It’s taking 14 of them but there’s no complaining from the volunteers working to make soe 650 kotopita chicken pies for the Oct. 2-3 Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Greek Festival in the Pittsburgh suburb of Mt. Lebanon.

Festival co-chair Domenica Merante told the Pittsburgh Post Gazette she remembers the first time she tried it 22 years earlier at a fellow church member’s house. “I said, ‘Why aren’t we making this for the October food fair?’ And she said, ‘It’s a lot of work.”

https://www.post-gazette.com/life/food/2024/09/25/greek-food-kotopita-philoptochos-fair-holy-cross-orthodox-church-mt-lebanon/stories/202409190080

It sure is. This effort will take 200 pounds of chicken breast that must be shredded and then mixed with vegetables, spices and, adding to the original recipe, using bechamel sauce to make them moist.

Co-chair Elaine Sofis said it’s not offered at the church’s summer fair, making this the only chance to try it and the teams are trying to ensure there’s enough for everyone’s taste. There will also be beef stifado, tenderloin braised in a tomato-wine sauce, moussaka, gyros, spanakopita and soups.