“To cook is to insist that every hunger is a potential occasion…” -Jonah Lehrer

The yearly occasion of the Greek festival fulfills many hungers. The catching up and reconnecting with old friends; the yearning to hear Greek music and the Greek language that I was brought up in, beautifully spoken by women who lovingly remember my mother and grandmother; the taste of foods so familiar that if I close my eyes, I could be five again sitting at my grandmother’s table eating koulourakia (Greek cookies) and drinking milky tea. Most of all, I love sharing the experience with the wonderful people I have in my life. I love sharing my Greekness.

Our favorite ritual after eating is getting the fabulous Greek coffee. Greek coffee is a rich blend of twice boiled thick espresso and sugar. I vividly remember the ritual when guests would come to visit my grandparents. Coffee is poured slowly from a copper pot. Nothing is rushed.

As my friends and I sip and enjoy the deep flavor, we talk, laugh, and savor every moment. What we are really eagerly awaiting is the mystical reading of the coffee cups. My aunt tells us not to let the priest see what we are doing! He absolutely would disapprove of such sorcery!

The process goes like this: Just when you get to the almost-bottom of the dense coffee, it’s time to swirl the grounds in your cup and turn your cup over in its saucer. We wait for the moment when all the bubbles and drips congeal. It takes about three minutes. We are not patient! We want to hear about adventures and beautiful outstretched arms to the heavens and trips and meandering rivers and luscious trees and favorite people and Chinese symbology and mosaics and good wishes from the past and wonderfully bright futures. Pure joy!

Stay tuned for more posts on the Greek festival.