Craving Chicago gyros

The Trojan Horse was one of the first restaurants I visited as a freshman. I was homesick for good Greek food and, as far as I can tell, it’s still the only Greek restaurant in Bloomington. It sort of drives me nuts.

But I was born and raised in Chicago. I grew up next door to a large, loud Greek family. I know what Americanized Greek food is supposed to smell and taste like.
Trojan Horse is alright, but it just doesn’t cut it.

I miss having real gyros around. You know, the ones that are still dripping with fat and flavor because they were freshly sliced from the gyro maker. Trojan Horse’s gyros aren’t completely dry, but at least to me, it’s obvious that they were previously cut and just reheated.

Either that, or they don’t have a good gyro recipe and gyro maker.

Also, the pita bread is not supposed to be crunchy or slightly stale. It’s soft and fluffy and also a little greasy and wraps around the meat like a gloriously thick tortilla.
Of course, these are all completely different than authentic Greek food. The idea is still the same, but let’s face it — no one can do it like the creators. But that’s beside the point.

The other foods offered at the Trojan Horse are also pretty good. I’ve become addicted to their spinach and feta spread, and I always try to order their cream cheese stuffed mushrooms.

And I can never get sick of spanakopita. I was the weird child who loved eating spinach when I was younger.

But ... it’s just not the same. 

Maybe this is just a serious bout of homesickness, longing to go exploring in the little ethnic communities in Chicago. One of my favorite things to do is follow my nose throughout Chicago, wandering from scent to scent until I find something wonderful to eat.

Bloomington’s Fourth Street is known for having a great variety of ethnic foods served there. Thai, Chinese, Turkish, Italian, Indian and other cuisines can be found dotted up and down the street. I’m quite tickled by the fact that I can pretty much find almost any type of Asian cuisine in Bloomington.

As much as I love it, though, it’s apparent that most people are only looking for certain types of food, most of them spicier.

Can we really say that Bloomington has a great variety of cuisines to choose from?
The Algerian and French Café et Crepe, one of my favorite restaurants from my freshman year, closed in 2009 due to lack of business and re-opened as an Indian restaurant. This is not an uncommon story; most restaurant businesses fail in the first few years.

But it’s really a shame to see that restaurant patrons in Bloomington were apparently close-minded enough to the idea of Algerian food. And it’s sad to see them settle for what is served at Trojan Horse.

Ideally, I could open my own Greek restaurant, show everyone what my idea of amazing Greek food is, and let them take it or leave it. Alas, I am still a broke college student just trying to graduate on time.

So in the meantime, I’ll just have to settle for whatever Trojan Horse offers while pining for my gyros in sweet home Chicago.