# Help me with pocket pitas **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 13, 2011, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-pocket-pitas/578278 "2011-04-13T20:58:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-pocket-pitas/578278/21 "2011-04-14T03:24:10Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Terminological nitpick - a pita isn’t a sandwich, it’s a pita. If you put hummus inside, you have a pita with hummus. If you put falafel inside, you have falafel in a pita. You’re fighting a losing battle here. Americans call anything even remotely bread-y a “sandwich” even if it’s actually on a roll, a burger bun or an english muffin. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-pocket-pitas/578278/22 "2011-04-14T03:30:18Z")
Cuz it is. Carbs on two sides, stuff in the middle=sandwich. I just nuke the the pita for like 12 seconds. Man, now I want a pita sandwich so bad. So yummo. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-pocket-pitas/578278/23 "2011-04-14T03:34:25Z")
> [@Sierra\_Indigo](#): > > You’re fighting a losing battle here. Americans call anything even remotely bread-y a “sandwich” even if it’s actually on a roll, a burger bun or an english muffin. See post #15. I believe **Alessan** would agree that all those things _are_ sandwiches–to the point that “pita sandwich” is just redundant. Now, watch heads explode: _tacos are sandwiches too_. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-pocket-pitas/578278/24 "2011-04-14T03:37:06Z")
Yes, they are. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-pocket-pitas/578278/25 "2011-04-14T03:38:17Z")
It’s a pita, it’s a roll, it’s a burger, it’s a muffin. The two halves are sandwiched together, but there’s perfectly cromulent words for the type of foods that they are. I’m simply saying trying to advise an american that the blanket declaration of “It’s a sandwich” is incorrect in terms of what something is called is a losing battle. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-pocket-pitas/578278/26 "2011-04-14T03:41:02Z")
What’s wrong with having more words for the same thing? ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2011, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-pocket-pitas/578278/27 "2011-04-14T04:46:57Z")
A pita or a burger is a kind of sandwich; a pizza or quiche is a kind of pie; chili or chowder is a kind of stew. The broadest terms describe the general rough structure, then there are types and subtypes of each. If there’s a terminology problem, it’s in the dearth of specific names for those sandwiches that we have to always _say_ “sandwich” for. ---
**Author:** ![Teacake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Teacake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teacake)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-pocket-pitas/578278/28 "2011-04-15T18:06:53Z")
Lightly damp each side, put it in the toaster until it puffs, cut it with a very sharp knife. ---
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-pocket-pitas/578278/29 "2011-04-15T19:01:28Z")
If a burrito is not a sandwich [(and it’s not, btw)](http://www.stuartkaplow.com/library3.cfm?article_id=131), then neither is a pita. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-pocket-pitas/578278/30 "2011-04-15T21:44:20Z")
> [@Angua](#): > > I find that the following works: heat your broiler to high. Moisten each side of the pita lightly with a touch of cold water (and I mean very lightly). Heat both sides under broiler for a minute. Stuff the resulting pocket with whatever you desire. > [@Teacake](#): > > Lightly damp each side, put it in the toaster until it puffs, cut it with a very sharp knife. Thanks, I’ll give these a try 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-with-pocket-pitas/578278.md?page=1)