April 23
...serving up your daily dish.
Happy Easter! Greeks in Baristaville and other Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter today -- and enjoy the added bonus of half-price Easter candy (that explains why we always had the biggest chocolate bunnies growing up).
Next time you're at Montclair Charbroil, wish the family there Kalo Pascha (Happy Easter). If you're lucky enough to be celebrating with Greeks today, you'll be feasting on lamb, as well as the traditional tsoureki (a challah-like braided sweet bread with red eggs). The meal marks the end of a fast that some Greeks take pretty seriously -- no meat for 40 days. (Hardcore fasters also forgo eggs, cheese, milk, etc., as well as fish for the last week). The feast culminates with the egg-cracking game -- the one to emerge with a pristine egg will have good luck the whole year.
Your daily chat starts now -- speaking in Greek is optional.
April 23, 2006 in The Daily Chat | Permalink
I gained several pounds during a 1-week stay in Greece many years ago. Meal after scrumptious, inexpensive meal (cucumber-tomato-feta salads to start, then delicious grilled meats or moussaka or fish stews) washed down with lots of Retsina in the evenings. I remember one raucous evening where we drank every bottle the small restaurant had, and the owner finally broke open the dusty display bottle.
I went to a Greek Orthodox Easter ceremony with a friend once and remember a dark shadowy Cathedral with candles and incense. (Much more interesting to me than our staid Episcopal ceremonies.)
The annual Greek Food Festival held at the same Cathedral has grown to be such a popular event that people have had to start parking as far away as my Mom's house -- a distance of many blocks.
Posted by: skipwtih | Apr 23, 2006 11:30:31 AM
In the Russian Orthodox Church, we say Christos Voskrese! which means Christ Is Risen!
Although, Pascha meant a lot in my youth: eating a "blessed" breakfast of ham, kolbasi, hard boiled eggs, pickled beets & horseradish and a babka baked by the church ladies, since my dad has passed away it's much harder to wrap my brain around that tradition...especially since I'm not currently a practicing Orthodox. This may be why my soul hurts from time to time.
Posted by: Surrounded | Apr 23, 2006 11:35:12 AM
Surrounded --
The Greeks say the same -- "Christos Anesti" which is Christ has risen. And you respond with "Alithos Anesti" which translates to "Yes he's truly risen."
Posted by: Liz | Apr 23, 2006 4:39:13 PM
Surrounded --
The Greeks say the same -- "Christos Anesti" which is Christ has risen. And you respond with "Alithos Anesti" which translates to "Yes he's truly risen."
Posted by: Liz | Apr 23, 2006 4:39:26 PM
I feel so much better when I see A Barista double post. Makes me not feel like the lone village idiot...no offense Ms. George! ;) Gotta love that AOL, eh? When it gives ya trouble, open IE and cut 'n' paste.
I'd just to take this opportunity to say that My Big Fat Greek Wedding is one of my all time favorite movies! It's truly a hoot!
Posted by: Surrounded | Apr 23, 2006 6:41:07 PM
this whole tread is greek to me.
thank you, you're too kind
please tip your bartenders
and I'll be here all week
bada boom bada bing
Posted by: Iceman | Apr 23, 2006 8:48:53 PM
so Christopher says to Ben Kingsley:
"yeah, and he's also the director of Law and Order: The SUV" or when he says to Lauren Bacall " I loved you in the Haves and the Have Nots"...he's a friggin classic
Posted by: Iceman | Apr 23, 2006 10:05:39 PM
Hey Surrounded,
Voistynu voskres! (Christ has truly risen). My mother's parents were Russian Orthodox and we were lucky as kids to have two Easters and two Christmases. I always preferred "Russian" Easter because it seemed much more focused on tradition for our family.
Posted by: BeanCounter | Apr 24, 2006 10:11:44 AM
Surrounded wrote:
Although, Pascha meant a lot in my youth: eating a "blessed" breakfast of ham, kolbasi, hard boiled eggs, pickled beets & horseradish and a babka baked by the church ladies, since my dad has passed away it's much harder to wrap my brain around that tradition...especially since I'm not currently a practicing Orthodox. This may be why my soul hurts from time to time.
I feel for you. My family is Polish & Roman Catholic and for me, Easter is my favorite holiday with the traditional cuisine that's nearly the same as yours. Had my fill of homemade chrzan (strong horseradish with beets), babka and some tasty kielbasa with my mom and dad. I don't know what I'd do without them to keep the tradition alive.
Posted by: Krys O. | Apr 24, 2006 1:31:59 PM
seems like there is a lot of crying in Bada Bing Land recently. Not as much as we will when it ends. Yeah, Artie is a crybaby but so is John etc. I guess it's a sign of the times.....wonder who cries next or last?Probably us when it's all over.
Posted by: DiPoz | Apr 24, 2006 3:21:22 PM
