Pronounced something like Sha-ur-ma, it is very similar to what we call a Burrito in the west. The first time I saw a shaurma, was during my first visit to Odessa and Ukraine. Walking down Derabosovskaya with my translator, I saw this guy holding and eating what looked to me like an authentic burrito. It looked good, it smelled good. Looking around to where he got it, there was a trailer-kitchen off one of the side streets. Unfortunately, my translator pulled me away, “You don’t want to eat from a street kitchen.” I thought to myself, she’s probably right...this is my first time here, and I’m still trying to digest the last Whopper I had on the way out of Baghdad.

Sticking to the subject, it is relevant to digress a little – from the time that I first saw a shaurma to the time I actually had a shaurma. The camp I was working at in Iraq, Al Taqaddum, was still standing up…which meant the mess hall was not very good. It was so bad, in fact, that the majority of us stuck to eating MRE’s…which aren’t bad at all for what they are. Heck, they even have burritos! Cheese and crackers…Yum! Ain’t nuthin’ like some good ole MRE cheese and crackers! But for the next four months, I kept wondering to myself…”What was that guy eating?!”

My second visit to Ukraine didn’t fair any better in exploring the Ukrainian Burrito mystery. Finally, after I moved here, I started making some progress. I found another trailer kitchen making what looked like burritos. The translator I hired part-time, swayed me away from them…again, “You don’t want to eat at a street kitchen.” Well, I couldn’t take it anymore. So, I managed to convince her that I really, really, really wanted to try one – finally she relented and helped me order two. You only really need one, but I’m happy to eat burritos for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

And so began my side career as shaurma connoisseur. Since then, I’ve tried at least 14 different shaurma kitchens out. Even what I consider a bad shaurma is pretty good. A good shaurma is at least as good as the best burrito, aside from a place called Mio Burrito in Dover, New Hampshire…if they’re still there – and I hope they are. I brought them a lot of business, not only from myself, but from everyone who worked with me and everyone I met…”Have you tried a Burrito Mio Burrito? Man…its got beans, cheese, onions and cilantro, tomato, and your choice of ground beef, shredded beef or chicken, they’ve got a kick butt hot sauce and they’ll add a heap of jalepenos…then they smother it with a tasty green chili blancas sauce, and if you’re nice, they’ll top it off with some more jalapenos! And…it’s the size of my forearm! Only five bucks, six with an ICE COLD COCA COLA!!!!”

Ah…those were the days…

So…knowing what goes into a burrito…shaurmas are a little different. They start off with a flour tortilla which is identical to what we use in the states, made fresh. Next they add shredded lettuce and sometimes shredded carrots. Over that they add a few tomatoes or cucumbers or pickles, depending on the kitchen. Then it is your choice of seasoned chicken, pork or beef charbroiled over an open flame – again depending upon the kitchen. From here, you have some options – usually fries, cheese or mushrooms, or any combination of these. And then, depending upon the kitchen, they add some kind of secret sour cream type sauce, ketchup and/or mustard. By special request, you can have some hot peppers added – but only a few kitchens carry them. They roll it all together and heat it up for a minute or two….and Voila! Shaurma!

A Shaurma and an ICE COLD COCA COLA…provided you’ve gone through the extra step to make some ice cubes…and whoa…that is all you need. Well, depends upon the kitchen and your size. Some places make shaurmas about the size of an ordinary Taco Bell Burrito…and some places make em like a Burrito Mio Burrito – the size of my forearm! Heh…

Now they run about $2.00 to $2.50 each…so, it is viable to live in Ukraine on two shaurmas and two coca colas a day and eat for a month for $180…without having to cook anything. I know…because I have done it, well…maybe not for thirty days straight, but pretty darn close. I love burritos. I love shaurmas. The best thing is that if you hold the fries, shaurmas are actually a little healthier than your average burrito, unless you go vegetarian.

And so…um…that’s almost everything there is to know about the Ukrainian Burrito. Ukrainians don’t typically go for spicy, hot foods so much, so the only thing really missing is a lot of hot peppers. In the summer, it’s easy to pick up a dozen large hot peppers for a few hryvnia – which you can eat with your shaurma or try to mix it in. Good stuff…