Food and Drink

Weymouth Pavilion experienced a taste of Greek culture at its fifth annual festival of the best Greek-flavoured produce around - and organiser George Afedakis, a wine importer and businessman in the town, thinks it was the best yet.

"I've worked for the past year on it. It's hard work, and every year I think, 'I won't do another one', but I do of course, and this year is the best so far I think."

George, who came to live in the town ten years ago, is now fully settled by the sea: "Weymouth is like Greece for me - it is home. I couldn't move from here."

12,000 people

Up to 12,000 were expected to attend over the three days of the event, and with the sun finally out, it might even have felt like a bit of Greece really had come to Dorset!

Up for the tasting were more than 100 different wines and numerous flavours from a range of fresh mediterrean food.

Foods visitors were able to sample included mezedes, a small Greek sausage, meatballs, various cheeses and olives and authentic Greek hummus with bread.

Spiral

Spicing things up, for some, in a different way was former Big Brother contestant Spiral - that's his name! - who was roaming around the festival with a film crew in tow.

The 2006 reality TV participant was there interviewing visitors about a member of this year's Big Brother. Current housemate Gerry Stergiopoulos claims to be the most famous Greek in Britain, and Spiral, on behalf of Channel 4's Big Brother's Little Brother, was canvassing opinion on Gerry's claim.

Greek food

But everyone else was there for the wine and food. So apart from its taste, what makes Greek food so special?

Says George, "It's healthy. It's not spicy, and it's good natural food. Olive oil gives long life to the people, and the Greek Olive oil, especially from Crete which is where I'm from, is the best in the world.

"And the British people they love the food too - when I see all the happy faces here enjoying the food, that's why I do it."