fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #2298 ]

⌈ Secret Post #2298 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

01.

__________________________________________________

02.

__________________________________________________

03.

__________________________________________________

04.

__________________________________________________

05.

__________________________________________________

06.

__________________________________________________

07.

__________________________________________________

08.

__________________________________________________

09.

__________________________________________________

10.

__________________________________________________

11.

__________________________________________________

12.

__________________________________________________

13.

__________________________________________________

14.

__________________________________________________

15.

__________________________________________________

16.

__________________________________________________

Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 01 pages, 021 secrets from Secret Submission Post #328.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 1 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I just found one in my area but only have limited experience with Middle Eastern food. They carry some fresh fruit, vegetables, and in-house items, but mostly packaged and canned goods that include quite a few cooking ingredients I don't know. And a lot of cheese. Did try a few things (in-house flatbreads with a nutty chili paste and roasted veggies, fantastic; a couple bottled drinks, one ok and the other... interesting). Am an omnivore but living with a vegetarian, anything anyone can suggest to try would be appreciated!

ORIGINAL SCARF COPYRITE DO NOT STEAL WEARING THE CHECKERED SCARF OF MY PEOPLE IS LIKE THE GREATEST INSULT

But seriously, get the string cheese, for sure. But that might just be my personal addiction.

The flatbreads are a really good idea, but be careful about when you buy them; there will probably be one or two days a week they come in fresh. Buy them then, because these get stale fast.

GET BAKLAVA! IF POSSIBLE, THE KIND MADE WITH PISTACHIOS! But again, see how fresh it is. Don't buy month-old baklava.

Why does it matter that you live with a vegetarian? Are they a jerk who won't let meat in the place? Anyway, get stuff to make falafel. They will probably have better tahini there than you can get in a normal grocery store.

Longshot, but do they have Arak? They might if selling liquor in a grocery store is legal there. It's a liquor made from anis (fennel) that you mix with water.

And again, no, most of us do not care if you appropriate our scarf. It's a really cool scarf. Just don't wear the lame purple version from Urban Outfitters.

Edited 2013-04-19 00:25 (UTC)

Thanks!

Ha! No, my vegetarian roomie is awesome, I just didn't want to accidentally serve up a veggie dish that was prepped with meat stock or something similar.

Arak especially sounds delicious. :)

lol what do you mean, mix arak with water? We drink it straight.

There must be a couple different ways, then. I was taught 1/3-1/2 arak, the rest water. Wikipedia confirms that I'm not crazy.

Granted my Dad doesn't drink it (he doesn't drink much of anything)and I was taught by a guy who's lebanese so that might be a lebanese thing.

I really like tarragon soda. I actually don't know if that's primarily a Middle Eastern delight but it's at my local primarily Lebanese market (but there's also other cuisines available there). It's licoricey green deliciousness.

OP: This sounds amazing. I have had citrusy drinks with tarragon before but never one where it's the primary ingredient, nor one with a non-premium cost. Thanks!

These are more related to North African cuisine, but there's a good chance you'll find those products in your local store.

If you like spicy food: harissa. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harissa

Semolina. It's great and easy to make. Typically, in a couscous, you'd eat it with meat, but you can remove the meat and just eat the semolina with the vegetables (chick peas, zucchinis, carrots...etc). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Couscous

Spices. Mint leaves and tea, for mint teas!

If they have them, pastries! (they're *very* sweet) Zlebias/Jalebis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jalebi), Sfouf (DELICIOUS http://mideastfood.about.com/od/dessertssweetspastries/r/sfoufrecipe.htm) etc...

OP: I saw harissa there for sure! Had no idea jalebi was such a widespread dish with so many variants; I've only seen and had it from South Indian places. Sfouf looks delicious... Thanks!

pomegranate molasses, maybe? It's basically concentrated pomegranate juice + sugar, and if you ever make drinks with grenadine in them, use it instead. So tequilla sunrises, Shirley Temples... It's also supposed to be good in marinades, so if you've got a grill, you can grill meat for you and roommate can do grilled marinated tofu and veggies and stuff--a vegetarian.

HALVA. (The tahini-based one. Never tried the semolina-based one.)

And real lokum / Turkish Delight, if they have it. None of that fake shit with gelatine and red food colouring. Rose and pistachio are delicious. (Avoid the mint-flavoured one, it tastes like toothpaste.)

And while you're there, honestly, tahini is fucking awesome. You can make some amazing salad dressings with them (tahini and miso is amazing, so is tahini, lemon, and dill), and, of course, it's unbelievable on falafel or fried cauliflower. (Fried cauliflower with tahini is one of my favourite dishes at our local Lebanese place.)

And falafel! Falafel is awesome. ...Damn, now I want some.

Baklava. Try it, but make sure its fresh!

If they have any pastries, definitely try some. Baklava, anything made with phyllo (that thin flaky pastry) really. Tabbouleh is a tasty salad with parsley, lemon and bulghur wheat and is worth a try if they make any in-house.

OP: thank you to everyone who replied, excited to try some new things! (And in the case of some things *cough*Turkish delight*cough*, to re-try from a potentially fresher/more authentic source) :D

[ SECRET POST #2298 ]

What to get at a Middle Eastern grocery store?

NOT KEFFIYAHS

Re: NOT KEFFIYAHS

Re: NOT KEFFIYAHS

Re: NOT KEFFIYAHS

Re: What to get at a Middle Eastern grocery store?

Re: What to get at a Middle Eastern grocery store?

Re: What to get at a Middle Eastern grocery store?

Re: What to get at a Middle Eastern grocery store?

Re: What to get at a Middle Eastern grocery store?

Re: What to get at a Middle Eastern grocery store?

Re: What to get at a Middle Eastern grocery store?

Re: What to get at a Middle Eastern grocery store?

Re: What to get at a Middle Eastern grocery store?