A vacation and American cuisine...

[xtian]

exactly, I did not know the cheesed metaxed version, around here, they stuff the meat in french bread, and just DROWN the thing in french fries and all sorts of aromatic mayonnaise. In belgium we call it "mitraillette", machine gun, in france, they call it american sandwish. (but their meat and fries aren't as good as they are here)

[DerGolgo]

exactly, I did not know the cheesed metaxed version, around here, they stuff the meat in french bread, and just DROWN the thing in french fries and all sorts of aromatic mayonnaise. In belgium we call it "mitraillette", machine gun, in france, they call it american sandwish. (but their meat and fries aren't as good as they are here)

...damn, I can feel my cholesterol rising just from looking at that...

Here's our German variant of the Döner Kebap. I've heard actual Turks complain that it's not the real thing, they usually have french fries in there, too, apparently. The variant that's ever so popular over here came out of the Turkish migrant community in Berlin in the 1970s, when migrant workers got out of underpaid industrial work and opened restaurants and had to figure out a dish the Germans would buy.

This is the proper version, with an appropriately sized pide (the bread). Sometimes, rather than slicing open a small one like here, they'll cut a triangular section out of a much, much larger pide, and slice that open. The larger pide, there's usually more air in the bread, and the shape, it makes it not quite as satisfying to eat as the proper version.

Here's the variation I actually prefer, it's all the same filling, but rolled up in a Lahmacun, a floppy Turkish "pizza":


And here's the Metaxa Gyros. From a diner, it will come in a disposable little aluminium tray, obviously. I've weighed out a portion, estimated the cheese, and disregarding any side-dishes, just the single serving of this, came up with about as many calories as the biggest, meanest burger I can find on the Burger King website, the Tripple Whopper. While the Whopper is something I have never tried, I have encountered very well made burgers, from other providers than Burger King or MickyD, and this stuff here beats any burger. Also, low carb!


I can't vouch for availability in Greek restaurants and whatnot outside of Germany, but if you ever go past a Greek diner that is in Germany, if you're hungry and feel like putting away a thousand calories or so, and they have it, I absolutely recommend it. Shouldn't be able to do much wrong with it, it's a reasonably simple dish.

[guitargeek]

You live near Leipzig? I understand there's a Ninfa's there. If it's true, you should get some carne guisada.
My favorite comes from Maudie's in Austin, TX, but Ninfa's is good, too!

[Jaeger]

exactly, I did not know the cheesed metaxed version, around here, they stuff the meat in french bread, and just DROWN the thing in french fries and all sorts of aromatic mayonnaise. In belgium we call it "mitraillette", machine gun, in france, they call it american sandwish. (but their meat and fries aren't as good as they are here)

I'm not sure whether to be proud or appalled.

I still get a kick out of listening to the EuroTrash cell discuss what passes as "fast food" on their side. Here, if it isn't dispensed (extruded, even) from a drive-through I don't think it counts. Thoughts, fellow Yankees?

That said, the Kebab sammich looks pretty goddamn good.

If we are to open the term "fast food" to include things like pizza, subs, etc, I will give you this for your consideration:

http://capriottis.com/menu.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



I'll also tell you that I've traveled most of Italy, and the best pizzas can be found... in NYC, baby. Shit, I can get better pizza here at my local shop than I could anywhere in Italy, and that's the truth.
(Note, however, I am only talking about Pizzas; on too many other fronts our Italian food is butchery of the original.)

Oh, and as far as I've seen, virtually nobody does Central or South American food right if they're not at least on one of these continents -- and quite honestly, most of the folks outside of TX and the Soutwest (including DC, etc) fuck it up pretty badly too. For chrissakes, never eat English-style Mexican food. Just don't.

--Jaeger

[guitargeek]

English-style Mexican food

Boiled tortillas?

That's almost as cringe-worthy as "aromatic mayonnaise", which conjures up some pretty gross images.

[Jaeger]

English-style Mexican food

Boiled tortillas?

That's almost as cringe-worthy as "aromatic mayonnaise", which conjures up some pretty gross images.

For the Brit Mexican food, you're not too far off.

They aromatic mayonnaise, tho, has potential; to wit, sriracha mayo, which is just fucking AWESOME.

--Jaeger

[kitkat]

DG, next time you go on an american food binge ya might consider this: Hemingway's Burger Recipe Hard to get more 'merircan than old ranchin' fishin' huntin' Ernest...

[guitargeek]

Hemingway's Burger Recipe

I'm gonna have to try that!

[AZRider]

DG, your burger looks stupendous.

One of the essentials of a good burger is that the meat must contain enough fat to saturate throughout with flavor. I was once told that the ultimate burger was made from rib-eye steak fed into the meat grinder without trimming the fat. Another essential is that the cooking heat be sufficient to sear the exterior before too much heat carries through, overcooking the interior. I don't care what anyone says to the contrary, a good burger should be pink in the center and have a bit of brown crisp on the exterior. If you're worried about getting a disease from undercooked meat, shop for better meat. A good burger is a contribution to the world that should be recognized as one of America's Good Deeds.

Most truly "American" foods are actually regional foods, like the Scrapple mentioned above, which you'll almost never find more than 100 miles from the PA Amish region.

When you come here, DG, make sure you try different regional variations on barbecued meats. Not what we often call "barbecued" meaning on the backyard grill. I'm talking slow-smoked for long periods of time in huge barbecues tended by patient people. Pork or beef ribs, beef brisket, pulled (shredded) pork, sauced and smoked chicken and fish. Some regions believe in a dry rub of spices, others in wet sauces that can be sweet or tangy. Most places I have tried serve a broad menu of very good stuff, but truly excel in only one or two items. I imagine sausages being to German regional cuisines as BBQ is to American regions.

Avoid American chain fast food whether here or at home. It truly is the diet of many Americans, and that explains SO many of our national character flaws.

[DerGolgo]

I had been planning to try out brisket and pulled pork. The first because I've just heard it mentioned on movies and on TV so damn often, the latter because it just sounds so damn naughty.

[Rench]

I've been thinking of DG's coming tour of the states along with his culinary interests. Glad this thread is still going.

In addition to the high-quality Chicago traditional fare (deep dish pizza, Chicago style hotdogs, Portillos, and Eli's Cheesecake), there will be the gastrointestinal wonders of the WAFFLE HOUSE while on the road!!!!

God I can't wait for DOOM!!!

-Rench