Celebrate all things Greek at St. Nectarios' annual festival in Palatine
A celebration of Greek hospitality and culture for nearly 50 years, St. Nectarios' Greek Fest returns to Palatine this week.
The festival will feature Greek food, music, dancing, wines, beer, games for the kids and more.
Hours are 4-11 p.m. Friday, June 23; 3-11 p.m. Saturday, June 24; 3-11 p.m. Sunday, June 25, at St. Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church, 133 S. Roselle Road.
Drive-up food takeout hours are: 4-9 p.m. Friday; 3-9 p.m. Saturday; noon-9 p.m. Sunday.
The food lineup includes:
Main dishes
• Souvlaki: Tender pork shish-kebab marinated in lemon, oregano and other Grecian spices. Served with rice pilaf, tomatoes, cucumber, olives and bread roll.
• Athenian Chicken: One half charbroiled roasted chicken, steeped in lemon, oregano and other Grecian spices. Served with rice pilaf, tomatoes, cucumber, olives and bread roll.
• Gyros plate: Served with onions on top, tomatoes on the side, and tzatziki sauce in a covered cup on the side.
• Pastitsio, Greek lasagna: Oven baked pasta with meat sauce topped with bechamel sauce.
• Available extras: Small Greek salad; add an extra pita bread to any entree for $1; additional tzatziki for $1.
Taverna
• Fried kalamari
• Saganaki: flaming cheese
• Loukaniko: Greek sausage (two per serving)
• Mini souvlakia: Three mini marinated pork shish-kebabs
• Greek fries: Fried potatoes topped with fresh feta and oregano with a lemon wedge on the side
• Tyropita: Cheese puff (four per serving)
• Spanakopita: Spinach puff (four per serving)
• Mezedakia combo plate: One Loukaniko, one mini souvlakia, two tyropita, two spanakopita
Desserts and refreshments
• Loukomades: Deep fried batter puffs drizzled with cinnamon and honey
• Diples: Large fried pastry swirls, sprinkled with cinnamon and walnuts, and drizzled with honey (three per order)
• Baklava: Rich, sweet pastry made of layers of phyllo pastry filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with honey syrup (two per order)
• Kourambiedes: Almond butter cookie coated in powdered sugar (four cookies)
• Melomakarona: Traditional Greek cookies flavored with cinnamon, cloves, and orange, soaked with honey syrup and topped with crushed walnuts (four cookies)
• Assortment of Greek pastries
• Bottled water and soda
Live entertainment includes Cap'n Funk and the Groove Train at 6 p.m. Friday, the Oh Yes Band at 5 p.m. Saturday, and Rythmos at 8 p.m. Saturday and 5 p.m. Sunday.
For information, call (847) 826-4833 or visit www.stnectariosgoc.org/event/greek-fest-2023.