General News
Meropi Kyriacou Honored as TNH Educator of the Year
NEW YORK – Meropi Kyriacou, the new Principal of The Cathedral School in Manhattan, was honored as The National Herald’s Educator of the Year.
HAMDEN, CT – The Hamden Regional Chamber of Commerce honored the Greek restaurant Freskos as the Small Business of the Year. The Annual Chamber Choice Awards recognize the accomplishments of the Hamden region’s businesses, community leaders, educators, and students. Freskos owner Peter Vouros noted that “we were told we won because of the various causes we have raised money for. This past summer we raised over $500 for the victims of the fires in Evia. We ran a program called ‘Gyros For Heroes’ which delivered food to front-line workers during the early days of the pandemic. We have also donated money for the Wounded Warrior Project, Read to Grow, and Puerto Rican Hurricane relief.”
Vouras told The National Herald that “I think that the Greek concept of philotimo is alive and well and that we should all give what we can to help others in need.”
When asked about his roots in Greece, Vouras said: “My father was from Vamvakou in Laconia. My mother is American, but her father was from Lidoriki and her mother was from Aivali in Asia Minor.”
Of plans for expanding the business, Vouras told TNH: “I am expanding the business with a food truck this spring with the intent of franchising them in the future across the country.”
Freskos is located in Hamden Center Plaza, 2323 Whitney Avenue in Hamden. Vouras opened the first Freskos in early 2016 as an alternative to traditional fast food establishments. It quickly grew to become a favorite restaurant in the area and was voted Best Greek Restaurant, Best Gyro, Best Salad, and Best Mediterranean Restaurant in CTNow’s Best of New Haven reader’s poll.
Freskos offers fresh, authentic Greek food from souvlaki and gyro sandwiches to salads, soups, and imported Greek yogurt. Patrons are drawn to the real Greek experience at the restaurant which, in addition to serving delicious food, includes live streaming music from Greece.
Vouras is following in the footsteps of both grandfathers who ran several successful restaurants in Meriden and Hartford. Many of the family recipes passed down through the generations are still used at Freskos.
Vouras’ entrepreneurial spirit began right after he graduated from Fairfield University when he started publishing his own music magazine with his friend Bill Arciprete called VoxPop. The successful magazine eventually morphed into a live cable access show that provided Vouras an outlet to unleash some creative characters and hone his improv skills.
He then moved to Manhattan and established himself as a stand-up comedian. From New York, he ended up in Los Angeles, continuing to perform stand-up comedy and furthering his acting career. After getting married, he and his wife decided to move east to be near family. They settled in Brooklyn where Vouras continued to pursue his stand-up comedy in addition to acting in TV, film, and on stage.
After living in NYC for a few years, they decided to make Connecticut their home. Vouras purchased and took over the Huntington Street Cafe in Shelton in 2008 with the goal of transforming it to a healthy, profitable business. After completing that goal, he sold it and transitioned into restaurant consulting. Then he decided to open his own Greek restaurant, and Freskos was founded.
Freskos is open Monday-Friday: 11 AM-8 PM and Saturday: 11 AM-4 PM. Closed Sunday.
More information is available by phone: 203-823-9951 and online: https://www.freskosgreek.com.
The 25th Annual Hamden Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Chamber Choice Awards will be handed out on Thursday, January 13, at Cascade, 480 Sherman Avenue in Hamden.
NEW YORK – Meropi Kyriacou, the new Principal of The Cathedral School in Manhattan, was honored as The National Herald’s Educator of the Year.
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