Neoléa, in collaboration with the Panarcadian Association of South Australia “O Kolokotronis”, hosted a cooking workshop on Sunday, February 9, at the Panarcadian Hall.
The event marked the second instalment of the Syllogo Initiative; a project by Neoléa dedicated to celebrating and supporting local Greek clubs and associations by showcasing their unique regional culture and helping ensure that cultural knowledge is accessible across generations.
With over 60 guests from a diverse group of Greek Australians participating, the workshop featured a captivating cooking demonstration led by Panarcadian member, Nitsa Mihalopoulos. Nitsa shared her personal secrets and a step-by-step process behind her homemade hilopites, a traditional Greek small square pasta.
The event highlighted the cultural significance of this multi-day process, from kneading the dough to drying the finished product.
Attendees learned about the time-honoured tradition of making hilopites, a communal activity where villagers, particularly women, would gather to prepare large batches for the year. Fascinating stories were shared about the sheer scale of production, including anecdotes of boys stomping on the dough to knead it.
Whilst the recipe’s time constraints prevented full hands-on participation, guests were actively engaged throughout the afternoon. They watched the kneading process firsthand and were able to experience the texture of the dough at various stages, from the raw ingredients to finished pasta.
The delicious aroma of kokkinisto sauce filled the hall as generous servings of hilopites were distributed after the demonstration, much to the delight of the attendees.
The afternoon concluded with a dynamic panel discussion facilitated by Anastasia Mavrides and members of the Panarcadian Association. The discussion explored the relevance and impact of Greek associations in today’s world, focusing on how different generations within the Greek community can interact, share knowledge, and maintain vital cultural connections.
Treasurer of the Panarcadian Association, Chris Karahalios, said after the event, “Everyone in this room has a connection to Greece. It is so important that we teach our children and our grandchildren about the connection and encourage them to learn about our culture, about our food, our Greek dancing, and of course, speaking our language. If these things die, our culture slowly dies with it, making it harder to pass on from one generation to another.”
Councillor Zoi Papafilopoulos, Local Ward Councillor and Panarcadian Association Committee Member, added, “Our elderly members often hold the key to preserving traditional customs, recipes, songs and stories that might otherwise be lost.”
“It’s important we take time to learn from them so they can pass down this knowledge to our younger generations, ensuring our cultural heritage remains alive,” Cr Papafilopoulos added.
“The energy and passion of the young people from Neoléa to facilitate this is inspiring; their dedication ensures our cultural heritage will flourish for generations to come. It was an honour to collaborate with them.”
*All photos copyright Sophia Zavlagka.
