Like all Neos Kosmos readers I’m proud of my Greek heritage and I want to share it with others. Not only our ancient heritage but also our culture, our joint history with Australians and our food.
When we go to Greece we enjoy the excellent Greek products and sometimes the thought crosses our mind that ‘wouldn’t it be great to be able to enjoy this back home in Australia’.
The local olive oil, the feta and cheeses, the olives, the herbs, the wines, the Greek beers, the sweets, the juices and soft drinks, the mineral waters, the Greek pastas (zimarika) – they all taste so much better.
We come back home and get into old habits buying the same stuff. We go to our parents and relatives for our Greek fixes, or to a cafe or restaurant. Some of us buy some Greek products for our home to have a taste of Greece handy.
But generally, we give very little thought to the scores of Greek food importers and distributors spread around Australia who supply the restaurants, delis and specialist supermarkets making available the best of Greece in Australia.
Despite the large number of Greek products available and the size of our community, we are still relatively small consumers of our own products compared to other ethnic communities.
But we can have a role in changing all that: starting now for Christmas. We each need to commit to purchasing and showcasing our products.
This year, in response to the Greek economic crisis, I am increasing my efforts. I have my business meetings and regularly visit Lonsdale Street, in the CBD and Oakleigh. I make a special effort at the supermarkets and delis to purchase a little more Greek for my fridge and pantry.
This year it was my turn to organise a family get-together. I held it at a Greek restaurant that had a high level of Greek content and all the adults received Greek wine as a Christmas present.
The feedback has been great. Everyone has liked what they have tried. The fact is, the products are of comparable – if not better – quality, and are competitively priced.
So this Christmas and New Year period lets all ‘Go Greek’. For your Christmas function showcase Greece produce and gifts. At a barbecue take some Greek beer or wine.
Make up a gift hamper of Greek products as a present or even as a prize for Christmas raffles. And don’t forget to stock the kitchen up with quick Greek meals – pastas, tinned dolmades, gigantes beans and horta: as well as the delicious ready-for-the-oven Greek pitas.
There are so many choices out there. All you have to do is look around and buy Greek. You’re spending money anyway so why not showcase our culture and help Greece at the same time?
And if we keep doing this it won’t be long before we see products available at more outlets, perhaps even supplying a mainstream supermarket or even sponsoring our community events.
So have a great festive season and do yourself, your family, Greece and Greek culture a favour: ‘Go Greek’.