Gyros
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2008-07-16T14:59:09Z
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/* The Philippines */
''This article is about the food dish. For other uses, see [[Gyro]].''
{{wikt|gyros}}
[[Image:Gyros mit Pommes frites auf Helgoland.jpg|right|thumb|Slices of gyros.]]
'''Gyros''' or '''gyro''' ({{pronEng|ˈjɪəroʊ}} or {{IPA|/ˈdʒaɪroʊ/}}, [[Greek language|Greek]]: ''γύρος'' "turn") is a [[Greek cuisine|Greek]] [[fast food]];. It is a kind of meat roasted on a vertical [[rotisserie]]. By extension, gyros may refer to the [[pita]] [[sandwich]] it is often served in, with various salads and sauces. The most common fillings are [[tomato]], [[onions]], and [[tzatziki]] sauce. [[French fries]] are a common side dish. Sometimes the name is applied to the form of the sandwich (pita wrapped around filling) rather than to the filling itself, and sometimes the name "[[souvlaki]]" is applied to the sandwich.
The Arabic [[shawarma]] and Mexican [[taco al pastor|tacos al pastor]] are similar to gyros, all derived from the Turkish [[döner kebab]] which was invented in [[Bursa]] in the 19th century.<ref>Kenneth F. Kiple, Kriemhild Coneè Ornelas, eds., ''Cambridge World History of Food'', Cambridge, 2000. ISBN 0521402166. Vol. 2, p. 1147.</ref>
To make gyros, slices of meat are placed on a tall vertical spit, which turns in front of a source of heat. The rate of roasting can be adjusted by varying the strength of the heat and the distance between the heat and the meat, allowing the cook to adjust to varying rates of consumption. The meat is sliced vertically. It is generally served in an oiled, fried piece of pita, rolled up with various salads and sauces.
==Name==
The name comes from [[Greek language|Greek]] γύρος 'turn', a [[calque]] of the Turkish name [[döner kebab]] 'turning roast'; the dish was formerly called ντονέρ [don'er] in Greece as well.<ref>Babiniotis, Λεξικό της Νεας Ελληνικής Γλώσσας; Andriotis ''et al.'', Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής</ref>
The Greek pronunciation is {{IPA|[ˈʝirɔs]}}, but in English, the pronunciation of 'gyro(s)' usually follows English spelling rules, giving {{IPA|[ˈdʒaɪɹəʊ(s)]}}; though sometimes the Greek pronunciation is approximated (the intent of the spellings 'yeeros,' 'yiros' and 'Year-Oh'), giving {{IPA|[ˈjiːɹəʊ(s)]}}.<ref>[http://www.languagehat.com/archives/002840.php Doner/Gyro], information on pronunciation and terminology.</ref>
==Variations==
===Greece and Cyprus===
[[Image:Gyros C5878.jpg|right|thumb|Skewers with gyros]]
In [[Greece]] and [[Cyprus]], the [[meat]] is typically [[pork]], [[chicken]], and occasionally [[beef]] (a beef Gyro is mostly referred to as "ντονερ" doner){{Fact|date=February 2007}}. In [[Athens]], and most of [[Greece]], a "pita gyro" will contain [[tzatziki]], [[tomato]], [[onion]] and fried [[potatoes]] in addition to the [[meat]]. However some places offer different alternatives to the classic ingredients. A [[pita]] gyro with [[pork]] will be served with [[tzatziki]] as a [[dressing]], whereas the [[chicken]] dressings vary from shop to shop but are most often a variant on [[mayonnaise]].
In [[Thessaloniki]] an order of "pita gyro" includes [[tomato]], [[onion]], fried [[potatoes]], [[mustard]] and/or [[ketchup]] in addition to the meat. [[Pitas]] are available in at least three types: 'plain', '[[Cypriot]]', and 'Arabian' in some chain restaurants, however in most places only 'Plain' is offered. 'Plain' [[pita]] is around 20cm in diameter and the thickest of the three. 'Cypriot' pita are the same size but somewhat thinner, and are split like [[pocket bread]]. 'Arabian' pitas are crispy, and the flattest and largest.
Gyros is also served in [[sandwich]]-type bread. Gyros was originally introduced to [[Greece]] from [[Thessaloniki]], and specifically from the district of [[Toumba]]. There are several stories regarding Gyros's origin: One says that the first [["gyradiko"]] (fast food shop) was "Giorgos" who brought gyros to [[Thessaloniki]] in 1970{{Fact|date=October 2007}}, another story says that Gyros came in 1950s in [[Piraeus]] from a cooker arrived from [[İstanbul|Constantinople]]<ref
name="hellenic">[http://www.hellenicgyros.gr/main_en.cfm?menu_id=1&submenu_id=37 Hellenic Gyros SA<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.
There are, however, photos of [["manges"]], Greek figures of the underworld, in 1880, sitting in gyros shops in [[Athens]] of the time. This implies that the introduction of gyros was far earlier than the aforementioned dates.{{Fact|date=October 2007}},
A typical sandwich could cost from 2 [[€]] to 2,30[[€]] the most expensive (2007 rates). Finally, Thessaloniki will offer the biggest sandwich in all Greek cities.
On the island of [[Crete]], pork meat is the most popular filling although in some of the larger cities (notably the city of [[Chania]]) there are also chicken (and even [[falafel]]) alternatives. Those in [[Crete]] usually enjoy strained [[yogurt]] in lieu of [[tzatziki]], and many stands offer "Russian salad" which is a mixture of [[Pickling|pickles]] and [[mayonnaise]].
In [[Kos]], a Greek island in the [[Aegean sea]], the locals wrap chicken and add fried potatoes to gyros. This variation usually costs around 1 [[Euro]] (regional prices may vary)
In other Greek cities, like [[Patra]], where gyros are not as popular, the sandwich is often prepared and then put in a toaster or toasted under a press, like a [[panino]], popular grilled sandwich throughout [[Europe]] . A [[sandwich]] there can cost the same price as in [[Thessaloniki]]. In [[Kalamata]] it can sometimes be eaten in Thrakopsomo, a thick round loaf of country style bread cut in two halves and stuffed with a double serving of Gyro meat.
===Merida===
Merida (portion), is a way of serving meat, where instead of putting the meat into a pita or bread, it is put in a disk with aluminum foil or λαδόκολλα (baking paper). A 200 gr portion of gyros is put with tomato, french fries, sliced onions, and/or mustard & ketchup. The portion of gyros can vary from 150 gr to even 450 gr in more remote places.
===Australia===
Gyros in [[Australia]] are typically based on lamb, chicken or beef, or a combination of those meats. In addition to the usual fillings of onion, lettuce and tomato, extra fillings may include [[bulgur]] (cooked wheat), [[hummus]], [[cheese]] and [[tabouli]]. The sauce is usually a yogurt sauce such as tzatziki, but chilli sauce (often Thai sweet chilli sauce) can also be used. The pita bread may be quickly toasted before the dish is assembled or the entire dish may be toasted in a sandwich press after assembly.
In Australia, the names gyros, souvlaki, döner kebab, and shawarma are used more or less interchangeably, depending on the vendor, the national group, or community in question more than on the nature of the food.
Different names are favoured in different regions of Australia. In [[South Australia]] they are known (both in the singular and plural) as '''yiros''', a rendering of the normal modern Greek pronunciation into the Roman alphabet. In [[New South Wales]] they are known as '''doner kebabs''' or '''kebabs''' in Turkish or Lebanese shops or '''yeeros'''/'''yiros''' in Greek shops. In [[Queensland]] and [[Western Australia]] they are called '''kebabs'''. In [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] (which has a large Greek population) they are generally known as '''gyros''' or '''souvlaki'''. In [[Tasmania (Australia)|Tasmania]] they are generally called '''kebabs''' or '''souvlaki'''.
In most cases ''[[gyros]]'' or ''[[souvlaki]]'' tend to be made of thicker pieces of meat than that of ''[[doner kebabs]]'' which are usually made using thin shards of meat. Also different meats often vary on the region of Australia with beef and chicken being often used in [[Queensland]] while in [[Melbourne]] and [[Tasmania]] beef is less common with lamb used instead.
===Brazil===
In [[Brazil]], gyros is sold as ''churrasco grego'' (Greek barbecue).
===Canada===
In [[Canada]], gyros are sometimes sold as ''donairs'', especially in and around [[Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia|Halifax, Nova Scotia]] and [[St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador|St. John's, Newfoundland]] where it was first introduced to Canada in [[1973]]. In areas with heavy Greek populations, such as the [[Greektown, Toronto|Danforth area]] in [[Toronto]], they are still commonly sold as gyros. ''[[Donair]]'' meat is also available as a [[pizza]] topping. The sauce, however, differs from the traditional cucumber/yogurt tzatziki in that it consists instead of sweetened condensed milk and garlic powder.
===France===
While the name ''gyros'' is not commonly used in [[France]], a similar and very popular fast food is sold under the name ''sandwich grec'' (Greek sandwich), ''kebab'', ''chiche kebab'' or ''döner kebab'' (or ''shawarma'' in Lebanese and Israeli restaurants). As a [[street food]], it is served optionally with chips (french fries) stuffed into the sandwich on top of the meat and salad.
===Iran===
In [[Iran]] and other [[Persian language|Persian-speaking]] countries like [[Afghanistan]] and [[Tajikistan]] a variation of gyros is available called "Kabab Torki" (Turkish kebab) and is a popular fast food in certain major cities like [[Tehran]] and [[Isfahan]]. While the meat is prepared the in a similar, though different fashion as gyros (using beef or lamb) and sliced from a rotating spit, the preparation of the sandwich is different. After having been sliced from the spit, the meat is then chopped up and mixed with onions and green peppers on a grill. It is not generally served with any kind of sauce.
===Malaysia===
There is also a similar variation of the food in [[Malaysia]]. Usually called [[kebabs]]."
Normally the filling consists of meat, after cut from the spit is pan fried with onions and [[chilli sauce]] then placed into a pita bread pocket before being filled with condiments such as tomatoes, mayonnaise, onion and lettuce. They are generally sold at the "[[pasar malam]]" (night market) all around Malaysia, once or twice a week.
===Middle East===
In [[Arab world|Arabic-speaking countries]] the gyro is called "[[shawarma]]" and is usually made of chicken or lamb. The shawarma can be served in a pita, or in a lafa (a pita without a pocket which holds more food). The meat is not commonly prepared in strips like American Gyros, but chopped into smaller chunks and usually served with [[tahini]] sauce.
===Turkey===
{{main|Döner kebab}}
The Turkish variant Döner Kabab is similar to the gyro in terms of cooking, but beef is used instead of pork.
===United Kingdom===
In the [[United Kingdom]], the name ''gyros'' is not widely known; the Turkish "döner kebab" is more common, and the general term "kebab" is more common still. However, soldiers ('squaddies') who have served on the British bases in Cyprus often refer wistfully to the delights of Gyros. Doner are a very popular post-[[pub]]/[[nightclub]] food with many high streets in the UK having a kebab house. These kebab shops were initially primarily owned by Turkish Cypriots, hence the use of the dry, hard 'pocket' Cypriot pita in place of the typically doughy, more naan-like Greek pita. Tzatziki is rare, and replaced by generic garlic and/or chilli sauce.
===United States===
Gyros were introduced to the [[Chicago]] area in [[1968]],<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.uic.edu/depts/chcc/chicago.htm
|title=Exploring Chicago
|publisher=University of Illinois at Chicago
|accessdate=2007-09-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.chicagotraveler.com/neighborhoods/greektown-feature.htm
|title=Greektown, a Chicago Neighborhood Guide
|publisher=chicagotraveler.com
|accessdate=2007-09-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Leah A |last=Zeldes |title=How to Eat Like a Chicagoan |url=http://web.archive.org/web/20021001023605/www.chicagorestaurant.com/show_article.php?aID=13 |work=Chicago's Restaurant Guide |publisher=Chicago's Restaurant Guide |date=2002-09-30 |accessdate=2002-09-30}}</ref> and have since spread to all parts of the country. In the [[United States]], gyros are usually made from sliced lamb, [[minced beef]] or possibly a combination of the two. Chicken is a common alternative in many restaurants serving gyros. The [[pita]] resembles a Greek 'plain' pita. The most common fillings are generally tomato and onion. The sauce is usually [[tzatziki]], sometimes called "[[Cucumber]]", "[[Yogurt]]", or "White" sauce. These sandwiches are often served in [[luncheonette| luncheonettes]] or [[diner| diners]].
In the United States, many restaurants (and even Greek-American festivals) sell gyros with meat which is pre-formed into strips (as though they had been sliced from the rotisserie) and frozen.
===The Philippines===
[[Image:Shawarma stand in up diliman by kimpo&lucero.JPG|thumb|right|200px|One of the many shawarma stalls in [[University of the Philippines]] [[UP Diliman|Diliman]] during the University's Christmas Lantern Parade.]]
In the Philippines, there is also a dish quite similar to gyros, it is called Shawarma, though it is sold in stands rather than in restaurants.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
== See also ==
* [[Souvlaki]]
* [[Shawarma]]
* [[Kebab]]
* [[List of Kebabs]]
* [[Iskender kebap]]
* [[Al pastor]]
* [[Cağ kebab]]
* [[Dürüm]]
* [[Doner Kebab]]
* [[Doner Kebab in the world]]
[[Category:Greek cuisine]]
[[Category:Meat]]
[[Category:Middle Eastern grilled meats]]
[[Category:Sandwiches]]
[[Category:Fast food]]
[[Category:Middle Eastern cuisine]]
[[Category:Mediterranean cuisine]]
[[Category:Levantine cuisine]]
[[Category:Arab cuisine]]
[[Category:Spit-cooked foods]]
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