If you’re looking for authentic kosher Middle Eastern take-out cuisine, you best get yourself right over to Geffen Gourmet in Long Island, New York! Okay, if you don’t live in New York, this post isn’t really for you but you can certainly still drool over the homemade food from owners Uzi and Gitit Malka. Uzi is Moroccan and Gitit is Yemenite and the mix of their backgrounds creates the most incredible recipes I’ve tasted at a take-out shop in a long while. Below is just a taste of what you will find at Geffen Gourmet, including tons of homemade salads, shelf after shelf of Middle Eastern groceries, a variety of pickled salads, incredible pastries and a few different types of challah. Oh, and just so I don’t forget to mention it, Geffen Gourmet is under the Vaad Hakashrus of the Five Towns and everything in the store is parve (non-dairy).
First up are the homemade salads. Let me see if I can list them…matbucha, babaganush, hilba, eggplant and sweet potato, hummus, tahini, spicy carrots, raw shredded beets, tabouli, and I’m sure there are many more salads I’m missing! The list is endless.
If you’re looking for authentic Middle Eastern groceries, look no further then the organized shelves at Geffen Gourmet. And if there’s something you want that they don’t have, just mention it to Gitit. She is so sweet and will definitely try to locate the item for you. Nothing better than good customer service, right?!?
And now on to those pickled salads. Marinated olives and pickles, pickled beets, pickled cauliflower and carrots and so much more!
Say hello to the most incredible rugelach I’ve had in many years. So much chocolate! So much pastry! And since I’m on a hamantaschen kick these days with Purim right around the corner, I had to show you all their beautiful hamantaschen filled with dates, poppy seeds and apricots (not all in the same cookie).
On Fridays, you can get homemade parve side dishes like stuffed peppers, cous cous and roasted sweet potatoes, and you can also get incredible challah and Yemenite kubaneh! I will certainly be stopping by every Friday for some fresh challah and pastries.
Next time you’re in the neighborhood, stop by Geffen Gourmet and stuff your face! The address is 407 Mill Road, Hewlett, NY 11557. You can call the store with any questions 516-791-5000 and follow Geffen Gourmet on Facebook.
*Please note that I was not paid by Geffen Gourmet to write this article. I am so in love with this new market that I wanted to tell the world about it.
