Are you hankering for a Horiatiki Salata? Salivating for some Souvlakia? In the mood for Moussaka? Then organise Brisbane car rentals and come on down to the Paniyiri Greek Festival.
This annual event was first held in 1976 and now attracts around 50,000 visitors (whom the official Paniyiri website nominates “Greeks and honorary Greeks”). It is organised by and aims to support the Greek community of South East Queensland, who number around 25,000.
The Paniyiri Greek Festival is “the longest running cultural festival in Queensland and the longest running Greek festival in Australia,” according to its organisers. Come along and find out what they’re doing right!
You and your tastebuds will have a choice of over 50 food stalls, selling everything from stuffed grapevine leaves (Dolmathes Yalantzi) to Greek spinach rice (Spanakorizo), artichokes with broadbeans (Anginares) to Greek Cypriot sausage (Shiftalies).
And, for anyone out there with a sweet tooth, Baklava, Kourambiethes (almond shortbread) and Loukoumathes (honey puffs) are also on the menu. It has been estimated that 300,000 Loukoumathes will be produced – and most likely consumed by hungry visitors – over the course of this two-day-long Greek eatathon.
For those of you who don’t know, honey puffs are delicious, puffy doughnuts that have been smothered in honey and sprinkled with cinnamon. Do you need any more convincing?
More than food, of course, will be on display over the weekend. A variety of acts will take place on the mainstage, including musical performances and dancing, grape stomping and … eating competitions.
This year’s festival is being held on Saturday, May 18, and Sunday, May 19, in Musgrave Park (South Brisbane). If you’re not a local, hop on an airplane, get your Brisbane Domestic Airport car rental sorted out and get your hands on some delicious Greek food!