A R C H I V E S
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Smarter Than Your Average Food Stand |
|---|
| jannah |
| 04/19/05 at 11:50:42 |
| Mmmmmm gyros... Smarter Than Your Average Food Stand by Kristen Loveland Columbia Daily Spectator February 08, 2005 Forget Koronet’s and never mind Tom’s: how does this sound after a long night partying? Hop on the subway and go down to the gyro stand at 53rd St. and 6th Ave. and order yourself the famous chicken and rice. According to Nabil Shahid, CC ’04, and many other gyro aficionados, “It’s just really good stuff.” Shahid lives near the stand. He admitted that his favorite late night meal—the chicken and rice platter for $5—was a big factor in his housing decision. “There’s love in every bite,” explained Shahid. Last year, Shahid introduced Sakib Khan, SEAS ’07, to the stand. Even though he had to wait 40 minutes his first time, Khan was sold on the experience and now frequents the stand at least once a week. The gyro stand “is a tradition passed down from generation to generation,” Shahid said. During the day, the stand sits along 6th Avenue like any other vendor: two umbrellas, a grill, and three guys milling around in aprons, every once in a while serving up a gyro or a hot dog to a passerby. At night the line trails down the block, and men and women in black coats shuffle their feet, waiting to get to the front of the line. The chefs, who are roped off from the crowd, shout out “Whadyawants?” between grilling, mixing, and saucing. But most in line already know to order the stand’s specialty, chicken and rice. It’s a sweaty, brusque, but well-oiled machine. Although clientele ranges from those coming downtown after a night of studying to those who need a late-night snack after hitting up the bars and clubs, it also seems to cater to a core audience. Raza, a college student from New Jersey who preferred not to reveal his last name, pointed out that much of the stand’s clientele are Desi, people of Indian descent, while Khan claimed that many gyro aficionados are Muslim because the food is halal, meaning that it is prepared is accordance with Muslim dietary law. While many of those in line are long-time devotees, Shahid said that the stand often draws new and curious patrons. A man affiliated with the business, who wished to remain anonymous, echoed this view. “When people see a big line they wait in line and just say ‘chicken and rice’ like everyone else,” he said. The man didn’t understand the stand’s popularity. “It’s good, but rice is rice and chicken is chicken. I would understand if it were something different, like organic rice or chicken, but it’s the same thing as any other stand in the city.” The gyro stand is owned by a Queens-based company that runs other vendor stands as well. Raza begs to differ. He’s been coming to the stand for over five years now, and was there this past weekend to celebrate a friend’s birthday. After going to a hookah bar in Alphabet City, he and his friends decided to skip clubbing and make their traditional stop at the gyro stand instead. “This is the best in the city,” he insisted. While customers swear by the quality of its chicken and rice, the stand’s success could just be a self-propagating phenomenon. The stand sustains itself through new customers, drawn in by the curiosity of a long line. Or perhaps it’s like Tom’s. No matter what the actual quality of the food or service, going there late at night is just what some might call “an experience.” |
| sure is smarter |
|---|
| lala |
| 04/19/05 at 16:32:41 |
| [slm] I was commenting to a coworker the other day about how these chicken and rice dudes are popping up everywhere.. Aside from the 53rd 6th dude there have always been others (ones at various city colleges etc..)..NOW they are popping up around the hospital where I work..around this other shopping area. It's getting out of hand..Well at least you know theres' halal food to go...umm anywhere you go! FUnny, and this has become quite the phenomenon...I guess it's like the sheesha places ..who knows. I'm saying ..it is just chicken and rice. :):):):):):):):):) Sure is smarter..might as well capitalize!! salaams folks |
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board |