Love & Pita
Vendor
My business is Love & Pita - I own and operate the business and make Greek gyros from scratch.
The mission of my business is to share authentic Greek flavors using locally sourced products and to promote philanthropy. The authentic flavors come from my background; I was born in Greece and raised in a Greek-American household. The philanthropy comes in the form of Gyro of Love - a menu item that gives customers a chance to buy a gyro for the homeless in Honolulu, which I then match.
Love & Pita is proud to serve authentic gyros that one would find in Greece. I marinate all of my chicken and pork using carefully curated spices that create a savory and indulgent experience for the customer. Next, I individually layer each fillet onto my rotisserie for cooking and slicing - I never take any shortcuts.
My menu consists of three items: a chicken gyro, pork gyro, and the gyro of love, which is a gift for a homeless person as mentioned above. I hand craft each gyro with locally sourced tomatoes, red onions, crispy fries (potatoes), and a homemade tzatziki.
I think Greek gyros would be a great addition to the Farmers Market as it adds to the variety and does not directly compete with other stands. If required, I can offer a reference from another event manager that I worked with.
I am 24 years old; I was born in Athens, Greece and raised in upstate New York. I grew up in a family restaurant where I discovered my passion for cooking and the value of hard work. In the morning, I would help my dad with prepping the kitchen, and, in the evening, I would serve tables in the front of the house with my mom. Working with my dad required arriving on schedule, organization, cleanliness, and a willingness to learn. Through watching him lead the kitchen, I learned dozens of family recipes that included our cherished homemade gyro recipe. Similar to working in the kitchen, working the front of the house required patience and dedication to the customer.
For college, I received my bachelor's degree in applied mathematics from the Naval Academy and my master's degree in business analytics from MIT. My education gave me an opportunity to branch out from my background in the restaurant while still pursuing my love of cooking and hospitality after class.
Outside of my artisan food business, I am heavily involved in local sports (basketball, soccer, and frisbee) and I love finding new restaurants and Farmers Markets to explore.
