Kebabs: Eat with Caution

If you know me well, you know I'm a foodie. I will try anything within reason (no cockroaches or grasshoppers, please), and with every bite, I like to savour each component of the delicacy. I believe that food is an essential part of every culture. That's why when I travel, I'll make sure to track down the best hole in the wall to sample the local dish.

Australia is a diverse country, full of immigrants bringing their culture's culinary specialties. From the Italians, Aussies have gained the perfect espresso. From the Portuguese comes the mouth-watering charcoal chicken. Almost any type of Asian cuisine is readily available--sushi, Thai curries, laksas and hot pots. But in my opinion, none of these options compares to a Turkish-style kebab.

Also known as shawarma, durum and doner, kebabs are found in even some of the smallest Australian towns. Good for a late-night snack or a hearty lunch, the kebab comes in a variety of forms. Here, you can always choose between chicken or beef. If you're lucky, the option of lamb will also be available to you. I like mine with "the lot": cheese, hummus, tabouli, tomatoes, lettuce, onions and garlic and chili sauces. With my first bite, the hot, spicy meat in combination with the cool parsley convince me that I could be in Istanbul's Grand Bazaar.

For me, a kebab is the closest thing I can find to my beloved California burrito. Although the flavour is completely different, a kebab still provides me with many deliciously complex tastes all wrapped up into an eater-friendly concoction. The kebab is my middle-eastern burrito, and for now, it satisfies my cravings.

I've probably had about 10 kebabs, since I arrived just over 2 weeks ago. I'm restraining myself from the 11th. I've had breakfast kebabs, starting off my day with a spicy kick. I've had kebabs for lunch--hands down, the best time of day to eat one because you've got the rest of the day to digest it. Most of all, I've had late-night kebabs...which, I'll admit, can sometimes be disastrous. Do the combination of flavours make for the perfect drunken munchie? Yes. Do the greasy meat and hot chili sauce allow you to wake up feeling fresh and healthy? Not a chance. Just like you would with a burrito, you must eat your kebab with caution, respecting every ingredient that goes into the tasty treat.

Two nights ago, after a summer evening of perhaps too much Aussie brew, Dan and I intensely looked each other in the eye and immediately knew what the other wanted: a kebab. We left the pub at about midnight, and by 1 o'clock, each of us had scarfed down a big beef kebab. They were absolutely delicious, but I felt awful the next morning. I swore to myself that I would wait at least a month before my next kebab. But, as I sit here writing about my my vice--the warm and toasty bread, the deliciously spicy meat, the awesome combination of sauces and veggies--my mouth waters and my craving takes over. Kebabs are just that good.