Greeks seek UNESCO status for ‘patsas’ as Turks dispute origins

The proprietor of a edifice successful Thessaloniki is hoping to get UNESCO registration for tripe soup oregon ‘patsas’ arsenic a unique and traditional crockery of Greece that dates backmost the clip of ‘The Odyssey’.

Dimitris Tsarouhas, specialises successful the soup made of bovine bellies and legs, that galore judge tin free you of stomach ulcers, hangovers and various different ailments.

And successful yet different culinary quality with Turkey, this has prompted Turks to assertion the soup arsenic their own.

Turks telephone it ‘iskembe’, which according to them has been a taste staple for centuries.

Speaking to The Associated Press, Tsarouhas said he’s compiled a ample and elaborate record with the assistance of a section taste organisation and Lena Oflidis, the writer of the lone publication that chronicles the soup’s history, successful a bid to incorporated the delicacy arsenic portion of Greece’s taste heritage.

He said the look was taken by the Byzantines from the past Greeks and passed connected to the Ottomans.

Tsarouhas noted that the look for patsas is mentioned successful ‘The Odyssey’, when Odysseus’ wife Penelope prepared for suitors connected the time that helium came backmost from his journey.

It refers to bovine bellies filled with suet – carnal abdominous used successful cooking – and blood.

A antheral cooks patsas astatine Epirus edifice successful cardinal Athens. Photo: AAP via AP/Petros Giannakouris

“If this isn’t patsas, then what other could it be?” helium asked.

As for the sentiment of his neighbouring country, helium had the pursuing to say:

“Nobody’s stopping them from trying. We judge that we person each the tools to unafraid and certify it (patsas) arsenic such. We don’t person thing to disagreement with our neighbours — alternatively the taste unites us.”

Meanwhile Ali Turkmen, a Turkish restauranteur successful Istanbul who besides specialises successful the soup, says the crockery is historically and culturally specific to Turks.

“Just similar with baklava and galore different things, they want to assertion it arsenic their own,” Turkmen said.

“But it will astir apt beryllium hard for them to assertion something unique to us. Because it’s been a staple successful our civilization for centuries. Tripe is something specific to Turks.”

Customers of some restaurants chimed in, with 1 successful Turkey saying they shouldn’t let the Greek bid for designation to determination forward. Others were not blessed upon proceeding the news.

Over successful Greece, Christos Mousoulis, a regular astatine Tsarouhas’ restaurant, said that patsas has been made successful the traditional way successful Greek homes for generations but helium doesn’t uncertainty that that some versions taste similar.