A person is celebrating the success of his small restaurant after opening for the tenth summer season in a row — in his yard.
Panikos Panayiotou, 44, is a father of three from Walsall, England, who runs and operates a Greek restaurant out of a semi-detached construction in his yard.
The sports activities growth supervisor by day opened Lakis Greek Kitchen in 2014 — an concept that originated from his late father, Lakis Panayiotou.
The elder man was within the means of constructing his personal yard Greek restaurant when he handed away as a result of small cell lung most cancers in 2012, in response to SWNS.
Panayiotou informed Fox Information Digital that to honor his father and his Greek heritage, he determined he would make this occur himself. It took 5 months, he stated by way of e-mail.
Panikos Panayiotou, pictured right here, opens the Lakis Greek Kitchen for six weeks of the 12 months and donates many of the proceeds to charity. (SWNS)
“I constructed it in reminiscence of my father, who handed away from most cancers. He tried to begin it — [but he] constructed half a restaurant in his backyard [and then] handed away earlier than it could possibly be completed,” he additionally stated to SWNS.
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He added, “My father all the time needed to run a conventional Greek taverna from his house, and so it’s a approach of preserving his reminiscence alive and elevating much-needed cash for charity.”
He informed Fox Information Digital that what makes the restaurant particular to him is “the flexibility to serve individuals by means of the love of meals in reminiscence of my father and to assist native individuals in want.”
Panayiotou stated he opened the restaurant to honor his late Greek father, who all the time had a dream to just do that. (SWNS)
Because the begin, the Panayiotous have donated almost $70,000 to native charities.
Panayiotou retains the restaurant — which might maintain about 75 prospects — open for six weeks annually.
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He and his spouse, Michelle, volunteer their time and efforts to arrange for the group whereas a volunteer chef from an area lodge is available in to cook dinner the meals.
Panayiotou additionally informed Fox Information Digital that his three youngsters, ages 13, 12, and eight, additionally assist out on the restaurant.
Folks will go to the restaurant from the US, the proprietor stated, and guide a desk two months out (SWNS)
“My daughter is within the kitchen. My boys run an LGK (Lakis Greek Kitchen) store, which sells Greek oil, olives and different produce that helps with our fundraising,” he stated.
Their signature dish is lamb kleftiko.
Moreover, his youngsters additionally assist with prep and serving the shoppers.
Their signature dish is a lamb kleftiko dish. The marinated lamb and potatoes are slowly cooked for 8 to 12 hours, in response to SWNS.
The restaurant additionally serves desserts reminiscent of baklava, coconut cake and a Greek chocolate rock cake known as Doukissa.
Lakis Greek Kitchen makes and serves genuine Greek meals to honor a member of the family who has handed on. (SWNS)
Panayiotou informed SWNS that the restaurant opens its reservations two months upfront and inside a couple of hours, the tables are about 80% full.
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“We try to cater for walk-ins, too [and] we will find yourself with individuals all around the again backyard,” he stated.
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Panayiotou stated that fortunately his neighbors don’t thoughts the big crowds — and that some guests even come from the US to go to the distinctive restaurant.
A person opened a restaurant in his yard as a nod to his late Greek father. He is now been operating it for 10 years and provides most of his income to charity. (SWNS)
“Our traditions are to have a relationship along with your family members within the afterlife, so that you do good deeds in reminiscence of them,” he informed SWNS.
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He added, “And that is what we do right here yearly. That is for him.”