At the entrance to Holy Transfiguration Melkite Greek-Catholic Church, 8502 Lewinsville Road, McLean, VA/Photo by Patricia Leslie
Hundreds turned out for the first day of the 21st annual Middle Eastern Food Festival at Holy Transfiguration Melkite Greek-Catholic Church in McLean to order up some of the best-tasting home cooked food in the area. Couples from northwest D.C. and Alexandria said they had been attending the festival for years. "Nothing can keep us away from good food," said a woman who drove almost an hour with her husband for their annual visit to the church to sample lamb and other delicacies on the menu.
A chef said 25 lambs were cooked for the annual Middle Eastern Food Festival at Holy Transfiguration Church in McLean/Photo by Patricia Leslie
Lamb kebabs were on the menu at the Middle Eastern Food Festival at Holy Transfiguration Church in McLean/Photo by Patricia Leslie
The menu included vegetable burgers, $7.50; chicken shish kebab, shawarma with beef and lamb or chicken, kafta (beef and lamb) sandwiches, priced from $8.50 to $9; a la carte items: spinach pie, $3; hummus, $3; fattoush (a delicious Arabic salad), $3; meat pie, $3; hot dogs and chips, $3; kibbeh, $6.50; and entrees ranging from mujaddara (lentils and rice) at $7.50 to baked eggplant, $10, to a roasted lamb dinner, $15, and more choices.
On Saturday night customers waited in a long line for 6 p.m., the magic hour for lamb servings which will be available all day on Sunday, according to the website. Dancing to live music, and wine and Lebanese beer at $5 added to enjoyment.
Guests dined indoors and out at Holy Transfiguration Church in McLean/Photo by Patricia Leslie
Cooks at work in the kitchen at the Middle Eastern Food Festival at Holy Transfiguration Church in McLean. In true Greek fashion, festival volunteers smiled and warmly welcomed all/Photo by Patricia Leslie
Arabic pastries at the Middle Eastern Food Festival at Holy Transfiguration Church in McLean/Photo by Patricia Leslie
While adult dined, children rode swings and ponies at Holy Transfiguration Church in McLean/Photo by Patricia Leslie
Clothes, books, olive oil from southern Greece, and jewelry were some of the non-edibles sold at Holy Transfiguration's annual fundraiser in McLean/Photo by Patricia Leslie
Jewelry for sale at Holy Transfiguration's annual fundraiser in McLean/Photo by Patricia Leslie
Holy Transfiguration Melkite Greek-Catholic Church, 8502 Lewinsville Road, McLean, VA/Photo by Patricia Leslie
Tours of the church were given several times during the festival. If you miss this year's event, there is next Labor Day weekend when Holy Transfiguration always celebrates Middle Eastern food.
What: Middle Eastern Food Festival at Holy Transfiguration Church
When: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m., August 30, and 12 - 6 p.m., August 31, 2014
Where: 8502 Lewinsville Road, McLean, VA
How much: No charge to attend.
For more information: 703-734-9566 and www. holytransfiguration.org
Parking: Limited along Lewinsville Road and in the church lot. Parking is safer and easier on neighborhood side streets. Be careful walking along and crossing Lewinsville Road, and hold your dear ones' hands.
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