August 2014

Earlier this year I wrote about a few restaurants around town that use Minnie's Dried Fruits & Vegetables in their menus and breakfast buffets.

I would like to tell you more about some of them.  

In Season Store, located at 3 Ismail Mohamed in Zamalek is operating in soft opening mode. Just as the name indicates, they use ingredients that are in season, and they also use some of our products because they are prepared with no additives, no preservatives, no sugar and no coloring.

The Lemon Tree & Co. in Zamalek also "has squeezed the juice out of its last lemon of the season. Our zesty Zamalek venue will be closing its doors for the summer in preparation for a fabulous Fall. In the meantime the fun continues at Marassi... this time with a tantalizing twist." They have moved to the Sa7el for the rest of the summer and have opened two new venues , one at Marassi, an elegant restaurant that uses Minnie's products, the other at the beach in Telal, where they will serve the catch of day in a more relaxed atmosphere and sprinkle Minnie's products on their plates.

So if you are anywhere near Telal or Marassi do take the time to check these two new places out and report back to us.

Good eating, and bil hana wel shefa

END OF RAMADAN

EED FEAST

I would like to wish everyone a peaceful end of the fasting month of Ramadan and a very happy feast amidst all the heartbreaking news about children dying, cities being bombed, fellow humans being annihilated, and humanity ceasing to have a heart.

We are closing so as to give our women at Minnie's the opportunity to get ready for the end of the fasting month.  They are going to be busy with what is known in the West as Spring Cleaning. They will be washing, cleaning and baking to get ready for  eed.

Eed is the celebration at the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting in the Muslim community. It is celebrated in Egypt by eating:  Eating kahk and ghorayeba, the specialties of this feast.  They are baked sweets, a little like shortbread, filled with either dates or honey or a jelly made with honey and rose water then powdered sugar sprinkled on them. They are yummy and come just in time after fasting.

See you in early August with our dried pears, figs and more!

July 2014

Ramadan 1435 

And the seasons change….

Spring has eased into Summer and Ramadan is here with its  spirituality and its commercial side: this year's Sissi lanterns, new lights and new mosalsalaats.  As the pace of life slows down and some of you head to the cooler shores make sure you take Minnie's with you wherever you go. Minnie's dried products are easy to keep: they do not need electricity nor do they need special storing facilities. My grandchildren who are in town now, have requested that we take Minnie's dried fruits as we head out to the shore. So you too as you head out make sure you Minnie's goes along! 

Minnie's has just attended its last event of the season and I would like to say that I had a lot fun seeing old friends and making new ones at all the interesting  markets and events we attended all over Cairo, at the Lotus Center in 6th of October City, at the Arkan Mall, the Kattameya Country Club and of course our regulars at the Nun Farmer's Market.  My cousin from Kansas came to Egypt and was part of the Minnie's operation. She enjoyed meeting you and talking with you and working side by side with the women in Dahshour.   On behalf of all f us at Minnie's I want to thank each and everyone of you for making it such a great, enjoyable and fun season. We are grateful for your continued support and love that you love our products.

As to our news, it is now cherry season and the young women in Dahshour are busy pitting them and setting them out on the dryer. It is a long and tedious process.  It will take them a few days to dry and then... packed and ready to be eaten with the Ramadan khoshaf.  The same happens with the grapes! We have started with the red grapes and already have a nice stock. Soon the Egyptian green grapes will hit the markets and we will dry them too.  In between the cherries and the grapes we dry bamia (okra)  for those of you who enjoy 'waika'.  Then the pear season will be upon us and will soon be ready for drying.

At the moment we have a wonderful selection of Egyptian fruits, full of flavor and great as a 'sohoor' option:  apricots, prunes, raisins, and apples, cut up into a bowl of yogurt, or just plain out of the box. 

Although Minnie's Dried Fruits & Vegetables attended its last Farmer's Markets and events for the season you can still buy our delicious products throughout Ramadan and the hot summer months. Click on the tab "Products and Price List" to find out what is available now and to select what you like.You can find our products in several stores, so please check the tab 'Finding Minnie's' for an updated list of places that carry our products.  And remember you can place orders by email at minnies or by calling our mobile at 01111047555. We deliver too; free if you live in Maadi and for a small delivery fee for all other areas.

Bil hana wel shefa