It should come as no surprise to any of you that I love Mediterranean food. I’ve written a post about the Fresno Greek Fest (which I attend every year), I’ve been to many Mediterranean restaurants around town, and all my friends know that I just love feta cheese. Having said that, it’s no wonder that I want to let you know about a local grocery store called Fresno Deli-International Grocery & Deli.
Fresno Deli is a small, family owned, grocery store where you can find many different types of Middle Eastern goodies. When I was last there, I chatted with the owner for a bit. She’s a nice Armenian woman, who I instantly wanted to be friends with. She was so nice and friendly to me. She answered any questions I had about some of the treats I was purchasing, and she gave me some advice on which treats were better than others.
Fresno Deli has foods from all over the Middle East, also including Italy and France, and I’d really love to share with you some of my favorite items on their shelves.
Rose Water. This is used in many Arabic desserts, often in conjunction with honey, as it intensifies the honey flavor.
Spices!!! If there is a specific Middle Eastern spice you’re looking for, I’m sure Fresno Deli has it.
So. Many. Sweets. I wanted to try so many different times from this rack of goodies. There were actually 2 racks, and I had a hard time deciding. I ended up bringing home some French rolled cookies. My daughter really liked them. They were coated in powdered sugar, with apricot filling.
I’ve purchased these before. These are the pickled turnips that are served at Broilers. Once I discovered that you can buy these at Fresno Deli, I’ve gotten them a handful of times. The only issue I ever have is that there is a lot of vinegar in the jar, so if not sealed properly, you could have a mess in your fridge. Hashtag, things I learn the hard way. 😉
Halva (or Halwa)-This is a candy made from tahini, or sesame paste. I had the great fortune to be able to visit Israel a few summers ago. While I was there, they sold this sweet goodness on the streets. There were so many different flavors to choose from, and it was fresh. At Fresno Deli, they had different brands and a few flavors. You should try it sometime, it really is good.
While I was in Israel, I was able to visit Palestine as well. While there, my friend shared this treat with me. It’s one of her favorites, and I wish I could send it to her, but summer time is a terrible time to ship chocolate. Anyway, I bought a couple of these for my daughter, as she loves chocolate. It’s a candy bar, made with flaky chocolate. It’s so soft, and the chocolate melts in your mouth. Yum.
Turkish Delights. These are small treats that are kind of hard to describe. The bottom part is gummy, with some having a rose water type flavor. You can purchase these in bulk, which is ideal if you want to try just one or two.
I don’t know the name of these, but the owner described this to me as Armenian donuts. I tried one, and they can best be described as a dense donut soaked in honey. I bet ice cream and pistachios would be a nice addition. Sounds like a sundae in the making!
There you have it-some of my favorites, and when I say some, I do mean that. While at Fresno Deli, I also purchased some Armenia string cheese and a few Yalanchis (also known as Dolmas). There is a whole deli section where you can get meats, salads, cheese, and desserts!
I would highly recommend visiting Fresno Deli.
They are located at 2450 E Gettysburg Ave, 93726.
559-225-7906
Hours are:
Monday-Friday 9-7
Saturday 9-6:30
Let me know if you go, and how you like it!
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