18th Annual Assyrian Food Festival in San Jose

The 18th annual Assyrian Food Festival took place Aug. 21 and 22 in San Jose, California. His grace Mar Awa Royel Bishop of California attended this event, along with Rev Archdeacon Nenos Michael of Mar Narsai Parish, San Francisco, and Father Lawrence Namato of Mar Yosip Parish, San Jose and many other dignitaries from the state of California and the city of San Jose.

This year we were blessed with record number of attendees, approximately 5,000. Those who attended had their choice of beef, chicken, and vegetable kabobs, as well as rice with dill and lima beans, a traditional yogurt soup called boushala, Assyrian eggrolls called bourak, hummus, mixed olives and dishes with exotic names like kouba, jajik and goupta.

Desserts include dates, baklava, a rice pudding called booshalad khalva and familiar items such as ice cream.

While food is the focus of the event, there is a parade, live folk music and dancing and a special area for children with activities.

The festival is designed to showcase Assyrian traditions and to educate others about the heritage of the land called “the cradle of civilization.”

The festival took place at the Assyrian Church of the East, Mar Yosip Parish, located at 680 Minnesota Ave.

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