In Shepherds Bush, West London there is about half a mile of road that is packed full of Middle Eastern shops, restaurants and businesses; it serves a local Middle Eastern community as well as providing a fab place to visit and shop for those of us with a love of everything Middle Eastern, which is what Selma and I did yesterday 🙂 🙂
I arrived before Selma and had a good walk around and quickly realised that I was in my version of paradise – I just love Middle Eastern designs, styles, aromas, flavours, the language, everything. By the time Selma arrived I was literally bouncing up the street, grinning from ear to ear – and pulling along my new and very necessary shopping trolley!!! I filled this thing by the end of the day with a whole heap of tasty goodies – and all at extremely good prices – I was very pleased to see that just because it is central London that the prices aren’t loaded up 🙂
We visited a couple of supermarkets as well as the fabulous ‘Nut Case’ and had lunch at a Lebanese restaurant, and I can tell you in all honesty, that when I was in each of these establishments I could very easily have been in Abu Dhabi. The layouts, the staff, the products are all the same as I would find when visiting my Mum..
This, and the photo at the top, is in ‘Nut Case’, a shop full of fresh coffee, fresh nuts, fresh mahmoul (biscuits with dates and nuts) & baklava, an array of sweets and chocolates, as well as a whole range of shisha pipes. I can tell you absolutely that this shop is virtually exactly the same as a shop in the Hamdan Centre in Abu Dhabi, down to the same wrapped sweets! I was literally there!!
I managed to buy just a few things…it would have been rude not to, of course!
In the supermarket, Al Dimashqi, Selma and I oohed and aahed our way round, getting in everyone’s way as we marvelled at the products and choices. I fell in love with an entire shelf of tahini and grabbed the chance to try cooked chickpeas in jars, which I’ve been told are better than using tinned.
I stocked up with arabic bread and various ingredients which you will no doubt see featured on here as time goes on. One tip we were given, was to add a few rose petals to a bowl of natural yoghurt and nuts – I’ll be trying that soon.
In the restaurant we indulged in our favourite dishes of homous, mutabal, tabouleh, foul medames and patatas harras. OMG! the flavours of heaven!!
How fabulous does my lunch companion look??
When you eat in a Lebanese restaurant they bring you a little plate of baklava with your bill..
I am almost heartbroken that my tastes have changed so much that I could only manage a tiny piece 😦
We had such a great day, it was lovely to see Selma, we are in touch constantly, but nothing beats face to face. As we ate our lunch, we discussed all of our lovely blog friends that we wished were at the table with us…you were with us in spirit, my lovelies xx
Oh wow, love Middle Eastern supermarkets, I could spend hours and hours in there and lots of $$$ too. Great stuff and so nice seeing Selma, what a lovely outing.
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It was, thank you, Suzanne 🙂 and we did spend hours and hours and ££££ 😉
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I love this post more than I can express. You two are so fun! May I please teleport over and hang out?? Please!!
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Yes, please, come on over!!! X
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You ladies are so adorable I can’t stand it! Love all of the offerings and also the plate of goodness you had for lunch. Mmmmm! I might get in trouble in that market.
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Thank you, Sue xx
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I was actually busy with something else and then I saw this post on my mobile! I had to come and see it :-d Elaine you look so happy on these pictures haha seriously just a pure joy and happiness- it made me smile you know. In France they would say that you looked like a little girl in a candy shop 🙂 You made my day my dear Elaine. Hugs xx
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Thank you so much for your lovely words, Marta 🙂 xx
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I am in awe every time I see pictures of restaurants and stores in London from you and Selma. Just so many ethnic restaurants and shops to choose from. I used to love traipsing around when I lived there and it brings back such vivid memories. Lovely to see Selma and you taking these wonderful opportunities and showing them to us. 🙂
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I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Loretta 🙂 when did you live here? And where?
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In the early 70’s Elaine, in fact my mum and sisters still live in England, so I visit often. In fact, Selma and I had made plans to meet up in Winchester when I was visiting one of my sisters in Southampton, but unfortunately I was not able to keep the date in the end. Maybe, I can hook up with you guys and explore ethnic stores and restaurants in London :))
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That sounds like a great plan 🙂 x
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oh, and p.s. I used to live in E. Finchley, and worked in Oxford Circus. Prior to that lived with my parents in Gosport, Hants.
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What did you do in Oxford Circus?
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Wow Elaine loved this post 😄 love the name of that shop Nut Case, how cute! Amazing spread and lively to see Selma and you enjoying yourselves! I made baklava this week haha!!
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Ooh, was it good???
I’m so glad you enjoyed the post xx
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It was such a great day – you have captured it brilliantly in this post, Elaine. Until the next time – inshallah – as our new friends would say!!
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Absolutely! Inshallah 🙏
Thank you sweetie, it was lovely to see you and share it all with you xx
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Awww it’s so nice to see you and Selma. And it is so obvious how happy you are, Elaine. That place is indeed a paradise for you. ❤
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It is! Thank you darling Jhuls xx
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I am so~~ envious! I wish I could hop on the plane to join your next adventure with Selma. 12 miles from my home is a market which covers Persian/Middle-Eastern/Mediterranean products. Even if I don’t need anything, I will spend so much time there and end up coming out with at least two bags. To say, ‘incorporating a Lebanese meal as part of your adventure was a bonus’ is an understatement. What a FUN day you and Selma had. ❤
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We did indeed, thank you, Fae 🙂
Get on that plane now!!!!! xxx
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The food looks delicious! Thanks for sharing your adventure =)
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Thank you, Lauren 🙂
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Its so nice to see you both having fun 🙂
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Thank you x
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Wonderful post. The joy you felt simply spills over.:-)
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Thank you 🙂 x
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What Aruna said ! 🙂 And I can say on my own behalf that the lunch looks to die for: I ADORE Lebanese food !!!!
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🙂 🙂 xxx
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Great place, great stores, great company and greater food! And you guys are both so pretty. Love the dimples Elaine.
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Thank you, Namrata xx
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You both look fabulous!! And soooo happy!! How good did all that amazing stuff (food / dips / spices / sauces etc ) look!! xxxx
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Thank you 🙂 it was SOOO good!!! xx
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You both look so happy together 🙂 I can spend hours to find all kind of things in Middle Eastern shops and the food looks super delicious. xx
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Thank you 🙂 honestly, Linda, the shops are just like those in the UAE – especially the hardware shops, full of their curious mixture of stock! X
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You two are adorable. Thanks for sharing your mini-Middle-Eastern trip with us. I think I could actually smell the roasted nuts.
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Yay! I think maybe you could!!!
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So lovely to have discovered your blog via Selma. Wow what a wonderful day out shopping and eating with a kindred spirit! A day of bliss no doubt? Look forward to reading more of your posts and adventures….Donna (TBH)xx
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Thank you so much, Donna, it really was a day of bliss, you are absolutely right! 🙂
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What a fabulous shopping spree! It looks like you and Selma had so much fun! One day when I visit London, I am going to make my way to this super market for sure! 😀
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We did have so much fun! So much chat and laughter 🙂 and if you do come to London, you have to tell us!! x
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Of course you know I will! 🙂
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OMG!!! I’ve been trying to justify why I don’t see the need to go to London and you’ve just blown that out of the water. Forget Buckingham Palace, I want to see these places. Thanks 🙂
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Yay!!! Do it!! it’s far more interesting than the standard tourist destinations!!
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Wow wonderful post Elaine. …
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Oh, it looks like heaven!
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It was! Is!!!
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You two seem to know their way around London much better than I! And you’re looking like you had a great time, too! Now, if you ever fancy visiting Southall for some Indian or Pakistani food give me a call as it’s my ‘hood, so to speak 😉
I love Middle Eastern food so I really should get off the tube next time I travel through Shepherds Bush…
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That sounds like a fab offer, thank you, I’ll remember that xx
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A lovely fun post! I looovvveee going to Middle eastern supermarkets & cool places! They have an abundance of great different foods that I need to learn & use! x
Your lunches looked very inviting & you look cool in that super sweater! x
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Ha ha! Thank you honey xxx we had so much fun!
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Oh, it sounds like you had such a fun girl’s day out! Thanks for sharing all the photos! I loved seeing them.
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Thank you 🙂 we did have a fab day xx
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