May 4th 2024.
The country of Turkey holds a deep appreciation for their most beloved dish, the doner kebab. As a nation sitting at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, it comes as no surprise that Turkish officials are now pushing for the name "doner kebab" to receive the same level of protection and recognition as French Champagne and Spanish serrano ham. In fact, they have even filed a petition for protection under European Union law.
If their proposal is successful, a new "EU standard" would be established to regulate what can and cannot be called a doner kebab. This would include specific requirements for the production and serving of the dish, such as the thickness of the meat slices. For example, the beef and lamb slices must be between 3mm and 5mm thick, while the chicken variety should be slightly thinner at 1mm to 2mm.
Traditionally, doner kebabs are made by marinating the meat in a flavorful mixture of pepper, tomato puree, herbs, spices, salt, and yogurt. The meat is then placed on a vertical skewer and rotated against a fire, resulting in thin, delicious slices that are commonly served in a sandwich with bread, lettuce, tomatoes, and raw onions. Some variations even include french fries within the sandwich itself.
The Association of Turkish Doner Producers estimates that Europe's doner kebab economy brings in a staggering £2,900,000,000 each year. However, during the evaluation process, other countries will have the opportunity to challenge Turkey's application for protected status. This has been a source of controversy in the past, such as when Italy accused Croatia of copying their "prosecco" wine with their own "prosek" dessert wine.
Overall, Turkey's efforts to secure protected status for their beloved doner kebab reflect their pride in this cultural delicacy. As the consultation process continues, it will be interesting to see how this proposal unfolds and what it means for the future of this popular dish.
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