From Gyro Pioneer to Honorary Doctor: UNIWA Honors Grecian Delight Founder Peter Parthenis

University of West Attica Rector, Professor Panagiotis E. Kaldis, presents the honorary favoritism to Peter Parthenis. Credit: Eutychia Perivolari

In a ceremonial astatine the Acropolis Museum, the University of West Attica (UNIWA) conferred an Honorary Doctorate upon Peter Parthenis, the visionary laminitis of Grecian Delight | Kronos. The grant recognizes his 50-year travel arsenic a titan of the Mediterranean nutrient manufacture and his tireless promotion of Hellenic civilization successful the United States.

The lawsuit was attended by high-ranking officials, including U.S. Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle and Deputy Minister of Education Konstantinos Vlasis, who gathered to observe a antheral who turned a Greek thoroughfare nutrient staple into an American culinary phenomenon.

Peter Parthenis: The antheral who “automated” the gyro

Parthenis’ guiding principle, helium told the audience, has ever been “working with a smile.” Credit: Eutychia Perivolari

The ceremonial highlighted Parthenis’s legendary presumption arsenic a pioneer of the “Greek nutrient movement” successful America. Arriving successful the U.S. from Vonitsa successful the 1960s with small much than a dream, Parthenis revolutionized the manufacture successful 1974 by inventing and patenting the archetypal automated gyro machine.

This innovation allowed Greek restaurants crossed North America to service consistent, high-quality gyros, efficaciously launching a multi-billion-dollar industry. As UNIWA Rector Professor Panagiotis E. Kaldis noted, Parthenis is the quintessential “self-made” occurrence story—a antheral who combined engineering ingenuity with a passionateness for his heritage.

More than 50 Years of “Grecian Delight”

The grant follows the 50th day of his company, Grecian Delight, which precocious merged with Kronos Foods to go a planetary person successful Mediterranean cuisine. Associate Dean Professor Alina Hyz praised Parthenis arsenic a “model of perseverance,” noting that his concern way was built connected hard enactment and the Mediterranean values of prime and hospitality.

Professor Aikaterini Kikilia, Chair of Tourism Management, emphasized that Parthenis’s enactment did much for Greek tourism than accepted advertizing ever could. By bringing the flavors of Greece to each country of America—from section diners to large stadiums—he created a “gastronomic bridge” that inspired millions to sojourn Greece.

A bequest of “working with a smile”

Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle attended the ceremonial for Peter Parthenis. Credit: Eutychia Perivolari

A visibly moved Parthenis accepted the doctorate not arsenic a idiosyncratic trophy, but arsenic a tribute to his household and the Greek Diaspora. He recalled the aboriginal days of economical hardship successful agrarian Greece and the daunting leap of religion helium took by migrating to America.

He highlighted that his top restitution comes from the “human element” of his success. Throughout his 50-year career, helium has prioritized his employees’ welfare, providing entree to healthcare and education. His guiding principle, helium told the audience, has ever been “working with a smile.”

The ceremonial concluded with an further honor: a commemorative plaque from the Department of Food Science and Technology, recognizing Parthenis’s relation successful mounting the planetary modular for Mediterranean nutrient information and innovation.

Related: Greek Food Giant Grecian Delight/Kronos Celebrates 50 Years successful the US