Business & Tech
Homemade Deliciousness at the Greek International Market
Baklava, Greek olive oil, Greek cheeses and more...
Katerina Iliades is only 23, but she's got the grandma thing down pat when it comes to feeding people.
"Come in and I'll feed you," said Iliades, whose family owns the at the corner of Grove and Washington streets.
The Market is a family affair with her mother, Dimitra, and father, Savvas, manning the store on a regular basis. The family also owns the .
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The Market opened 1.5 years ago and has quickly gained success by attracting residents from all around the area. The Market also caters and carries goods from Syria, Turkey, Lebanon and more.
If you're from some of the above mentioned locations you may recognize products you haven't been able to find in years. Rusks, pure olive oil soaps, pre-oiled pita breads for homemade gyros, homemade spinach pies, and other products that would challenge any spelling bee champion.
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But that's why Katerina and her mother are present. Not only because they take pride in the Market, but so they can offer you samples of their homemade hummus, calamari and octopus, three-bean chick pea salad, eggplant salad and more.
The cheeses are really popular and there's a handy sheet behind the counter which describes the offerings and what they taste like. The cheeses are made from sheep, goat and cow milk and come in the barrel from their dairy farm in Greece. "It never sits and is always fresh, not prepackaged," said Katerina proudly.
They also sell fillo dough for spinach pies or any other desired cooking need, which has fascinated Katerina, 23, "So many different cultures make something different with the same fillo. I find it really cool."
Along with the freshly made meals they only sell one yogurt, their own variety, which is so popular there is no need to sell another, said Katerina.
The Market sells many known brands like Serino's, which local folks have been happy to see on local shelves again.
One of the cooler things is that the Market sells their own oil from their own olive tree farm in Greece - ask about it.
As for Katerina, she can't decide on what she likes the best, which is a good thing because she's an owner of the Market and can taste whatever she wants. When asked if she only had $10, what she would spend it on, one could see the difficulty the question created.
"$10? I would get olive oil, olives, a piece of cheese (dodoni)... I only have $10?"
Good thing you're allowed to spend more than $10 at the Greek International Market.
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