Greek Food

[bkkvet]

Anybody tried the new Greek Cafe on Soi 22? Name is Zorba's. I had the Pastitsio and Hummus. Pretty good.

[Jingthing]

Interesting, but hummus ain't Greek!

[bkkmick]

There's another Greek restaurant on Silom soi 4 called Souvlaki (sorry about the spelling). Great kebabs among other things.

[bkkjames]

Interesting, but hummus ain't Greek!

but pasticio is. please spare us from another 'authentic' thread.

[onnut]

I have tried both of them and the one in Silom soi 4 Souvlaki is by far the better of the two. there Lamb chops are to die for!

[Jingthing]

Interesting, but hummus ain't Greek!

but pasticio is. please spare us from another 'authentic' thread.

Funny, you seem to be stoking just such a thread. Again, hummos is by no stretch of the imagination a Greek food item.

[Ispeakthetruth]

Souvlaki in Silom is under new ownership and the new guy has made some changes. the food is still very good and the prices are not high. its more of a bar restaurant now and business looks like its going well for him. as I do not live or work in Silom I do not go there as often as I would like so I order through Food by Phone nearly every week I think the food is that good.

[bkkjames]

Interesting, but hummus ain't Greek!

but pasticio is. please spare us from another 'authentic' thread.

Funny, you seem to be stoking just such a thread. Again, hummos is by no stretch of the imagination a Greek food item.

If you must...

The word hummus, (which has various spellings) is an Arabic word meaning "chickpea." Hummus is a Levantine Arab dip or spread that is made from chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) that have been cooked and mashed, then blended with tahini (a paste made from sesame seeds), olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and salt. Chickpeas are a vegetable that have been cultivated throughout the Middle East and India for thousands of years. Some sources say that they were growing in the gardens of Babylon.

Many regions around the world claim to be the place where hummus originated. The fact is, that because hummus has been around for so long, and in so many different variations, the exact origin has been lost in antiquity. Several cuisine-related sources speak of a folklore tale in which hummus is described as one of the oldest known prepared foods. Others speak of a legend that hummus was first prepared in the 12th century by Saladin, however this claim is highly disputed.Despite the fact that the exact known origin of hummus is unclear, we do know that the chickpeas, the main ingredient of hummus, were known to be cultivated in the ancient Mediterranean and the Middle East. Chickpeas have been around for human consumption for several thousands of years. The chickpea was consumed in ancient Palestine, and was one of the earliest crops in Mesopotamia, as well as a common food on the streets of ancient Rome. It is also known that the ancient Greek philosophers Plato and Socrates made reference to the nutritional value of hummus in their writings. Ancient recipes for hummus have also been discovered.

Hummus is a useful food in vegan, vegetarian and non-vegetarian diets. When hummus is eaten with bread it serves as a complete protein, similar to other combinations of grains and legumes. Hummus is high in iron and vitamin C, and has beneficial amounts of both vitamin B6 and folate. It is also a good source of protein, fiber and potassium. Due to the fact that chickpeas and sesame seeds are so beneficially healthy for us,and that it has been apart of the human diet for thousands of years, it is no wonder hummus has become known as a nutritionist's delight.

So while to say it isn't Greek is probably true in origin, the fact that the Greeks like so many others in that part of the world have been eating it for so long only the truly retentive would call out a Greek restaurant that offers it.

[Jingthing]

Have you been to Greece? Seen hummos on menus there? It is put on menus outside of Greece to please people who expect to see it. Greeks ... don't.

There is a FAVA bean dip that is native to some Greek islands.

But as far as Greek dips go, what your really want is

TARAMASALATA!

Edited August 31, 2010 by Jingthing

[bkkjames]

Have you been to Greece? Seen hummos on menus there? It is put on menus outside of Greece to please people who expect to see it. Greeks ... don't.

I really dont understand what your point is JT. I imagine I can get a kao pad gai at this greek restaurant as well. So what if they offer tadtziki, hummous, and other dips mezze style with some pita bread.

Move on, anyways, they aint in Pattaya so when the next Greek Resto opens up there I expect you to be down with the "Greek Culture F&B" authorities to inspect the authencity of the olive oils and report back.

[Jingthing]

My point is clear. The OP represented hummos as Greek food. Just pointed it out that it isn't really. Your example about Thai food is absurd because everyone knows Thai food isn't Greek food, but a lot of people think hummos is Greek, as I assume the OP does based on his comment. It is close enough to Greek food for that mistake to be made.

[bkkjames]

My point is clear. The OP represented hummos as Greek food. Just pointed it out that it isn't really. Your example about Thai food is absurd because everyone knows Thai food isn't Greek food, but a lot of people think hummos is Greek, as I assume the OP does based on his comment. It is close enough to Greek food for that mistake to be made.

Like I said JT, move on mate. It's from the med as you know (please don't start the Isreali - Lebanese debate). So what if it shows up on some menu in a Greek Resto in Bkk.

[Jingthing]

My point is clear. The OP represented hummos as Greek food. Just pointed it out that it isn't really. Your example about Thai food is absurd because everyone knows Thai food isn't Greek food, but a lot of people think hummos is Greek, as I assume the OP does based on his comment. It is close enough to Greek food for that mistake to be made.

Like I said JT, move on mate. It's from the med as you know (please don't start the Isreali - Lebanese debate). So what if it shows up on some menu in a Greek Resto in Bkk.

I do wonder if the same place which represents itself as Greek also offers a dip that actually is Greek, taramasalata. My bet -- they don't.

Funny that you mentioned Lebanon. There was recent US drama show where they had a Lebanese character going postal about another character who was eating Israeli humous. The Lebanese character was complaining that Israel "stole" humous from the Arabs. She demanded that the other character must "choose" between Israeli and Lebanese humous, with the implication choose wrong and the relationship was over. A relevant example because falafel and humous are indeed important dishes in modern Israeli cooking.

Edited August 31, 2010 by Jingthing

[bkkjames]

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=27073&id=142951109051889 from this resto.

Please identify which food in the photos is not Greek. I will start - the french fries but everyone know that they are a staple dish nowadays in Greece / Cyprus

[Jingthing]

Can someone tell us if the place in the OP has taramasalata, or not?

Now that would really annoy me about a place that represents itself as Greek, to offer a dip that is generally not found in modern Greece (hummous), while not offering a dip that is a classic Greek dish widely found in Greece. It would be like going to Russian restaurant that serves minestrone and gazpacho soups, but no borscht! Its of course no problem if they offer non-Greek stuff, whatever. French fries are more or less universal these days, like pasta.

Edited August 31, 2010 by Jingthing

[bkkjames]

Can someone tell us if the place in the OP has taramasalata, or not?

Now that would really annoy me about a place that represents itself as Greek, to offer a dip that is generally not found in modern Greece (hummous), while not offering a dip that is a classic Greek dish widely found in Greece. It would be like going to Russian restaurant that serves minestrone and gazpacho soups, but no borscht! Its of course no problem if they offer non-Greek stuff, whatever. French fries are more or less universal these days, like pasta.

call em up JT and report back with your findings.

[Ulysses G.]

Jingthing must have used every different spelling for "hummus" there is - in this very thread.

[onnut]

Souvlaki has Taramosalata on the menu. Very tasty. Oh yeah and a Greek National Chef.

They also have Hummus!!!

[edwardandtubs]

Can someone tell us if the place in the OP has taramasalata, or not?

Now that would really annoy me about a place that represents itself as Greek, to offer a dip that is generally not found in modern Greece (hummous), while not offering a dip that is a classic Greek dish widely found in Greece. It would be like going to Russian restaurant that serves minestrone and gazpacho soups, but no borscht! Its of course no problem if they offer non-Greek stuff, whatever. French fries are more or less universal these days, like pasta.

Borscht is Ukrainian.

[bonobo]

The bickering has gone on long enough.  A point was made about hummus, so let's leave it at that and post on the restaurants, or any other Greek restaurants, in question.

[shaunoro]

FYI

Cafe Greek is offering a Mediterranean menu, which includs hummos ect.

The chef there, is a Greek national and used to work at Souvalaki when it was called "A taste of Greece" on Silom soi 4.

[onnut]

FYI

Cafe Greek is offering a Mediterranean menu, which includs hummos ect.

The chef there, is a Greek national and used to work at Souvalaki when it was called "A taste of Greece" on Silom soi 4.

He is not there anymore!

[Kilgore Trout]

Have you been to Greece? Seen hummos on menus there? It is put on menus outside of Greece to please people who expect to see it. Greeks ... don't.

There is a FAVA bean dip that is native to some Greek islands.

But as far as Greek dips go, what your really want is

TARAMASALATA!

skordelia is also very good, and similar to hummos except instead of chic peas potatoes are used

[IAMSOBAD]

JT any good Greek food in Pattaya?

BTW you are right.

I really miss the Astor in D.C.

My mother made the best ...Astor had a combo plate! mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[Jingthing]

JT any good Greek food in Pattaya?

BTW you are right.

I really miss the Astor in D.C.

My mother made the best ...Astor had a combo plate! mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

No Greek in Pattaya to speak of. (No lewd retorts please.) I don't count a faux "moussaka" at a British or German place as Greek. I think there was a poorly reviewed Greek gyros type place, but a limited menu and everyone said it was bad, surprised if they're still there. Some Turkish places, sort of close.

Edited September 20, 2010 by Jingthing

[whistleblower]

The new "Greek" cafe on soi 22 is owned and run??? by the same guy who owns Larry's Dive. All the food is cooked by thai cooks that operate out of Larrys dive kitchen.

[needforspeed]

Walked true soi 22 last week, the Greek restaurant has the size of a toilet unit, no atmosphere and a few cheap Greek Google images printouts on the walls.

I walked in, no staff to welcome, so went next door Larry's Dive.

Same Same

No staff, No music and it was brighter inside than lying under a sunlamp, therefore i put on my sunglasses at 20:10.

I have to say thet the food at Larry's was always good and so i gues the food at the Greek as well, but in a restaurant you need a little bit more than only the food.

I turned around and when to Washinton square.

still had a very pleasant evening.

NFS

[whistleblower]

The Greek restaurant has taken the place of the tailors that was originally there. There is room for about 6 people to sit in there. You are right in saying that there is no atmosphere in the place, but if you met the owner you would understand why. Larry's Dive itself has great potential but again is owned by the same guy. The turnover of staff is huge so, therefore, there is never a friendly/recognisable face to great you. The furniture reminds me of a picnic area and the wall painting (with cartoon monkeys included) is a bit dated and childish for anyone to take it seriously as a destination for an evening of drinking and merriment!

[bkkjames]

Perhaps if the owner broke a few plates and offered you a glass of ouzo (sp) it might make it more authentic in your eyes?

In the meantime, please feel free to give us a 'food' review in between interior design suggestions.

[jfchandler]

All I want to know is.... do they serve Greek hummus???