Hi Donna, I had Gyros once In Durango, CO, but naturally, not anywhere
as good as Gyros in Greektown, Chicago.

The Tzaiziki (sp) sauce is a blend of Sour Cream, and finely chopped
Cucumber I believe. Nothing much more than this, and perhaps thinned
with a bit with Milk, or 1/2+1/2. You should be able to find the proper
recipe by googling for it.

The one hard part about Gyros, would be the cost of a Professional Spit
to make/cook them on. (Same with Al Pastor Tacos)

Another very hard item to exactly duplicate, is Italian Beef Sandwiches.
(And also finding the good French Bread like Gonnella's, or Turano.

Sure, one could have a shipment of Buona Beef, or Scalas shipped
basically anywhere in the US, but the prices will stagger you. Try
about $60 for a small order of Beef. I looked.

I know how to make homemade Giardeniera, but can't find the correct
Chile peppers to make it here. Traditionally, a pepper called the Sport
Pepper was used, but I've had good success using Cayenne, or Fingerhot
Peppers/Chiles.

Here in New Mexico, of all places, the so called "Haven of Chiles", you
cannot find numerous varieties, which is surprising, considering the
large percentage of Latino folks who live in New Mexico.

All you basically find is Jalapenos, NM Chiles, Anahiems/Cubanelles on
occasion, Bell Peppers, and Poblanos, Serranos, and usually Habaneros.
Half these peppers probably don't even come from NM, but from Mexico.

I've never seen Fingerhots, CayennesArbols, Sport Peppers, Thai Peppers,
or anything else unusual here. I'll have to order some seeds next year,
and grow my own, as the Pepper Plants I've gotten from places like
Wal-Mart all wind up being NM Chiles, no matter what the label says. Of
course, dried Arbols, which are easily gotten here won't be suitable for
Giardeneria.

I suppose one must remember that there are more latinos living in the
city of Chicago, than all the people in NM combined. (NM's population is
about 1.5 mil)

Fresh Shellfish is another difficult item to get here (Clams/Oysters) I
found fresh Bluepoints in Farmington some months back, and found fresh
Clams in Las Cruces at Albertsons which were good, but here in Southern
NM, things like that don't sell, as the majority of the population only
know one thing, and that's Tacos, and just basically Ground Beef at
that. I don't think anyone in the area knows what a real Steak Taco Is.
(Unless they get it at Taco Bell)
No one here even knows what Al Pastor is?

Also, forget about finding a decent Bakery, or a Deli-Cheese Store here.
Finding real "English" Cheddar, real Roquefort, any any other quality
Blue Cheeses is an impossibility. A few stores did carry pre-packaged
Society Brand Roquefort for awhile, which is very good, but stopped
carrying it, as no one down here will spend the money on this type of
Cheese ($6.49 for a small wedge). It's too expensive for thier tastes.

There is a Trader Joes in the State, but it's in Santa Fe. Figures, as
many Movie Stars live in this town, and can afford, and appreciate the
finer foods.

Where I live in Alamogordo, NM, a Trader Joes wouldn't last two weeks.
We once had an Albertsons I understand. They packed up, and fled over 3
years ago, because people are basically just too cheap to patronize
establishments such as this.. (Thanks to Wal-Mart in part) Mark