Baklava cheesecake.
The big tent, where the dances take place, and people sit and eat, drink, and have a good time.
Saturday evening......I think we have beat all previous years for attendance.
Greek dancers of all ages....so cute!
The baking team have spent nearly every Tuesday and Thurday afternoons from July to the Thursday before the festival, baking all of the cookies, bread, and cheesecake. This is the first year we purchased all of the baklava from a bakery.
The festival was two full days and one half day. We sold out of all of the baklava cheesecake, paximadia, bread and cookies. The only reason we didn't sell out of baklava is the amount that was ordered was a tad bit over-done. We still have 2 big freezers full of baklava.
I worked all day on Friday, 5 hours on Saturday and 4 1/2 hours on Sunday. By the time 3:30 rolled around on Sunday I was exhausted. I don't know how the baking manager had the energy to spend all day each of those 3 days.
It was fun, but I'm really glad it's done.
The attendance broke records as far as we know, because they ran out of tickets on Sunday around 1:30, and had to "recycle" tickets. Instead of money, people buy tickets and then purchase most things with them. Some of the vendors accepted cash and credit cards. So it was a successful festival, but I guarantee that everyone involved is relieved!
If you ever come to the balloon fiesta, come to the festival ~ good times!
Love, 365
It sounds like a LOT of work. Love the photos, especially the kids dancing costumes. Now you can relax a bit, right??
ReplyDeleteIt is a lot of work. And truthfully it becomes a drudgery, but you keep going because you enjoy the women and men you're working with...some of them aren't members of the church, so when it's done you probably won't see them again until next year.
DeleteEveryone loves watching the dancers!
My goodness what an undertaking. Well done to all of you. The fully stocked racks look amazing. Very professional.
ReplyDeleteThank you, it does look amazing with all those baked goods on them! Whew! Now we can chill out :-)
DeleteWhat an incredible amount of baking. Well done. I can see why you're tired!! Baclava cheesecake sounds amazing!!!
ReplyDeleteThe cheesecake is really delicious! It has orange zest in it, and then topped with a few layers of phyllo dough on top ~ once baked a bit of syrup on top. It's so good, you have to watch yourself, or the scale might show a slight change, haha
ReplyDelete