Thanks for all the kebabs - Abdul's restaurant

Abdul Ghazel King of the Kebab

Kebabs & Politics

There was a time when university students were expected to support themselves while studying. Not many people of my generation can remember getting much family support, especially when undertaking the luxury of an arts degree.

The preferred workplace for many of my generation was the taxi industry.  It suited us lone wolves - keen to get out and make a buck without having to work for "the Man".  It was also the seventies and there was a romance to being on the streets.  And Tom Waits and Harry Chapin & Taxi Driver all added to the gritty lure of the paid wheel, living adventures with real people in real situations.  You could also make enough money driving on a Friday night to pay for your room in a shared household.

This was my introduction to Lebanese food which taught me the importance of vegetables and salads, the way to dine inexpensively, how to drive and eat a kebab aallowing for liquid leakage into your lap -although the seats were all vinyl in those days - easier for hosing out the vomit.

It was the Levantine world view which seemed to be wise, expansive, spiritually healing and open to all possibilities.  The near east (from a Euro perspective) had seen all the leaders, conquerors, lovers, wise men, prophets, writers and most importantly, bullshit artists in most of human history. All this was distilled and captured in the person of people like Abdul, Vartan the Armenian Love God and Ozzie the Turkish mechanic. You always learnt something from these people.

Anyways it good  to see people like Abdul getting recognition - this small business is an Aussie icon.