Cycle 3 – Item 318

18 (Sun) November 2012

Greek Chicken Souvlaki

1.5

at Santorini

-Itaewon, Yongsan, Seoul, Republic of Korea-

solo

Project 30/30/30: 18 of 45 (see also 45/45/45)

Throughout this November, I am challenging myself to eat 30 dishes from 30 countries over the course of 30 consecutive days.

Greece is the 18th country.

Santorini is a Greek restaurant.

Because the place has been there for ages, way before the strip became the city’s hottest dining scene, I figured that its staying power had something to do with the food.  I went in expecting a decent meal, but what a letdown.  In any event, I predict that Santorini won’t be around for much longer.

Souvlaki is Greek barbecue.  The meat – traditionally pork, but also beef, chicken, lamb, as well as fish – is marinated in a simple mix of lemon juice and olive oil, as well as few herbs and seasonings, then grilled on skewers.  It can be served on a plate with salad and potatoes or wrapped in a pita as a sandwich.

My first souvlaki was disappointingly nondescript.  The chicken – cubed, accompanied by onion and bell pepper – didn’t really taste like anything except a wisp of lemon buried under a thick layer of dried paprika dredged on top.  While the breast meat was dry to begin with, the paprika made it gritty.  Same with the wedge fries, which were otherwise okay.  The pita was cold and flavorless.  As for the vegetables, the mix included cole slaw and yellow pickled daikon, like the kind found in cheap Chinese restaurants here – what a joke.  The meal’s only saving grace was the tzatziki, a lemony yogurt condiment that just barely managed to elevate the rest to mediocrity.  But it wasn’t good enough by any stretch to pay 1,500 won for an additional mini-tub.  In fact, the meal overall wasn’t good enough for the outrageous price of 19,800 won.

(See also GLOBAL FOOD GLOSSARY)

(See also RESTAURANTS IN KOREA)