Throwback Thursday: Celebrating 100 Years of Greek Culture in Seattle

MOHAI's Place at the Table exhibit pays homage to a century of Greek restaurants, culture and spirit

By Jaclyn Norton February 4, 2015

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Before Greek restaurateurs introduced Pacific Northwesterners to Ouzo or their fresh Mediterranean fare, they were immigrants in a new world, working long hours and adapting to unfamiliar ways in order to survive.

More than a century ago, many arrived with little education, no transferable skills and a only contact name or two if lucky. Broke and hungry, many found their way into restaurants–establishments that fulfilled these two most basic needs. With a strong work ethic and eagerness to learn the American way, Greek restaurateurs took to cooking American classics. Burgers, shakes, sandwiches and hot dogs were the norm at these haunts, and menus had very little reflection of the region from which these owners and workers hailed.

But long restaurant hours and a strong drive set these Greek-owned restaurants apart. They began to gain traction by serving high volumes of alcohol alongside easy-to-prep food at a fair price. Still, prior to 1960 there was no knowledge or demand for authentic Greek cuisine in Seattle.

As Greek restaurateurs assimilated into American culture and experienced their first tastes of success, there was a new interest in bringing food from their homeland to their customers. Some returned to Greece to learn classic Mediterranean dishes, bringing back recipes and techniques from a region known for fine olive oil, fish, plant-based foods and herbs. The importance of family, friends, laughter and red wine were Greek codes of life that made their way into all their restaurants.

Today, there are more than 200 Greek-owned restaurants in the Puget Sound region alone, a few of them standing ground from those first years in the early 1900s. These hubs represent an intersection of Greek food, culture, entrepreneurship and family, showing just how far drive and community can take you when you lay roots here.

On Saturday, February 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., join the Greek-American Historical Museum of Washington State in collaboration with MOHAI to kick off the opening day of the A Place at the Table exhibit, which runs February 7 through May 31. The exhibit traces the history of Greek restaurants in Seattle with video interviews, photos and memorabilia. Celebrate the opening day with family food craft activities, and performances by Assumption Greek Orthodox Church Dance Group, St. Demetrias Dance Group and Christos Govetas Family Music Group. Opa!

 

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