The Doner Kebab Man Has Died
We don’t know who invented the wheel. We do, however, know who invented the doner kebab, an invention of similarly epochal significance. Rest in peace, dear sir. I can’t say I’m the world’s foremost lover of the doner kebab. And though I don’t know if Mahmut Aygün was a pious Muslim, I am well aware of the fact that he enabled the drunken reveling of millions of hoodlums, to which I can only say, “Hey, I only serve them the kebabs.” Because I have all kinds of restaurant schemes myself — I dream of one day helping some visionary run a Naan and Beyond empire, if only as a clock-wearing “hype man”; I also remember this highly advanced dirty rice and risotto concept, but I’m keeping that one close to the vest — I have a lot of admiration for the people who fill our bellies with greasy treats.
Clearly, I must live under a rock, as I have never, ever heard it refered to as a doner kebab. It’s always been a Gyros. And in fact, there was a restaurant in Ann Arbor in the 70’s run by greeks serving it, so I might have to take exception to your assertions…
— M00se · Jan 22, 03:14 PM · #
I have never, ever heard it refered to as a doner kebab. It’s always been a Gyros.
Please don’t start a Greek-Turk war here. Please. We can’t afford to allow the Scene to become a second Cyprus.
— Alan Jacobs · Jan 22, 03:23 PM · #
(sigh) i miss having a doner kebabs. theyre all over the urban areas in germany. i wish it was more common here in nyc. gyros are pretty common but its not quite the same…
— jehan · Jan 23, 06:37 AM · #
oh yeah, i forgot to mention i spent a couple of years in germany. im well aware doners originate from turkey, was just reminiscing, thats all
— jehan · Jan 23, 06:39 AM · #
Sorry, I am but a simple man from the midwest. I know naught about these tribal differences.
Besides a “doner kebab” sounds way too much like something made from a dead settler…
— M00se · Jan 24, 03:39 AM · #
“Doner” means “turns” in Turkish, and “Kebap” is a semi-generic name for a lot of meat based foods. In Israel and some Arabic speaking countries they call it “Shawarma”. In Israel you can eat Shawarma made of turkey meat and it is delicious. In Turkey the “Doner” is made of either beef or lamb, in Greece mostly lamb. And I agree, please no fighting over whether it is of Greek, Turkish or Arabic origin. I have known families torn asunder by arguments over who invented the stuffed bell-pepper (the following nationalities claim ownership: Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Armenia, Iran and Georgia). Just enjoy the food.
— TheWinterSolstice · Jan 25, 02:21 AM · #