‘Above our expectations’: Darwin’s Greek GleNTi Festival serves up a record 12 tonnes of food at 2021 event

Greek food lovers ate up a record amount of honey puffs, soulva, yiros, octopus, spanakopita and other delicious delicacies at Darwin’s annual GleNTi festival.

Vakina Kypreos, 3, on the final day of GleNTi 2021. Picture Glenn Campbell

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GREEK food lovers ate up a record amount of honey puffs, soulva, yiros, octopus, spanakopita and other delicious delicacies at Darwin’s annual GleNTi festival.

The event, which celebrated 200 years of Greek Independence, turned the Esplanade blue and white at the weekend.

Greek Orthodox Community of North Australia president Nick Poniris said they sold close to 12 tonnes of food over the two days of the festival.

Mr Poniris said demand was so high people were still lining up for food at midnight on Saturday.

Chris Salakis on the final day of GleNTi 2021. Picture Glenn Campbell

“We had so much interest on the first day of the festival that we literally saw almost two days worth of food that we budgeted for gone in just one day,” he said.

“We planned for over 10 tonnes of food to be prepared and cooked at the festival but we’ve had to get some extra food as demand grew.

“As far as I know now we’re closer to 12 tonnes of food.”

Mr Poniris said organisers estimated between 40,000 and 60,000 people attended over two days.

“We’re ecstatic with the turnout, it’s gone above our expectations,” he said.

Nathan Pylarinos on the final day of GleNTi 2021. Picture Glenn Campbell

“Due to the fact that people can’t travel overseas the numbers this year have outdone our 2019 festival.

“We’re seeing a lot more interstate visitors who haven’t been to a GleNTi festival before here for the first time.

“Talking to people at they festival it seems tourists have come up from Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Townsville, Perth, Kununurra, Broome and Cairns – basically everywhere but Melbourne.

“We couldn’t be happier with the way the festival went.”

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