BRAINTREE — There is a distinction between a gyro and an actual gyro, Kathy Werner stated within the eating space of St. Catherine Orthodox Church Friday afternoon.
Some folks make gyros by cooking meat and reducing bits off one thing that nearly resembles meatloaf, she stated, as an alternative of carving strips off a basic vertical cooking spit.
The gyros on the church’s Gyro Competition this weekend?
“Actual meat, actual spit,” Werner stated approvingly. “And the seasoning is all there.”
Werner and her mom, Janet Daylor, sat collectively consuming gyros through the church’s annual occasion. The Braintree residents have come to the competition earlier than, although they don’t seem to be members of the church, they usually stated the occasion brings folks from everywhere in the space.
Daylor, a Braintree resident since 1963, had excessive reward for the Greek desserts obtainable on the competition.
“Fried dough balls are great,” she stated, referencing the Loukoumathes bought Friday. The dessert includes fried balls of dough which are soaked in honey and topped with cinnamon and walnuts.
Different meals obtainable on the competition included baklava, layers of filo dough and walnuts glazed with honey; kourambiedes, powdered sugar shortbread cookies; koulouria, butter cookies twists; and naturally, gyro meat wrapped in a heat pita.
Past shopping for meals, guests to the church may spend time visiting “Yiayia’s Attic,” a sale that accompanies the competition and provides housewares donated by the parish. Proceeds from each meals and merchandise gross sales goes towards the church.
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Yiayia means “grandmother” in Greek, volunteer Phyllis Donahoe stated.
“It is normally housewares and home equipment typically, glasses, a variety of glasses, plates. The parishioners made all of those stunning (sweaters),” Donahoe stated, gesturing to a desk of knit sweaters exterior.
This yr’s competition is a bit smaller than ones in years previous, church President Arthur Pappas stated. Final yr’s competition was canceled due to the pandemic, so this yr, the church thought it’d take the occasion a bit slower, to assist observe well being pointers.
Normally, the occasion is an all-encompassing Greek Competition that lasts 4 days, Pappas stated, and it usually takes a couple of week to organize the church for and every week to wash up after. The competition traditionally consists of extra meals choices, stay music and dancing.
“We’re attempting to observe the protocols,” he stated.
The Rev. Ted Toppses is newer to the church — he got here to St. Catherine’s a couple of yr in the past, he stated — however he is aware of the significance of the occasion in constructing neighborhood.
“Simply to make everybody really feel welcome” is the competition’s function, he stated, including that the competition has been round about so long as the church has.
Toppses stated it is a part of Greek tradition to be philanthropic and welcome folks into one’s residence.
A room away from Toppses and the echoing, painted sanctuary, Werner and Daylor completed their gyros and made plans to stroll round Yiayia’s Attic for a bit purchasing..
“You come right here,” Werner stated, “and also you go to the bazaar half, all of the little distributors and whatnot, plus the meals; however then while you see the church, it is simply spectacular.”
The competition will run till 10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 10 and Saturday, Sept. 11 from midday to 10 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 12 from midday to 4 p.m. at St. Catherine Church, 119 Frequent St. in Braintree.
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Attain Alex Weliever at aweliever@patriotledger.com.
