ONE of East Lancashire's best known names in the catering business is set to bring a taste of Greece to Blackburn.
For nearly 40 years Savas Moustacas ran El Greco's cafe in Blackburn's main shopping centre until it was forced to close last year due to the redevelopment of The Mall.
Now the El Greco's name is returning with Savas due to open El Greco's Continental Patisserie on Blackburn's three-day market.
"It's something I have been thinking about since July last year," said Stavas.
"I'm hoping to bring Greek style pasties and doughnuts to East Lancashire.
"The pasties are not like those you get in England.
"They are made with filo pastry and can have a variety of fillings such as cheese and spinach or cheese and ham.
"They are extremely popular in Greece and increasingly so in other countries around the world but you don't often see them in England."
Stavas is also intending to offer produce regularly associated with Greece including feta cheese, olives and halloumi - a cheese native to Cyprus which is a combination of both sheep and goat's milk.
As for Greek doughnuts, Stavas is convinced that the people of East Lancashire are going to love them.
"They are much smaller than the traditional doughnut you get here.
"They are often served in Cyprus on feast days and for celebrations.
"You fry them and then while still hot put them in trays with syrup and serve them fresh."
Stavas - a Greek Cypriot - came to East Lancashire in 1962.
"There weren't many jobs at home and I came over to England and said I'd stay five years. I'm still here," he laughed.
In 1968 he opened El Greco's, located in one of the main entrances to Blackburn shopping centre.
Many people will remember the cafe for its large, round, coloured windows.
"Ah, the coloured windows," said Stavas. "Do you know why I had coloured glass?
"When we opened in 1968 it was the time of the mini-skirt and the young ladies had to walk up the slope past my windows.
"I put the coloured glass in to stop people looking up their skirts as they walked up the slope. I didn't want a law suit!"
Stavas has been catering for shoppers in Blackburn ever since.
He also owns the long-established Tre Fontaine cafe in Blackburn market.
But it is his new venture that has got him excited.
"It is a bit of a risk as it is something completely new for Blackburn," he said.
"But people are much more adventurous about food these days and I'm sure once they've tried a traditional Greek pasties the business will grow like mushrooms."
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