17 August 2024

A taste of Greece in the Dominican Republic

I was in the neighbourhood and thought, why not drop into the Dominican Republic. Where is that I hear ya ask? Well, it is in one of the most beautiful “neighbourhoods” in the world, the Caribbean.

Growing up in Australia, we marvelled at the great West Indies sides that played cricket, “ja maan,” thinking that the Caribbean was only made up of Jamaica and cricket playing nations. Well, I certainly got the fright of my life seeing baseball being played everywhere I went and Spanish as a leading spoken language. Ronaldo, not the cricketers, seems to be the most admired sports star! Having spent a week in Cuba, as well as stints in San Andres, Belize and Venezuela, I was getting a taste for the Caribbean. And it’s not all beef jerk!

As a Greek-Australian, idyllic beaches are something I am accustomed to, with Queensland and Chalkidiki among the most pristine in the world. The beaches of the Dominican capital, Santo Domingo, are similar; if you take out the baseball and substitute with cricket or a footy, you feel Queensland or Makedonia beach experiences.

The Republic, a republic that few in Greece and Australia will ever visit, has a population of 12 million, most are tri-racial! For me, the endless beaches and sunshine was perfect, yet something was missing. Greek food! I hadn’t enjoyed my source of Hellenic energy since the previous month, as Cuba has no Greek eatery. I was certain there would be none in Santo Domingo.

I headed out on a walkabout one night. Stopping by a Maccas for the free Wi-Fi and ice cream cones, I tapped into my phone, “Greek restaurant”. Lo and behold there was a Greek eatery just a 2km walk from the free Wi-Fi! Being a chubby man, I ran as fast as my Google Maps and overworked heart would allow me. Also, it didn’t help that a police officer was chasing me, pushing me to the same levels of Usain Bolt, if he was 90 years old…. Turns out I dropped my Manchester United wallet when he caught up with me, kindly returning it.

Gyros Greek Food Restaurant owner Jorge Lugo Yorgo. Photo: Billy Cotsis

I came to a modern, chic eatery called “The Greek House and Market”. The eatery appeared to be a former residential casa, converted into an appetising taste of Greece. The owner was not available, but the food was. What was an even more delightful experience is that the restaurant doubles up as mini market of Greek products and produce. Perfect for those interested in a tasteful entry point into Greek cuisine and culture.

As I left Greek House, my quick-thinking Google Maps app located a gyradiko. This time, no running was needed as I walked a few hundred metres to a collective group of food trucks. As I strolled through the entrance like a Hellenic Buddha, I saw Giannis ‘The Greek Freak’ playing an NBA game on the plasma screens. People were munching on gyros and admiring the greatest Greek basketballer since Hercules once played.

I was greeted by the warm staff who immediately knew I was Greek…. The Greek flag on my shirt probably gave it away! As we traded selfies, it turns out the owner, Jorge Lugo Yorgo, or just Yorgo to the staff and friends, was at his other Greek restaurant. They called Yorgo and explained a loco Hellene was keen to chat, they must have felt I was too talkative and only too willing to send me to the other Greek eatery.

Billy Cotsis (right) with Jorge Lugo Yorgo at Gyros Greek Food. Photo: Billy Cotsis

A quick uber ride and I quickly found Yorgo, located not far from the Acropolis Business Mall which is a mall that also seeks to supports young local entrepreneurs.

Upon meeting Yorgo, he explained that the Greek community is small, about 50 Greek speakers all up. He explained that his cousin Alex owns the Greek House and he himself has opened two Greek restaurants to showcase his love of his Greece and in particular the islands. “Gyros Greek Food Restaurant” was designed with Cyclades and Mykonos in mind.

Yorgo was born in Venezuela, he is a second-generation Greek; his mother was born in Athens and his father from Venezuela. He migrated to Santo Domingo 14 years ago, establishing his restaurant two years later.

“We want to showcase Greece, our cuisine and our culture. We also play Greek music, we want people to feel the Greece experience,” he explains.

Using what they can from local and Greek products, he is able to produce delicious Greek food.

“We don’t have a formal Greek community, but have a WhatsApp group of all the Greek people here. We talk to each other as much as possible.”

He has spent as much time as he can with his family in Greece. He adores Greece and that adoration is on show when you meet Yorgo and visit his eateries.

Well, what should have been a Greek food drought in Dominican Republic, ended up being a delightful Greek feast.