Beijing's Greek streak

Coming across Hellenic fare in Beijing - usually a somewhat tricky task - is about to get a whole lot easier, with the Meet the Greeks festival starting next month.

The event will bring an influx of quality feta, olive oil and ouzo to the country's capital. The festival will stage a presence in Jenny Lou's supermarkets from Oct 16 through Oct 31, and in the grocer's shops from Oct 23 until Nov 7, head of Kondor SA Beijing Aris Argiriou says.

It will bring fantastic foodstuffs from some of the greatest Greek brands, including Fage, Anna, Riga, Achaia Clauss, Eleourgiki, Bingo-Tottis, Elbisco, Kozat, Samaria, Katogi-Strofilia and Protopapas. The festival also aims to turn the Chinese market toward yellow cheese, yogurt, wine, mineral water, juices, snacks and spirits, Argiriou says.

Shop assistants will provide explanations about the characteristics of Greek cuisine and distribute leaflets with healthy and easy-to-make Greek recipes. Purchasers of Greek products will also have a chance to win a trip for two to the Mediterranean country.

Kondor SA Beijing is the Chinese branch of Kondor SA, one of Greece's biggest food and beverage distribution companies. The company recently signed a deal with Chinese company Daysun Express Ltd to import olive oil (Eleourgiki) and wine brands Achaia Clauss and Katogi-Strofilia Averoff.

Daysun Express CEO Peter Zhu says he believes the Chinese market offers great potential for Greek F&B exporters. He made the remarks at Greek restaurant Argo in Beijing, during a tasting organized by the press and communications office of the Greek Embassy's economic and commercial section.

Some of the promoted products can be found in Argo, which is tucked inside the emerging hip hutong hangout Wudaoying Hutong, opposite Yonghegong Lama Temple.

Argo Greek Restaurant: 59 Wudaoying Hutong, Dongcheng district, Beijing. Tel: (010) 8403-9748