ABOUT IT. OH HEY, I LOVE IT. YOU KNOW, HE’S BEEN HERE EVERY YEAR FOR US THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. ANYWAY, SINCE WE INTRODUCED THE COOKING SEGMENTS. THIS IS CHEF JOHN MARCUS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. YOU’RE FROM GYROS GYRO GYROS GYROS WHICH IS A PLAY ON WORDS BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE PRONOUNCE GYRO. THAT’S RIGHT. THE WRONG WAY. SO YOU NAMED YOUR RESTAURANT THE WRONG WAY FOR FUN? THAT’S RIGHT. OKAY. IT’S A MARKETING STUNT, I LOVE IT. IT WAS A PLAY ON WORDS. IT KIND OF CREATES A CONVERSATION AT EVERY TABLE. I LOVE IT, AND HE’S ALSO BEEN A MAJOR PLAYER IN THE GREEK FESTIVAL EVERY YEAR. AND THIS YEAR YOU’VE COME AND YOU’RE GOING TO ACTUALLY TEACH US HOW TO MAKE THE BEST SAUCE IN THE WORLD. I CALL IT TAZIKI SAUCE, BUT YOU SAY THE PROPER WAY IS TZATZIKI SAUCE. IT’S KIND OF DIFFICULT. YOU HAVE TO. IT’S KIND OF LIKE A J, BUT NOT OKAY. TZATZIKI SAUCE IS THE WAY TO SAY IT. OKAY. AND THIS IS, YOU KNOW, YOU AT HOME HAVE EVER TRIED ANYTHING GREEK. YOU’VE TRIED THE SAUCE. I’LL TELL YOU. I’LL MAKE THAT ONCE I LEARN HOW TO MAKE IT. I’M GOING TO PUT THIS WITH EVERYTHING BECAUSE IT GOES WITH EVERYTHING. YOU CAN MAKE THIS WITH CHICKEN. YOU CAN DIP BEEF IN THERE, RIGHT? YES, VEGETABLES. YOU CAN STICK YOUR FINGER IN THERE. JUST YOUR FINGER. IT’S DELICIOUS. TZATZIKI IS A IS A IS A MAIN STAPLE AT OUR DINNER TABLE. AND IT’S KIND OF IT’S DEFINITELY GOES WITH ALL OF OUR MEATS. IT’S KIND OF LIKE A LIKE A BARBECUE SAUCE. I’D LIKE TO SAY FOR OUR MEATS, PORK, CHICKEN, BEEF, LAMB. BUT IT’S ALSO USED AS A DIP AND AN APPETIZER WITH WITH PITA BREAD. OKAY. AND I’LL TELL YOU, IT’S SO IT’S VERY FRESH WHEN YOU TASTE IT. NOT NOT BOUGHT IN A STORE WHEN YOU TASTED IT LIKE YOUR PLACE OR AT THE GREEK FESTIVAL. IT’S VERY REFRESHING AND IT’S HEALTHY BECAUSE IT’S YOGURT BASED, RIGHT? YES, IT IS YOGURT BASED. IT’S GREEK YOGURT. YOU WANT TO USE A REALLY THICK GREEK YOGURT. UM, YOU KNOW, THE HIGHER CONTENT FAT IS BETTER. UM, YOU CAN DO THE, THE LIGHTER KIND IF YOU WANT TO. IF YOU DO, JUST MAKE SURE YOU SQUEEZE ALL THE WATER CONTENT OUT OF THE CUCUMBER. SO IT’S JUST GREEK YOGURT, CUCUMBERS, LEMON, DILL AND SOME GARLIC AND A LITTLE BIT OF OLIVE OIL. NOW, DO YOU HAVE TO LET THIS SET UP AT ALL? BY THE WAY? IT’S BETTER IF YOU LET IT SET FOR ABOUT 20 30 MINUTES AT LEAST. AND THEN HOW LONG? HOW LONG CAN YOU EAT EAT IT AFTERWARD? IS IT AND YOU KNOW, YOU CAN KEEP IT IN YOUR REFRIGERATOR. SIX, SEVEN DAYS, LIKE MOST OTHER STUFF. OKAY, OKAY. AND I’LL TELL YOU, IT IS AMAZING. SO, YOU KNOW, ANYTIME YOU HAVE PARTIES AT HOME, EVEN YOU COULD USE THIS AS THE PRIMARY DIPPING SAUCE. IT’S FUNNY BECAUSE I’VE NOTICED. AARON I SNUCK IN AARON HAS VERY SLOW, ALMOST LIKE A CARTOON CHARACTER. HE’S JUST SLOWLY KIND OF MIGRATING OVER HERE. IT SMELLS AMAZING TOO, BY THE WAY, ALL OF THESE REALLY FRESH INGREDIENTS. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. WHAT IS THIS IN HERE? THIS IS PITA BREAD. I BROUGHT YOU GUYS SOME PITA BREAD. OH IT’S WARM SOMEHOW. SOMETHING TO EAT MADE IT WARM. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIP MY FINGER IN THIS. BY THE WAY, LET’S SHOW THIS. WHICH? WHICH ONE? CAN YOU SEE THIS? OKAY. IT’S JUST BEAUTIFUL. IT’S BEAUTIFUL, BY THE WAY. AND THIS IS BY THE WAY, THE GREEK FESTIVAL DOES KICK OFF THIS WEEKEND. WHAT’S NEW WITH THE GREEK FESTIVAL? IF ANYTHING, THE GREEK FESTIVAL IS IT. MOST THINGS STAY THE SAME. OF COURSE WE DO HAVE THE INSIDE. DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE INSIDE DINING. WE HAVE BLACK ICE, WHICH IS THE AREA AROUND THE ACROPOLIS WHERE THERE’S SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS. WE’VE CREATED THAT AREA THERE. THAT’S CALLED BLACK ICE, WHERE THERE’S SHOPS, RESTAURANTS, TAVERNA, COFFEE AND WINE TASTING. SO EVEN IF IT’S RAINING, THERE’S LOTS TO DO INDOORS. AL

Mediterranean food, culture on display in Greenville, South Carolina at annual Greek festival

Updated: 10:19 AM EDT May 20, 2024

Social Media Executive Producer

Greenville got to take in the style and flavor of the Mediterranean in South Carolina as the 38th annual Greek Festival took over Greenville this past weekend.This year’s festival started Friday and ran through Sunday downtown at Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 406 N. Academy St. Attendees got to experience Greek culture through dance, music and especially the food.For more on what the festival has to offer, click here. The authentic Greek entrees and pastries were ready to order at the festival as well as drive-thru during the festival’s hours of operation Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. through 9 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Check out the menu here.Chef John Makkas, of Ji-Roz, at 644 N. Main St., shared a taste of the festival Thursday on WYFF News 4 at Noon, making the Greek restaurant’s “world famous” Tzatziki sauce.Below is the recipe.Ji-Roz Tzatziki sauceIngredients½ cup coarse grated cucumber1 cup thick whole milk Greek yogurt (5% or higher)1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice1 tablespoon Greek extra virgin olive oil2 garlic cloves, grated ¼ teaspoon sea salt1 tablespoon chopped dillInstructionsMix everything in a bowl and enjoy!!

GREENVILLE, S.C. —

Greenville got to take in the style and flavor of the Mediterranean in South Carolina as the 38th annual Greek Festival took over Greenville this past weekend.

This year’s festival started Friday and ran through Sunday downtown at Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 406 N. Academy St.

Attendees got to experience Greek culture through dance, music and especially the food.

For more on what the festival has to offer, click here.

The authentic Greek entrees and pastries were ready to order at the festival as well as drive-thru during the festival’s hours of operation Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. through 9 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Check out the menu here.

Chef John Makkas, of Ji-Roz, at 644 N. Main St., shared a taste of the festival Thursday on WYFF News 4 at Noon, making the Greek restaurant’s “world famous” Tzatziki sauce.

Below is the recipe.

Ji-Roz Tzatziki sauce

Ingredients

½ cup coarse grated cucumber

1 cup thick whole milk Greek yogurt (5% or higher)

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon Greek extra virgin olive oil

2 garlic cloves, grated ¼ teaspoon sea salt

1 tablespoon chopped dill

Instructions

Mix everything in a bowl and enjoy!!