Monday, September 14, 2009

This Is Why I Want To Be Greek



I think this hair cut would do wonders for my complexion don't you?


Oh, and I love the food.




My Dad is in love with Greek food, Indian food, Thai food, Mediterranean food, Armenian food and basically any food that he can put in his mouth, chew, and swallow.


He grew up in Idaho and lived off of potatoes until he was 18. He was deprived when it came to food variety, when his mom made his family their first pizza pie, he thought it was completely bizarre. Pie with meat on it? He just couldn't wrap his limited palate around the idea.


So not only did he grow up eating the same monotonous food every day, but that food was usually watered down for the sake of saving the family money. He had no idea of the deliciousness the world had to offer and it wasn't until he was older with kids of his own that he learned you didn't need to water down scrambled eggs.


When I was little, my grandma was watching him make scrambled eggs for breakfast and when he started pouring water into the eggs, she asked him what the hell was he doing.


He was a little baffled and explained that he was just making scrambled eggs. My grandma gave him her famous condescending glare and told him that she only added water to make the eggs go further, you don't HAVE to put water in the eggs!


Yeah, thanks for that Grandma.



So now that he is a big boy and all growed up, he is determined to try any and all cuisines. He is now a foodie. He will try anything, he even ate chicken feet.





**Excuse me while I barf.**



So every year he takes us to the Greek Festival, which was where we went for lunch last Friday. The food is delicious but I can't pronounce a thing on my plate! I'm not even sure if I'm pronouncing gyro correctly.



**Sorry, must barf again, I just looked at those damn chicken feet.**



So we had that macaroni meat thingy that tastes almost like dessert and dinner in one and then that spinach thingy that looks like baklava and well, a bunch of other crap I'm too lazy to explain.






This is my dad's hungry face. I wouldn't let him start eating until I took pictures of our food.




Then he got really hungry and was about to cry, so I let him eat. Could you say no to that sad, sad face?




Me neither, I am determined NOT to turn into my grandmother, he's had enough deprivation in his life.

37 comments:

SPEAKING FROM THE CRIB said...

found you from whispering writer now following.

i'm from the midwest, my dad was a dairy farmer, and we ate nothing, and i do mean nothing, except meat, potatoes, and veg at every meal

didn't have my first taco until i was in my 20s true story

Bethany said...

I have a healthy sense of adventure, but even I don't think I could try chicken feet. Maybe I could.
I've given it some thought and feel nausea. No, I couldn't eat them.
Sounds like you had a good time with your dad. Though I can't help but wonder how many more photos you could have taken before he started eating his own arm.

Kasey said...

I am not that daring to try new foods. How do you like the book so far?

brokenteepee said...

Ironically we had greek tacos last night...improvisation. I made tzastiki and we used my homemade goat's milk feta. I cooked the bison burger with oregano, olive oil and lemon juice. They were good.

Chicken feet make really good soup!

Rebecca Jo said...

Oh my.. I cant get over the first picture of that hair... that disturbed me more then the chicken feet!!!

Your poor dad... that made me sad... I cant imagine adding water to the eggs... he's come a long way babe!

I have to laugh though - when I took my girls from the youth group to the fair, there was a Greek booth & they just kept yelling OPA!... well now, when we're all together, we say it all the time.. its like our "Amen"... ha!!!

Staci said...

well thats good to know just incase your ever making me dinner. btw the food doesnt LOOK as apetizing as you describe....but because i like you ill take your word for it. :)

Kathy B! said...

I love adventurous eating! But I need to be told AFTERTHE FACT what I have consumed.

Liz Mays said...

My son tried those chicken feet a few months ago and he's pretty adventurous but he couldn't get those down. He said it was a chewy gelatinous rubber.

Your dad's faces cracked me up!

Kristina P. said...

One of these days, our paths will cross. I was up at Temple Square on Saturday taking Moxie pictures, and we drove by the Greek Festival. We went to the Beligian Waffle place across the street. Delicious!

Jen said...

sorry but you lost me at those chicken feet.

Amy said...

Mmm I love greek rice and the lemony chicken skewers, I have actually never tried a gyro but it sounds delish. And I did throw up a little in my mouth when I saw those chicken feet!

Lee said...

Those chicken feet are disgusting! Who is that in the first pic?? Also, how nice that you don't want to deprive you poor dad!!

Anonymous said...

You just made me so hungry! I hope your dad finds all the food he loves!

~Kristen~ said...

Well, let this Greek girl help you out! :-) The thing with the meat is called pastitsio. The thing with the spinach is called spanakopita. I am trying to think how I can phonetically spell out gyro so you can kinda get the idea of how it is pronounced. I can't do it! Greek festivals are so much fun...totally eat your way through!!! :-)

Dani Brems said...

yum! But you have to try Greek Slouvaki downtown. They have the BEST gyros that are so good you stink for at least 24 hours. I'm salivating.

Suzi said...

Opa, that's what I called my grandfather and the boys called my dad. It's German. For Grandpa.

I love to try new foods, however my dear loving hubby prefers steak and potatoes on a regular basis. Blech. It gets old. He also doesn't like cheese....boring! Food should be exciting, fun, flavorful...not boring, bland, unpalatable.

Alexis AKA MOM said...

Love it, a gal at work married into a Greek family and man oh man the yummy food she brings in!

Who knew grape leaves could be yummy? ;)

You're dad is too cute :)

confused homemaker said...

~Kristen~ already beat me to the names of the foods. Real Greek food is so good, I could eat it all day. And I'm not even Greek :D

Lee said...

I like being a "foodie" sometimes.
But I LOVE Italian and Greek food.
Except grape leaves.
But I love love LOVE gyros.
Not those fast food ones. Like, a real gyro.

ChicagoLady said...

I love gyros, but just the meat and pita, none of the sauce or onions or anything else. I know...I'm boring.

My aunt is 80 yrs old and she still adds water to her scrambled eggs. Me, I add a little milk. And cheese. Mmmmmmmmmm

LadyStyx said...

My gramma always used milk in the scrambled eggs. They always seemed to turn out fluffier...

Stacy Uncorked said...

Those chicken feet look awfully scary. I'm adventurous by no way am I adventurous enough to choke down chicken feet.

It's been so long since I've been to a Greek festival and imbibed in their yummy food - they really know how to cook and have a party, that's for sure!

Your dad's face is priceless - glad you didn't make him suffer too long... ;)

Maki said...

OOOOOpppaaa!!!

I love Greek food - they are seriously delicious. And I love your blog. All these pictures are just so perfect. LOL...

xoxo

AiringMyLaundry said...

Yum.

I've never heard of putting water in eggs. I do put milk in them though.

Unknown said...

holy frick, you took that poor woman's photo with your cell phone!

if it wasn't full of awesome i'd be sad for her.

also, i wish i had the metabolism of a hummingbird 'cause then i would totally be a foodie too.

andy

Unknown said...

Opa! I want to be Greek! What did your dad think of the chicken feet?

y u l z said...

Chicken Feet . . reminds me of our last girls gathering on the DimSum place yikes ! Maybe if the foot doesn't shows up so clearly, I might eat 'em

** really ? I don't think so :p **

Queenie Jeannie said...

I LOVE Greek food too!! If we get to go to Italy, Greece will be sooooo close!!

Now THAT my dear is something to shout about!!!! And yes, you can come and visit me!

JennyMac said...

Opa is right. Please get that new hair do.

And those chicken feet made me seriously gag.

The Wife O Riley said...

Put the camera down and let your poor dad eat!!!

Megan said...

Chicken feet? Um. Really? SO. GROSS. I think I might barf, too. Are your sisters going to hold the hair out of our faces while we barf in unison? {LMAO!!}

The rest of the food looks yummy. I'm slightly adventurous in my food choices, but Kyle is NOT. Like, at all. B-O-R-I-N-G!! My tummy is growling. Must go eat.

Megan said...

Oh, and I add a tiny bit of milk to my scrambled eggs to make them fluffier, but water? Sick!! Your poor dad! lol

AdriansCrazyLife said...

Oh man, we didn't get to go this year. We love the Greek Festival. My favorites are the triangle shaped things with the yummy cheese and flaky pastry. Oh now I'm drooling, and the little donut things in honey sauce.

If you ever need a fix, Dasks over on 6200 S is fabulous! I think I need to go there right now.

Anonymous said...

Opa!

Tara Bennett said...

I heart the greek festival, especially the baklava!

scrappysue said...

you forgot to say spanokopita - it's yummy

prashant said...

I love to try new foods, however my dear loving hubby prefers steak and potatoes on a regular basis



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