Donair

Last updated
Donair
Donair and Poutine (43774635500).jpg
Donair and poutine
CourseSnack or main course
Place of origin Canada
Region or state Bedford, Nova Scotia
Created by Peter Gamoulakos
Serving temperatureHot
Main ingredients Beef
Variations Donair pizza, donair poutine, donair eggroll

The donair is a version of the Turkish doner kebab originated in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in the early 1970s. A proper donair consists of four main ingredients: donair meat, toppings, donair sauce, and pita bread. Donair meat is made from spiced ground beef sliced off a rotating cone. The toppings typically include chopped onions and tomatoes, while the distinctive sweet sauce is made from condensed milk, sugar, vinegar, and garlic powder (optional). All of these ingredients are wrapped together in a soft white pita. [1] [2]

Contents

History

Originating from traditional Turkish doner, the Halifax donair was created in the 1970s by Greek immigrant Peter Gamoulakos. Initially offering traditional gyros at Velos Pizza in Bedford, Nova Scotia, Gamoulakos modified the recipe to better suit local tastes. He replaced lamb with beef and developed a sweet sauce made from evaporated milk, vinegar, and garlic powder. [3] [4] [5]

Development

Donairs have their origins in Greece or Turkey, traditionally known as doners, gyros, or doner kebabs. The modern fast food doner was reportedly invented by Mahmut Aygun, a Turkish immigrant in Berlin, in 1971. Velos Pizza in Bedford, Nova Scotia, is credited with creating the "Halifax" donair around 1971-1973, featuring a very sweet sauce made from condensed milk, sugar, garlic, and vinegar. [6] [1]

In 1973, Gamoulakos opened the King of Donair restaurant on Quinpool Road in Halifax, where the donair recipe was developed further. The dish quickly gained popularity, becoming a staple of late-night dining. The classic donair consists of spiced ground beef cooked on a rotating spit, served in a pita with tomatoes, onions, and the signature sweet sauce. [5] [7]

Expansion and recognition

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, the donair continued to grow in popularity. In 2015, Halifax officially recognized the donair as the city's official food. The motion, which saw an equal split among councillors, was decided by Mayor Mike Savage, who cast the deciding vote to elevate the donair to its official status. [7] [8]

Cultural impact

The donair's influence extends beyond Halifax, with its presence in other Canadian cities and endorsements from notable figures like Anthony Bourdain. Despite evolving and inspiring new culinary creations, the donair remains a beloved symbol of Halifax's culinary heritage. [9] [5]

Regional variations and current status

The Halifax donair has inspired numerous regional variations across Canada. In New Brunswick, donairs include lettuce, while in Alberta, variations include cheese and pepperoni. Despite these adaptations, the authentic donair remains a Nova Scotian specialty, and its popularity continues to grow. Today, Tony's Meats, which acquired the Mr. Donair brand, continues to expand its reach, offering a range of donair-related products across Canada and recently into the U.S. [1] [10]

Edmonton donair scene

Edmonton has embraced the donair, with nearly 120 shops featuring donairs in their names. The city's Lebanese community played a significant role in popularizing donairs in Edmonton. Notable establishments like Athena Donair contributed to its local fame. Unlike Halifax, Edmonton donairs often include variations like lettuce, tzatziki sauce, and unique flavors such as barbecue and pineapple curry. [10] [11] Recently, Prime Time Donair made headlines by winning an auction for a donair costume, paying $16,025 to keep the Alberta-made costume within the province. [12]

Health concerns

In summer 2008, after numerous cases of E. coli related food poisoning due to the consumption of undercooked donair meat in Alberta, the federal government came out with a set of guidelines for the preparation of donairs. [13] The principal guideline was that the meat should be cooked at least twice: once on the spit, and then grilled as the donair is being prepared. Many Atlantic Canadian establishments already did this; however, some restaurants in Alberta omitted the grilling step.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turkish cuisine</span> Culinary traditions of Turkey

Turkish cuisine is the cuisine of Turkey and the Turkish diaspora. The cuisine took its current form after numerous cultural interactions throughout centuries, descending from earlier stages of Turkish cuisine, Ottoman cuisine and Seljuk cuisine. Turkish cuisine with traditional Turkic elements such as yogurt, ayran, kaymak, exerts and gains influences to and from Mediterranean, Balkan, Middle Eastern, Central Asian and Eastern European cuisines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gyros</span> Greek dish

Gyros, sometimes anglicized as a gyro in some regions, is meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie, then sliced and served wrapped or stuffed in pita bread, along with other ingredients such as tomato, onion, fried potatoes, and tzatziki. In Greece, it is normally made with pork or sometimes with chicken, whilst beef and lamb are also used in other countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kebab</span> Variety of meat dishes originating in the Middle East

Kebab, kabob, kebap, kebob, or kabab is a variety of roasted meat dishes that originated in the Middle East.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuisine of Quebec</span> Traditional and contemporary cuisine of Quebec

The cuisine of Québec is a national cuisine in the Canadian province of Québec. It is also cooked by Franco-Ontarians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shawarma</span> Middle Eastern dish

Shawarma is a Middle Eastern dish that originated in the Levantine region during the Ottoman Empire, consisting of meat that is cut into thin slices, stacked in an inverted cone, and roasted on a slow-turning vertical spit. Traditionally made with lamb or mutton, it may also be made with chicken, turkey meat, beef, falafel or veal. The surface of the rotisserie meat is routinely shaved off once it cooks and is ready to be served. Shawarma is a popular street food throughout the Arab world and the Greater Middle East.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doner kebab</span> Meat dish

Doner kebab, also spelled as döner kebab, is a dish of Turkish origin made of meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie. Seasoned meat stacked in the shape of an inverted cone is turned slowly on the rotisserie, next to a vertical cooking element. The operator uses a knife to slice thin shavings from the outer layer of the meat as it cooks. The vertical rotisserie was invented in the 19th-century Ottoman Empire, and dishes such as the Arab shawarma, Greek gyros, Canadian donair, and Mexican al pastor are derived from this.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian cuisine</span> Culinary traditions of Canada

Canadian cuisine consists of the cooking traditions and practices of Canada, with regional variances around the country. First Nations and Inuit have practiced their culinary traditions in what is now Canada for at least 15,000 years. The advent of European explorers and settlers, first on the east coast and then throughout the wider territories of New France, British North America and Canada, saw the melding of foreign recipes, cooking techniques, and ingredients with indigenous flora and fauna. Modern Canadian cuisine has maintained this dedication to local ingredients and terroir, as exemplified in the naming of specific ingredients based on their locale, such as Malpeque oysters or Alberta beef. Accordingly, Canadian cuisine privileges the quality of ingredients and regionality, and may be broadly defined as a national tradition of "creole" culinary practices, based on the complex multicultural and geographically diverse nature of both historical and contemporary Canadian society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dipping sauce</span> Type of sauce

A dip or dip sauce is a common condiment for many types of food. Dips are used to add flavor or texture to a food, such as pita bread, dumplings, crackers, chopped raw vegetables, fruits, seafood, cubed pieces of meat and cheese, potato chips, tortilla chips, falafel, and sometimes even whole sandwiches in the case of jus. Unlike other sauces, instead of applying the sauce to the food, the food is typically placed or dipped into the sauce.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bulgarian cuisine</span> Culinary traditions of Bulgaria

Bulgarian cuisine is part of the cuisine of Southeast Europe, sharing characteristics with other Balkan cuisines. Bulgarian cooking traditions are diverse because of geographical factors such as climatic conditions suitable for a variety of vegetables, herbs, and fruit. Aside from the variety of local Bulgarian dishes, Bulgarian cuisine shares a number of dishes with its neighboring countries, in particular with Turkish and Greek cuisine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King of Donair</span> Canadian restaurant chain

King of Donair is a chain of restaurants that was established in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1973 by Greek immigrant Peter Gamoulakos, who popularized the donair in the city. The brand has a cult-like following, and has been featured by Trailer Park Boys, National Geographic, the Food Network, the Travel Channel and Vice Media. Celebrity chefs such as Anthony Bourdain, Andrew Zimmern, Dominique Crenn, and Matty Matheson chose King of Donair for filming, documenting and indulging. In 2015, the donair was named the official dish of Halifax, with December 8 being National Donair Day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cypriot cuisine</span>

Cypriot cuisine is the cuisine of the island of Cyprus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anticucho</span> Meat skewer dish that originated in Peru

Anticuchos are popular and inexpensive meat dishes that originated in the Andes during the pre-Columbian era, specifically in the Antisuyu region of the Tawantinsuyu. The modern dish was adapted during the colonial era between the 16th and 19th centuries and can now be found in Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador, where they are known as "chuzos" or "carne en palito".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Levantine cuisine</span> Cuisine of the Eastern Mediterranean

Levantine cuisine is the traditional cuisine of the Levant, in the sense of the rough area of former Ottoman Syria. The cuisine has similarities with Egyptian cuisine, North African cuisine and Ottoman cuisine. It is particularly known for its meze spreads of hot and cold dishes, most notably among them ful medames, hummus, tabbouleh and baba ghanoush, accompanied by bread.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afghan cuisine</span> Culinary tradition

Afghan cuisine is influenced by Persian, Central Asian, and South Asian cuisines due to Afghanistan's close proximity and cultural ties. The cuisine is halal and mainly based on mutton, beef, poultry and fish with rice and Afghan bread. Accompanying these are common vegetables and dairy products, such as milk, yogurt, whey, and fresh and dried fruits such as apples, apricots, grapes, bananas, oranges, plums, pomegranates, sweet melons, and raisins. The diet of most Afghans revolves around rice-based dishes, while various forms of naan are consumed with most meals. Tea is generally consumed daily in large quantities, and is a major part of hospitality. The culinary specialties reflect the nation's ethnic and geographic diversity. The national dish of Afghanistan is Kabuli palaw, a rice dish cooked with raisins, carrots, nuts, and lamb or beef.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eid cuisine</span>

Both festivals of Eid celebrated in the Muslim world include cuisines specific to countries and localities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regional street food</span>

Regional street food is street food that has commonalities within a region or culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pizza in Canada</span> Pizza variants from Canada

Canada has many of its own pizza chains, both national and regional, and many distinctive regional variations and types of pizza resulting from influences of local Canadian cuisine.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Everything you need to know about Halifax's official food, the donair". Discover Halifax. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  2. "Andy's East Coast Kitchen - Donair Sauce" . Retrieved 2024-11-07.
  3. Peyton, Gabby. "Iconic Canadian Food: The History of the Halifax Donair". Food Bloggers of Canada. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  4. "History of the Donair: The Halifax Origination Story". Eat This Town. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  5. 1 2 3 "The Delicious History of the Halifax Donair". Food Network Canada. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  6. "Donair History". Donair.org. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  7. 1 2 "Halifax declares donairs the official food of the city". CBC News. 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  8. "How the donair became the official food of Halifax". CBC. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  9. "The Donair, a Haligonian Delicacy for 52 Years". Atlantic Business Magazine. 2023-07-21. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  10. 1 2 "Donairs explained: How a humble street food conquered Edmonton". Edmonton Journal. 2020-09-25. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  11. "Halifax's donair: The tastiest treat you have probably never heard of". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  12. "Tasty auction tale ends as Edmonton-based restaurant chain buys Alberta donair costume". CTV News. 2023-08-14. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  13. "Health Canada". Health Canada. Retrieved 20 February 2012.