But what about my couscous?!

A few weeks ago, I went to the Greek Deli for a delicious gyro (with veggies, no onion), freshly prepared coleslaw, a home made brownie that defies all description…(just thinking about all that gooey chocolate makes my mouth water) and a pickle spear. I entered the tiny little shop to find a little less clutter on the ordering counter. This did not alert me, I was focused on my craving for cucumber sauce. I filled out my little order request form and set it in the basket. I looked up and was nearly poked in the eye by a bonsai tree. As I was standing there looking at the old faded pictures of Greek wonders, that no doubt had been put on the wall as a reminder of their greatness so we could thank them for the pain of taking our money, I noticed a shrine set up in the window by the door. A giant orange Buddha, some flowers and produce. While waiting, I was interrupted no less than twice with an offering for a sample eggroll. A new sign on the counter “Eggroll $1 for 1.”

I might have been a little slow on the uptake at this point, I was in a craving haze of pita and slow roasted meat. My Greek Deli has been transformed! No longer will there be a grumpy man singing in Greek in the back kitchen, grumbling when he took my money and snapping at the cooks. My Gyro won’t take a half an hour to make while I stand there and keep myself from making little whimpering noises while staring at the other diners devouring their gyros. I now get welcome, kindness and efficiency (and eggrolls?) in a Greek Deli. I must confess it seemed a little peculiar.

I contemplated this while driving back to the office and proceeded to eat my food. The coleslaw had a different vinegar, however it was not a drastic change. The Gyro meat was a little greasier, again, nothing to get worked up about. The pickle was the same as always. Then I reached for my brownie. I should have noticed something was amok, but it was hiding under the napkin. It was a SARA LEE BROWNIE! This, is blasphemy. I am a tolerant person, I can tolerate Buddha, and egg rolls in my Greek Deli, but I draw the line at prepackaged brownies of indeterminate chocolate paste flavor! I don’t want to know how many calories are in my lunch dessert. I want to eat it (and possibly lick the plastic wrap it came in) guilt free! I nearly threw away the brownie in a huff of indignation, however I decided that would be brownie abuse and ate all 290 calories. I did not lick the wrapper. Rest In Peace Greek Deli. You are dead to me.

Today for lunch, I was invited to get buffet to go from Falafel King. From what I had heard about it, I considered it fast food falafel, only for the desperate and ignorant. I was in for the surprise of my life. They had favorites and delicacies. Mediterranean food of numerous descriptions. As I was filling my to go container the owner, who was possibly the chef came to tell me to make sure to try the chicken couscous, which I promptly loaded up on. There was crusty bread with vegetables and mozzarella baked inside, lamb stew, gyro, falafel (of course) Greek salad, saffron rice, sauces of all kinds and amazing things displayed for dessert. While waiting to check out, the chef, who was possibly the owner was being condescending to the person he was on the phone with that was trying to place a large catering order. As much as kindness is appreciated in nearly all ways it was still nice, nearly comforting, to hear a Greek accent discuss an extra order of falafel balls in such a haughty manner. This arrogant and rude (he hung up on the caller) man took pity on us and gave myself and my coworker our meals half off, because we over filled our containers in excitement and they were obscenely expensive.

In retrospective, it is probably best there was a Sara Lee Incident, otherwise, I would have never found this fantastic resturant with the perfect mix of elitism and service. I can hardly wait to try everything on the menu, and spend each 45 minute wait listening to the chef singing in the kitchen and bellowing at the staff. The couscous was second to none.