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If any of you are thinking of going to Greece this year, I encourage you (again) to sample as much of the local food as possible.

Try out the specials, ask the server for help when choosing your items. Ask for a recommended dish.

As you’re traveling, you will also sometimes be rushed for time and hey, that’s okay…we all have trains, planes, ships to catch.

I just booked and paid for my vacation to Greece this summer. All I know is that I’m going in August, returning after Labour Day and I want to visit at least another neighouring country and perhaps a Greek island I’ve yet to visit.

One thing that is a “sure thing” is that I will be eating a Greek gyro. Here in Toronto we now have a few shops that sell gyro on a pita and it’s very good, close to the Greek serving but, not the same.

I reckon the pig in Greece has a greater fat content. Fat = flavour. Just ask yourself how much bacon is sold?

When you’re in Greece, if you’re going to eat fast food…at least have what the locals are having. Souvlaki, Biftekia or my fave, the gyro on a pita! I vehemently urge you to avoid Rotten Ronnies (McD’s), Burger Queen, the devil known as Starbucks and that purveyor of horrible pizza, Something Hut.

I get this craving every now & then and I had some left over pork available for my home-made gyro experiment.

As you can see, the experiment turned out pretty good.

I thinly shaved some roast pork, tossed it in garlic powder, sweet paprika, onion and garlic powder, fennel seeds and oregano.

I then placed the pork meat on a tray and heated the meat up in my toaster-oven until the pork crisped a bit. I found similar results were achieved using a Pizza seasoning which contains the similar ingredients.

Building your own gyro is quite simple, you need:

  1. All one has to do is seasoning and heat up your pork meat, warm up a pita bread and assemble. Smear some Tzatziki on the pita bread and then drop your pork meat in the pita, followed by the tomatoes, onions and french fries.
  2. Roll up your Gyro, secure with a toopick and devour the “saand-weetz” (that’s how Greeks say sandwich).

30 Responses

  1. Wow, I think pork pwns lamb for a gyro, dunnit? Yummmm. I am totally jonesing for a gyro now, with Greek fries. Thanks a lot, Peter!

  2. I adore gyros, but never thought about making them myself. You make it sound easy!

    I can’t imagine why anyone would go to Greece and eat American fast food. That’s criminal! Greek food rocks! Fast, slow or in between, it’s some of the tastiest food on earth, especially when enjoyed in a little taverna, washed down with some good Greek beer.

  3. Aaahh..my favourite as well. Funnily enough here in Oz (with a very big Greek population) the gyro is made using lamb. It was only in Greece that I naively discovered about pork and how much it is consumed. I don’t mind either version actually. And the fries added in make it that little bit more satisfying. Μην ξεχασεις της μπυρες! (Don’t forget the beers..to all our non Greek readers!).

  4. Gyros are a must have in Greece or anywhere Peter. I had a delicious one near the archaeological museum in Athens…. and yes it did have fries in it. You are so lucky to be headed there again this summer :D

  5. Frennnncccchhh Frrrieees?!?
    Really?

    Actually, I have to say when I was in Spain a couple summers back, one of the few fast foods we could get were gyros; and good ones too. But, uh, pass the lettuce for me please; french fries seem a little over the top with all that bread.

  6. Wow…that gyro looks so good! We are able to get all of that stuff here but our pita’s suck!!!

  7. Peter, we must be thinking alike – yesterday I bought our tickets for Greece – we’re going in August and coming back in October. I’m looking forward to it. As for the fries in your gyros, it may be over the top but it sure tastes good! And the pork in Greek is definitely tastier for exactly the reason you say – it hasn’t had the fat bred out of it.

  8. That looks really good. I’ve never posted about my trip to Greece – I went before I started blogging. Looking forward to reading about your trip.

  9. Personally, I love kebab, but I realize it’s difficult to fix at home. I also prefer to leave off the fries and pile on the tzatziki. Nice to find you!

  10. Que rico!!!
    Peter, this is the last time I visit your blog just before luch… I’m craving for food seeing yor pictures :D.
    Rushing to the kitchen…. byeeeeeee!

  11. I love gyros. Here in Ohio we have a couple of good gyro places and a very good Greek restaurant that I like to visit often. Greece is a country I want to definitely visit before I die. Hehe. Very nice blog!

  12. Heather, I usually gorge myself on gyro on my first day in Greece.

    Toni, Greeks do drink alot of beer in the summer, given the heat & all.

    Peter, I have a friend in Melbourne who also told me your gyro there is made with lamb. I tried this kind in Turkey, it too was good. Pete, mia “prasini” parakalo!

    Val, just lucky to be Greek.

    Ferdzy, lettuce in a gyro is a sin.

    Glam, Chi-town has a sizable Greek community, gyro should easily be found.

    Maryann, it would be “Gheeer-rrro”…lemme hear ya say it!

    Laurie, that’s right, the pig has more fat there – more taste.

    Psychgrad, please do blog about your trip, I’d like to read it.

    AmericaninAthens, welcome aboard, visit often.

    Nuria, are you still eating?

    Jenn, gyro is proper fast food!

    Pat, I’ve heard there are Greeks in Brazil and now I know they also offer gyro.

  13. Oh dear! It was dangerous to come to your blog this morning! This is one of my favorite foods–and how I wish I was going to Greece too! :):) I would kill to have one of your Gyros. It’s the food of the Gods, you know.

  14. We are lucky to have a few very good Greek restaurants around here. Gyros are one of my favorite sandwiches. I’ve never tried to make my own. I’m afraid that I’d be disappointed. I get my fix at a place called Big Al’s. They have great ones! :)

  15. Sher, I admit…I eat too much of it when in Greece… I compensate for it’s absence the rest of the year.

    Pam, I use store bought and I’ve yet to meet a Greek who made their own…yet!

    Pixie, gyro is part of the royalty of sammies.

  16. I just found this site and already it’s set off a craving for gyros. I came across it in Serbia rather than Greece but it seems almost identical.

  17. Absolutely delicious looking Peter, I wish I had one right now!! Fries are an interesting addition, can’t say I ever seen them inside the gyro though!

  18. Some things we take it for granted here in Greece and it never occurred to me to make gyro at home. I have to reconsider and try this. It looks wonderful.

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