What to have with gyros?

As my hubby posted earlier...we are having gyros and pita for our daughter's first birthday party. I am drawing a blank on what to have with it...so unlike me but for some reason I am thrown for a loop on this one.
The typical sides come to mind that you get when you order gyros out somewhere like fries etc...but what would be a nice compliment I can make here at home?

Any ideas would be welcome.

You could do a salad with greek elements: feta cheese, kalamata olives, etc.

Saganaki? Cucumber, tomato & red onion salad? Maybe steak fries (or potato wedges) with greek oregano, olive oil?

That's a toughie - a good gyro is a meal in itself.

How about offering mezethes like kalamata olives, feta chunks, marinated cucumber pieces, skorthalia, taramasalata, dolmades, etc? They're really not sides, in the Greek tradition, but would complement the gyro offering and make for a nice-looking table. You can probably buy most of the makings or even get them ready-to-serve in Greektown.

Tiropitakia could be a nice appetizer. They're a lot of work and disappear fast, but always welcome in the Davooda household!

How old is your daughter? Are you planning to serve mostly adults, or mostly children?

Many of the birthday parties my seven-year-old has attended include the following foods: a crudite platter including baby carrots, raw broccoli, cucumbers, grape tomatoes and snow peas - and hummos to dip them in. You might continue the gyros theme by substituting or adding tzaziki for a dip. For some reason Goldfish crackers or pretzels are a party requirement, but you might try canned shoestring potatoes to sub for french fries. Kids might also like tiropitakia.

If you're having mostly adults, I'd keep the crudites and second the previously mentioned Greek appetizers; you can find a lot of these ready-made either frozen or refrigerated or at the deli at Marketplace on Oakton (and probably a dozen other small markets of its kind.)

Be fun to substitute flaming cheese for birthday candles!

How about that yummy rice that you get at Greek takeout joints?

Thanks to all of you for your help.

We decided to go with the "salad" idea...we chose a recipe from the 2001 Bon Appetit- Greek Salad. It consists of tomatoes, diced cucumber, kalamata olives, red onion, parsley, feta.....no greens just primarily the listed ingredients in red wine vinegar/ olive oil dressing.

I'll let you know how it turns out. Looks pretty tasty!

PBandFluff wrote:Thanks to all of you for your help.

We decided to go with the "salad" idea...we chose a recipe from the 2001 Bon Appetit- Greek Salad. It consists of tomatoes, diced cucumber, kalamata olives, red onion, parsley, feta.....no greens just primarily the listed ingredients in red wine vinegar/ olive oil dressing.

I'll let you know how it turns out. Looks pretty tasty!

Usually this salad is referred to in local restaurants as Greek Village Salad. I like it very much, especially absent the lettuce it is still good the next day.

Regards,

Dunno how your daughter might respond, but anchovies are customary with the Greek "country" or "hillbilly" salads. You might as well get her off to a good start with sophisticated ethnic tastes!

Happy birthday, anyway.