CityView Magazine

34 | September/October • 2014 location has an expansive produce department with exotic fruits and vegetables such as yucca, guava fruit, aloe vera, cactus, chayote, tomatillos and more. It is known to be a fan favorite among foodies and a certain restaurateur named Mustafa Somar (owner and chef of Sherefe downtown) fre- quents the store most mornings. e entire staff is bilingual, knowledgeable and attentive. "We sell products from the Do- minican Republic, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Guatemala, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and more," said Sulay Gonzalez, front man- ager. Gonzalez, a native of the Dominican Republic, main- tained that oxtail is their biggest seller. So, if you're in the mood for oxtail stew, you know where to buy the rare meat. Super Compare also features a food court and Mexican bak- ery with fresh empanadas, pastries and baked plantains made daily. It is a must among Fort Bragg soldiers who stop and indulge in Latin cuisine on their lunch break. Mediterranean Market Said Odeh has owned and operated Mediterranean Mar- ket with his family since February 2006. e quaint Cliffdale Road location has a variety of wares including traditional garb, hookah and skincare products from across the Middle East. However, we cannot forget about the food. Baklava and other desserts are flown in fresh from a popular bakery out- side Detroit. Odeh's inviting and congenial nature are only two of the reasons customers return. "I carry tahini (sesame paste) which is very popular, along with hard to find spices like saffron, turmeric and cardamom." Want to try your hand at cooking a traditional Lebanese dish such as tabbouleh? Chances are Odeh has the very in- gredients you need. "I have a lot of products from Greece, the Middle East, Turkey and India. A lot of the products are the same, so even people from other countries use the same item, but cook in a different way," he explained. Odeh most enjoys meeting people from everywhere who come into his shop. "It's always a pleasure. I feel like it's a meeting place here and it's very exciting." Whether you want to try your hand at making Vietnamese vermicelli, Mexican menudo or your own version of hum- mus, venture to Fayetteville's international grocers for an au- thentic, ethnic experience. CV Photography by Tiffany Parsons Said Odeh

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