Souvlaki

Souvlaki's glorious history began in 1924, when Isaak Meraklidis established the first souvlaki shop, Aigyptiakon, in Nikaia. Uncle Isaak, an Armenian from Adana (known for its kebabs), came to Piraeus as a refugee.

I recently drew up a list for a friend who was visiting Athens from abroad, with suggestions on where to go for good fish, tavernas with amazing lamb chops, the nicest wine bars and so forth.

Greek food came third in this year's list of the world's best cuisines published annually by the popular online travel guide TasteAtlas.

Lovable British frenemies Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon have embarked on their fourth food and travel adventure, and this time they plan to argue over souvlaki and moussaka.

When he set up his own business washing boats and cars on the Greek island of Skyros nearly a decade ago, 42-year old Nikos Vourliotis was a young man with dreams and aspirations.

The Economy Ministry has reacted to reports about an upcoming 10-15 percent increase in the retail price of souvlaki, a popular Greek fast food item comprising grilled pork wrapped in pita bread, saying that the rise in the price of pork has not exceeded 1-2 percent at the moment, but it might tick up further due to a meat shortage in China.

Souvlaki, the traditional Greek fast food popular among locals and visitors alike, will soon suffer a 10-15 percent price hike, kebab shop owners are warning.

The reason for this sudden increase - which could take prices up to 3 euros per pitta-wrapped kebab - is the significant rise in the price of pork, which the meat industries and kebab shop owners can no longer absorb.

Members of the national union of public hospital workers (POEDIN) and cleaners from Dromokaitio psychiatric hospital held a protest rally outside the Parliament on Thursday, requesting the renewal of their expiring contracts.
One lane on main Vassilisis Sofias avenue was blocked, disrupting traffic on Syntagma square.

Stefanos Tsitsipas earned more than $100,000 in prize money for winning his third-round match at the Australian Open. Just as important to the 20-year-old born in Athens, he's going to have a souvlaki named after him at a Greek restaurant in Melbourne.

If army cook Thomas Deliopoulos had been told a decade ago that one day his food would be the subject of a review in The New York Times, he would have simply laughed out loud.