When the Turks exported doner kebab beyond its borders more than a century ago, countries, cities and regions around the world developed their own variations: Greek gyro, Berliner doner sandwiches, Levantine shawarma and Mexican al pastor being prime examples.
France also managed its own version, and the young Turks behind The Pink Salamander, Red Panda Noodle and Baba Yaga have fashioned an Orlandoan twist on the Gallic variant that now appears on the menu of Albatross, a new collab concept by Giovanny Artiga, Eliot Hillis and Seth Parker.
“The inspiration was to follow the Silk Road for all the spices and dishes that make up the time from antiquity to now,” says The Pink Salamander’s Artiga. That French-style doner, called “Big Bread,” has a fresh-baked rustic baguette hollowed out like a pita and stuffed with tomato, lettuce, sumac, onion, harissa and a chili-mayo “samouraï” (that’s “samurai” en Français, but also a fantastic French film) sauce.
Proteins include chicken shawarma (pictured in the sandwich below), beef meatballs, falafel waffles and roasted mushrooms, the latter two being vegan-friendly.
The sandwich, along with other Silk Road charmers, will initially be offered at Tasty Takeover in the Milk District. Other items offered include:
- the “Big Bowl” with rice, flatbread, curried lentils, herb yogurt, pickles and choice of protein
- chicken and dumplings with jalapeño and lime
- a number of sides including curried lentils, couscous salad and cucumber salad
If you were hoping for albatross for nine pence each or, perhaps, gannet on a stick, well, you’ll be as disappointed as I.
Beyond the Tuesday debut, the troika have procured Hapa Halo’s food truck and will soon rebrand it and take it on the road with plans to serve at events like Tasty Takeover, Milk Mart and Goblin Market, and breweries like Redlight Redlight, Tactical Brewing and Hourglass Brewing.
“I’m really excited for this,” Hillis says about Albatross and its curated menu. “It’s something that’s old as sin, but isn’t really done around here.”
Tasty Takeover goes from 6:30-10 p.m. every Tuesday night in the back parking lots of 2424 E. Robinson St. in the Milk District.
Follow @albatross.mco and @tastytakeover for more.
