This weekend, I prepared for the trek by bringing along an empty backpack. According to Gothamist [2], Sahadi’s shelves of imported oils, coffee, tea, spices, dried fruits, nuts and cheeses guarantee that shoppers will buy more than they can carry.
I told myself that I was just stocking up on ingredients for Su Good Sweets [3], but who was I kidding? I brought home this stash instead.
[4]
Clockwise:
Cocoa – $3.50/lb
Hazelnuts – $5.25/lb
Whole wheat couscous – $1.40/lb
Dried natural mango slices – $3.50/lb
Zatar (A woodsy, lemony spice blend consisting of sumac, sesame seeds, oregano and thyme. It’s excellent when combined with thick yogurt, used as a dry rub, or mixed with olive oil and spread on pitas.) – $2.50/lb
Dried natural Turkish apricots – $2.50/lb
Dried cranberries – $3.50/lb
Dried pitted dates – $2.35/lb
Knowing that I saved a buttload of money – priceless
New Yorkers in the know go to Fairway [5], Zabar’s [6] and Gourmet Garage [7], but why pay $150 for balsamic vinegar [8] again? Sahadi’s is just the first stop in Brooklyn off the 4/5 train. It’s a small price to pay for a cheap gourmet smorgasboard.
Supposedly Sahadi’s has super fresh ingredients since they have so many customers. My stash, however, was a mixed bag. Some of the dates were soft and moist, but most were a bit dry and chewy. The mangoes, while not doused in sugar, were not as fragrant as Costco’s Philippine variety. The stringy texture was also reminiscent of ginger. Thankfully, the cranberries were sweet, tart and moist.
If you’re in the neighborhood, be sure to stop by Damascus Bakery just a few doors down. Try their baklava (The almond and pistachio are equally good, but I don’t recommend the blonde bird’s nest: it’s too sweet and doesn’t have that toasty flavor.), mamool (The world’s first sweet cookie [9], traditionally made with semolina flour. I wasn’t too big on the oily, sandy texture), or pitas (6 for 75 cents in the unmarked bags!). Or, just nibble on whatever free sample they have out. While you’re in the ‘hood, you can also make a day out of exploring the entire street [10].
Sahadi’s
187-189 Atlantic Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Hours: Mon-Fri 9-7, Sat 8:30 -7
718-624-4550
Damascus Bakery
195 Atlantic Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Hours: Open 7 days 7AM-7PM
718-625-7070