July 12, 2012 — National Hellenic Museum Announces 5th Annual Kouzina

Guests will “Taste the Food, Taste the Wine, and Taste the Culture”

CHICAGO, IL (July 12, 2012) — National Hellenic Museum (NHM) announces their 5th Annual Kouzina Event to be held from 6 to 9 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012 at the Museum, located on 333 South Halsted, in the heart of historic Greektown. The Museum invites guests, from all over the Chicago metropolitan area to come “Taste the food – Taste the wine – Taste the culture.” Guests will experience an authentic Greek event when they:

• Taste the food – prepared by top chefs from around the country who will whip up delectable Greek and Mediterranean bites.
• Taste the wine – and enjoy premium wine tastings from Greece.
• Taste the culture – sample and shop at the pop-up “Agora” (The Marketplace) featuring authentic Greek foods and products.
• Experience the culture – with a special Kouzina exhibit: Exploring Greek History and Tradition through Food and Wine.

Mia Figlia Chef John Boudouvas will serve as Kouzina Chef Committee Chair. According to Chef John Boudouvas, “It is an honor to help support the Museum and the work it does to preserve the Greek American story. Events like Kouzina, gives us an opportunity to convey our story and our culture through our food and wine.”  Boudavas is joined by participating Chefs George Alpogiannis from City Porch and Jimmy Bannos, Sr. from Heaven on Seven.

Tickets for Kouzina are $100 per person and $125 at the door. Community and corporate sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information or to buy tickets, visit http://www.nationalhellenicmuseum.org/kouzina.

The National Hellenic Museum, which opened December 2011, is located in a brand new 40,000-square-foot space. The three-story eco-friendly building is home to interactive exhibits, children’s education center, research library, oral history center, museum store, special events hall, and rooftop terrace.

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The National Hellenic Museum is the first and only major museum dedicated to recording, documenting and presenting a piece of American history, the path of Greek immigrants towards becoming American, and their contributions to the American landscape. Through events like Kouzina, exhibits, and public programs on ancient and Modern Greek culture and traditions, the Museum works to enrich their immediate neighborhood, the City of Chicago and the Nation, as they engage with a broad range of communities that make up the American mosaic.

Now through September 2, meet Greek gods and climb into a 12-foot Trojan horse when you experience the family-friendly exhibit Gods, Myths and Mortals: Discover Ancient Greece. Museum hours are Tuesdays – Sundays. For more information, visit www.nationalhellenicmuseum.org or call 312-655-1234.