Inventor of the Doner Kebab Dies
Photograph from vnoel on Flickr
In 1971, Mahmut Aygün became the patron saint of drunken sustenance. The Turkish immigrant birthed the beautiful concept of pita-swaddled street meat at the “City Imbiss” snack shop in West Berlin. But at the age of 87, after battling cancer, Aygün has died.
We've already seen one man this week touch so many, but Aygün was a less-celebrated figure of hope—hope of a fuller stomach and diminished hangover the next morning. Rest in peace, buddy. This squirt of yogurt sauce goes out to you.
Related: Cooking with Kids: Toy Doner Kebab
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6 Comments:
Sainthood! Begin the beatification process!
BlueCheezit at 4:41PM on 01/22/09
I agree with BlueCheezit. I'm sure we've all had dreams of eating an entire one of those stakes.
cfurey at 6:07PM on 01/22/09
When I lived in Germany in high school, the Doener was one of my very favorite foods (and that's saying a lot - I was in Thueringen, home of the bratwurst). 5 Marks back then (about $2.50) bought a giant, gut busting, insanely delicious meal. The doener guy and I were two of the only 'Ausslaender' in the village where I lived, so we shared a special connection based on limited vocabulary, terrible pronunciation, and mouth-watering meat roasting on a giant stick.
Here's to a great man with a great idea! Prost!!
sandmansd at 6:13PM on 01/22/09
Had no idea the Döner was only invented in 1971.
Then, I lived in Germany before it was invented.
Don't know how I survived.
I remember a Döner stand near the main rail station in one town I lived in (near, in a nearby small village). After arriving home on a Saturday night after an away football match, it was the only place still open. Man, the wonderful food I had there. A Döner with fries, or a Currywurst. With fries. Everything came with fries, or "pommes frites." The guys serving the food would ask about the match, the fouls, the riots, or whatever. That vertical spit of meat was like heaving hanging off a metal rod. It circled endlessly, and they would use an electric knife to cut off the charred, hottest pieces. They had a condiment tray under a sneeze-guard, and cases of beer lying about in the "dining room," and it was so casual and so tasty, that I can't forget it. Or find that atmosphere, or taste, in the US.
RIP, Döner Man.
TikiPundit at 9:53PM on 01/22/09
When I visited Germany in 1996, I hate that stuff like it was my job. Like every day. YUM.
JigsawJones at 4:41PM on 01/23/09
MMMMmmm Garlicky Street Meat in Pita. Best meal you can have without bending your knees.
RIP Dude ---
therealchiffonade at 7:48PM on 04/28/09