The Berlin Döner
Time to break the suspense and finally give you a glimpse at the mystery German street food we are excited to be bringing to you. Please allow me to introduce you to the Berlin Doner:
Officially, in Germany, they call it the doner kebab. Personally, I find this very misleading as it tends to get confused with donairs (which it is not) and/or kebabs (which it is definitely not). To add to the confusion, the meat is cooked on a vertical grill, which immediately makes you think of shawarma, gyros, or tacos— which again, it is most definitely not.
So forget the name and don’t bother trying to compare it to anything, cause I promise you it is unlike anything you’ve ever eaten before. So just keep an open mind until you’ve tasted it for yourself. In the meantime, why not make all our lives easier and call it a sandwich. That’s essentially what it is after all: bread stuffed with meat, veggies, and sauce. It just happens to be the best sandwich ever.
The numbers speak for themselves: Germans consume 2 million of these doners a day. It’s a $4 billion industry in Germany alone with over 40,000 doner shops across the country.
What’s crazy to me is how they’ve managed to keep this secret from us for so long! They eat it for lunch, for dinner, and — perhaps best of all — late at night. It’s been a major staple of the German diet for decades, yet somehow, most of us here in North America have never heard of it… wtf?
So what is it really? Allow me to dissect it piece by piece for you.
The meat. The original doner is made with beef, veal, or lamb (or a combo thereof). It is ground ultra fine and seasoned to perfection, roasted on a vertical spit until perfectly caramelized, before being sliced paper thin — giving it a texture and flavor unlike anything else. There is also a chicken option which is doused in an insanely delicious marinade. We are also working on a vegetarian option. One of the key differences is how juicy the meat is — much more succulent than other vertically grilled meats *cough* *cough*.
The bread. The bread is this triangular flatbread/panini hybrid. It’s thin, yet sturdy. Crispy, yet chewy. Plus a little sesame sprinkle just to top it off. It is a golden baked beauty.
The veggies. This is what makes it the most refreshing sandwich. It comes loaded with crisp lettuce, lightly marinated (not pickled!) cabbage, thinly sliced onions for just a little zing, as well as fresh tomatoes and cucumbers. This perfectly counter-balances the richness of the meat and skyrockets the nutritional value of this sandwich — delivering a full serving of veggies.
The sauce. Our secret sauce. I really can’t say much more. But I can tell you that you’ll have two options: a heavenly creamy herb or a spicy kick in the ass. Some go for both. I don’t judge. It’s all love over here.
We will also be giving you the option to have it in salad format for those who would like a lighter open or who are doing the keto thing.
And here’s the kicker: it is also much healthier than other fast food options. To me, this is a big part of what makes this the ultimate street food: it delivers the satisfaction of comfort food, without the guilt — nor the gut. And thank god, since when I can, I tend to eat it everyday :P.
Ok, now a quick warning: it’s addictive AF. Case in point, I’m obsessed with it. There’s a good chance you will be too. It’s just one of those foods that induce cravings. And the cravings are real. The good news is, we’ll be there to help satisfy those cravings — without requiring an 8-hour flight as I’ve had to deal with for the past couple of years. You’re welcome.
Now I really hate overselling things and I realize that’s what this sounds like, but in this case I really can’t help it cause it’s just that good. But I’ll stop now and let it speak for itself. You’re right to doubt me. Just be prepared to also be wrong — like I was.
More details coming soon.
