I think it’s time to share this great festival with everyone in Austin.”
Sponsors for the event include Twin Liquors, Absolut® and Bacardi®. Named one of Austin’s most delicious traditions and Central Texas’ Top 10 Food Festivals by the Austin Chronicle, the Mediterranean Festival takes place from 6 p.m. to midnight on Friday, October 1st and Saturday, October 2nd, 2010. Admission Tickets are on sale at all 62 Twin Liquors Locations for a $5 donation.
Leave a Reply