Food Finds | Saudi Arabia
Hey to the rest of the world that has their weekend still going! What are your plans?
Today for us started with a MASSIVE one of these:
Even better because I didn’t make it!
Gotta get every last drop!
If you want the recipe, check out my juice post over at High on Health here.
Then we hit the shops for some grocery stocking up for my Raw Food Basics Workshops that I’m conducting on Monday.
It’s always a lucky dip finding things here in Saudi Arabia, as sometimes you will find an awesome discovery, only to go back to the shops to find they either moved it or don’t stock it anymore.
Anyway at our local supermarket, Lulu, I found these:
Never seen this model before, but I reckon it would do the trip for making raw veggie pasta.
Mandolines (great for julienne slices and scalloping veggies for things like raw ravioli)
Yay for the hemp seeds! I found seeds! Go get them (in the USA/UK imports aisle) and hopefully they will keep ordering them if they see the turnover.
Hemp Protein Powder (in the organic/diet foods aisle)
ORGANIC – cereals, peanut butters, oats, dried fruits.
Then it was onto SACO the local hardware store and this is what I found:
A travel blender. Not sure of the model or how good it is, but looks similar to a magic bullet or my Tribest Personal Blender. Great for dressings, grinding seeds and nuts, puddings, and of course Green Smoothies at the office or whilst travelling. This model is a 220V and whilst most of Saudi operates on a 220V, our compound is mainly 110V (American standard) but with a transformer you could still make good use of this in your kitchen AND it’s small enough to pack on holiday with you like I wrote about on Vegan Backpacker here. I cannot speak on the performance of this particular model, but if you are local, it’s well worth the nosey.
What are some of the finds you get excited about in your region of the world?
Oh wow, you live in Saudi, that’s crazy. What’s it like?
I wrote a blog post about it here but I think i am overdue an update. http://girlonraw.com/2010/06/living-in-the-gulf/
Great finds. I just wanted to wish all the best for your workshop on Monday. I have no doubt it will be an amazing, inspiring experience for all who attend.
xo
Lisa
Thank you darling girl. I have to keep it up since leaving 105 or else I would forget my skills. Loving reading up on your classes though
Good finds are always extra special when you don’t expect them. I’m struck by the fact that everything you photographed seems to be labeled in English… both the packaging and the shelf labels. Is this typical in Saudi, or just where you shop?
Hi there Frances
Well funny thing is I haven’t actually questioned that before (re the labelling in english) but this is a supermarket very much favoured by the expats, however most of the larger supermarkets (that I have been to here) are pretty much the same. Usually you see things in Arabic and English, however I do live in a highly expat populated area of Saudi (Eastern province).
Fun, looks like you have a better selection then I do!!!!!
I just found powdered coconut water, it has nothing added, but makes it so easy for traveling (EEK WE LEAVE SO SOON!)
I know I cannot wait for you!!! It’s happening so fast! xxx
Gosh – we can’t even get hemp in Bangkok! So deprived!!! I would rather be in Saudi with you – at least you’ve got Bahrain right up the road! How much longer are you staying there, anyway?
haha don’t wish to be in Saudi crazy lady. I’d rather be in OKC with you (even without a Wholefoods lol). Not sure but with this baby it has certainly slowed us from leaving anytime soon. It’s a great place to start our family, well at least to begin with anyway
yay for beets
as you said, on the same page
love ya girl
great finds!
And yay for the colour that comes out the other end tee hee.
I recently found coconut flour and became very excited
I so love grocery-store posts! Almost as good as being overseas and exploring market aisles myself. I was telling someone in my family yesterday about how hemp has to be sold as pet food here in Australia… I still can’t believe that!
Last but not least… the only thing better than a gorgeous vibrant jewel-like juice is a gorgeous vibrant jewel-like juice made by a husband, right?
I know it’s crazy re hemp isn’t it. Get with the program Australia!
I am often looking through our aisles and even when I was in Australia and I see things and think of you. Either think of what you would make with it, whether you have seen it before or even if I have seen it on your bloggy.
I know! Hemp is illegal, and yet instant milo oatmeal is fine? (I totally bought it.
And then I gave it away, because it was awful.)
AW! Thank you Rob! Just this afternoon I had this sudden really strong feeling and I just wanted to text you and say “Is it strange that I miss you even though we’ve never met in person?”
Oooh, maybe I could text from skype in future!
pretty juice/smoothie.
great finds!
sorry my post title was too racy!
Hehe yeah I used to be able to access these kind of sites as I had a shield but for some reason I cannot now
That was fun. I love virtual grocery shopping. Good luck with the workshops! Everyone will love you.
Aw thanks kt. You should do some where you live! Both workshops and virtual shopping. I’d love to do virtual shopping here with my flip cam (video) but locals don’t really appreciate that here.
That smoothie looks tasty! Gorgeous color.
And love all the finds! How fun – I want to get a travel blender one of these days.
I know! How vibrant and energy giving was it!! I love my travel blender Heidi. I even use it at home often.
I always find it fascinating going into shops and supermarkets in various countries and seeing what they have!
I’m SO happy I found your blog, I was this close to ordering a magic bullet blender off of amazon.
I’m Saudi and I live in Riyadh and honestly I didn’t even think about checking Saco.
so yay !