Turkish Festival celebrates on Pennsylvania Avenue

At the Turkish Festival Sunday on Pennsylvania Avenue, it was possible to be someone else. The Washington City Paper says it's"the best cultural festival in D.C."/Photo by Patricia Leslie

At the Turkish Festival Sunday on Pennsylvania Avenue.  If you can't go to Turkey, why not let Turkey come to you?/Photo by Patricia Leslie

What is $20 for a fortune telling session to find out the outcome of the November 4 general election a month ahead?/Photo by Patricia Leslie

These dancers from the Yeditepe University Folklore Club are ready to show off their talents at the Turkish Festival Sunday but first, a pose or two/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Members of the Kardelene Dance Ensemble at the Turkish Festival on Sunday.  Dancers and musicians filled the stage non-stop for seven hours/Photo by Bianca Bahary

Members of the Yeditepe University Folklore Club at the Turkish Festival on Sunday/Photo by Bianca Bahary

While the professionals danced on stage at the Turkish Festival Sunday, these young lasses captured the street with their own dance/Photo by Patricia Leslie

The stoplight in the background elongates the dancer's body. Do you think the U.S. Capitol sprouted flags in celebration of the Turkish Festival on Pennsylvania Avenue?/Photo by Patricia Leslie

From the Embassy of Turkey came First Counselor and spokesperson, Aydan Karamanoglu, with his two sons, Fernando (left), 11,  and Daniel, 9, at the Turkish Festival Sunday on Pennsylvania Avenue.  They have been here about a year, and the boys have adjusted well to their new school, their dad said.  Mr.  Karamanoglu's favorite part of the festival is the food. To  become an ambassador requires 20 to 25 years of experience, he said.  When asked about Turkey's role in the ISIS conflict in the Middle East, Mr. Karamanoglu smiled and said:  "That is political, and this is cultural."/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Jewelry for sale at the Turkish Festival Sunday on Pennsylvania Avenue/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Scarves and wraps for sale at the Turkish Festival Sunday on Pennsylvania Avenue where 25 vendors sold goods/Photo by Patricia Leslie 

Yikes!  A heavy metal man! If you stared at him long enough he would bend and respond with a smile before his metal took over.  With girls his age, the statue flirted quite a bit and provided good humor at the Turkish Festival Sunday on Pennsylvania Avenue.  The floral bouquet in his hands was heavy metal, too/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Turkish Airlines was a popular tent at the Turkish Festival Sunday on Pennsylvania Avenue since it gave away two roundtrip tickets to where else?/Photo by Patricia Leslie

That is chicken and gyro on the left, and mixed beef and lamb on the right from Rudy's Mediterranean Grill in Columbia, MD.The butcher kindly gave me some samples which were exquisite.  I'll never miss the Turkish Festival again/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Grape leaves and hummus on pita, my favs at the Turkish Festival Sunday on Pennsylvania Avenue, and everywhere.  Also for sale at the festival were doner kebab sandwiches with rice, lahmacun, vegetarian sandwiches, baklava with pistachios, sea bass, sea bream, anchovies, red mullet, and horse mackerel "fresh from the pure waters of the Mediterranean."  To die for.  I love to eat/Photo by Patricia Leslie

These food vendors dressed for the part at the Turkish Festival Sunday on Pennsylvania Avenue/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Alas, from out of the shadows or "behind the scenes" came Inspector Foodso from the D.C. Health Department, issuing citations to vendors who prepared food off-site, which is strictly prohibited, the inspector told me, because the preparation is not done under the watchful eyes of the Health Department.  What immediately drew my attention was a crowd of vendors dumping a vat of fresh (it looked like) untouched chopped lettuce and tomatoes into a large, black plastic garbage bag.  (In a low voice, Inspector Foodso told me it also had dressing.) We consumers appreciate what you do, I told the inspector, who replied:  "Not everyone does."  The vendors responded positively to the inspector who told one, "I'll be back at 1."  He told me every food tent had hand washing supplies for the help staff, and he was one of two inspectors on-site/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Anywhere is a good place to play bridge, like at the Turkish Festival in front of the Justice Department/Photo by Patricia Leslie

No one should miss all the fun and delicious food at the Turkish Festival on Pennsylvania Avenue. Can't wait for next year!/Photo by Patricia Leslie

 

patricialesli@gmail.com

 

McLean celebrates Middle Eastern Food Festival

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.

 

patricilesli@gmail.com