The 1st Athens Street Food Festival at the old Amaxostasio at Gazi this May is set to showcase just how far Greek street food has come since the days when traditional staples like souvlaki (skewered meat), tyropita (cheese pies) and the Thessalonian koulouri (sesame street bread) ruled the roost.
These days, Athenian street food has drawn on influences from the new cultures entering the country via migration to create a tasty combination of fast, cheap and convenient multicultural offerings.
“Forget souvlaki and burgers,” says Stavros Striligas, the press officer of the festival. “You’ll be surprised by the variety currently available on the street corners of Athens. My personal favorite? The authentic Pakistani offerings just off Omonia Square that are spicy enough to blow your mind. You see, migrants who come to Greece bring the authentic tastes of their countries without watering down the flavors to make them palatable for Greeks. So now is the time to try these foods, while the spice is still hot, before they become Westernized.”
If the best chicken tikka outside Karachi is not to your taste, then imagine yourself on the streets of Prague as you walk around the festival with your trdelnikj at hand. “This popular Czech sweet yeasty dough pastry cooked on a cylindrical spit is now available on the streets of Athens,” says Striligas, who points to many other offerings from Asian tastes to Antioch kebabs.
“You’ll be surprised by the variety currently available on the street corners of Athens”
“There’s even customized children’s street food on offer,” he says, adding that the goal is to create a setting that is ideal for the entire family to wander through. Food trucks and canteens create a festive atmosphere, whereas the Bars and Beverages area will be stocked with all manner of drinks from a Beer Academy Corner to smoothies and organic health drinks.
The latest trend in street food appears to be gluten-free, organic items, moving away from the greasy variety of fried delights normally offered from battered old vans. Known as vromika (dirty food), this type of cuisine has been viewed by Greeks with disdain since the days of philosopher Theophrastus who wrote negatively about the small fried fish sold by ancient Greek hawkers – the first mention of street food in history. “Contrary to the general belief, these eats are anything but ‘dirty’,” says Striligas who points to strict licensing laws and regular food checks by authorities.
Eats with Music Beats
Musical offerings and DJ sets will ensure that the food fiesta culminates into one big party, no coincidence since the festival is the brainchild of the creators of the Ejekt Music Festival. “The idea for this festival came to us while we were traveling the world seeking our music lineup,” says Striligas. “Snacking our way around the world, we realized that Athens has a burgeoning street food scene with just as much variety as other countries. That’s what we hope to show.”
“Snacking our way around the world, we realized that Athens has a burgeoning street food scene with just as much variety as other countries. That’s what we hope to show.”
