September comes alive with Greek, Middle Eastern, local food festivals
September promises to be a great month for Birmingham foodies.
They can enjoy two events that celebrate ethnic cuisine: the Birmingham Greek Festival and the St. George Middle Eastern Food Festival. And Breakin’ Bread, a festival with more than 30 local food providers in one location at one price, is back for its 15th year.
Faith and food
Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral will host the 45th annual Birmingham Greek Festival, Thursday, Sept. 21, through Saturday, Sept. 23, 10:30 a.m to 10 p.m.
The event is “an act of love” by the members of the Greek community and allows them to share their “faith, tradition, food and culture” said Elaine Lyda, event spokesperson.
The festival offers dance, music, traditional costumes and plenty of food, including such favorites as gyros, lamb skewers, pita bread, stuffed grape leaves and fried doughnuts. Attendees can also tour the cathedral and view its Byzantine architecture
The festival, which drew more than 25,000 people from at least 10 states in 2016, has helped numerous local charities, including Magic Moments, The Bell Center and Firehouse Shelter, Lyda said.
For details, call 716-3080 or go tobirminghamgreekfestival.net.
Celebrating MiddleEastern culture
St. George Melkite Greek Catholic Church, at 425 16th Ave. S., will host the annual St. George Middle Eastern Food Festival, Thursday, Sept. 14, through Saturday, Sept. 16, 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The festival, now in its 36th year, features dance, music and such popular foods as kibbee, mamoul, spinach pies, stuffed grape leaves and Middle Eastern pastries. There are vendors selling books, religious relics, hand-carved olive wood and Middle Eastern groceries. Attendees can also take tours of the church.
St. George helps support such local charities as the Pathways shelter and the Three Hots and a Cot veterans group.
For more information, call 492-9621 or go to saintgeorgeonline.org/food-festival.
Buying local
Birmingham Originals, a group of local restaurateurs who seek to raise awareness of the city’s great food, will present the 15th annual Breakin’ Bread festival at Sloss Furnaces, Sunday, Sept. 24, 1-5 p.m.
Breakin’ Bread features a “very diverse” group of vendors, according to chef Chris Hastings, owner of Hot & Hot Fish Club.
“It represents the gamut of restaurants that are locally owned, not just white-tablecloth or high-end places,” he said.
The event also shows that the city’s food scene “is becoming more diverse ethnically,” Hastings said.
The event, which will benefit the Woodlawn High School Urban Farm, includes cooking demonstrations, live music and kids’ activities.
General admission tickets are $35 and include unlimited food samplings and two drink tickets for wine and beer. VIP passes are $99 and provide unlimited food samplings, wine and beer, access to a lounge, gift bags and an early entrance at 12:30 p.m.
Children 12 and under are admitted free.
For details, go to breakinbreadbham.com or birminghamoriginals.org.