We just returned from a long (and we like to think well deserved) holiday. Our usual practise is to bring back as many items as we can, that are difficult to find in Muscat. A few bottles of special wine are always included, but olive oil, (balsamic) vinegar, cheese and sausages are also favourites.This time we filled our bags with foie gras (we are well aware of the controversial nature of this, but we can't stop eating it), different kinds of dried mushrooms, truffle oil and salt. Salt? Yes, salt. Fleur de Sel to be precise. This is the salt that is gained from salt pans. While the sea water dampens in those pans, a thin crust forms on top. This layer is hand harvested. It has a very fine structure, and is said to be the most delicate of all salts. Sounds snobbish to you? It might be, but we really like the taste of this salt. And because it is notoriously difficult to find here, we thought it would be a good idea to bring back a small stock.
On a short visit to the Qurum Carrefour we noticed a large stack of.... yes you guessed it, fleur de sel. Slightly grumpy, because we could have used valuable baggage space for something else, we loaded some more into our cart. You never know how long stock lasts. So if you want to try this special salt, hurry to Carrefour and buy some. But do us a favour please. Use it where you can taste it, and don't waste it on boiling your potatoes!
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Welcome back! They seem to get a stock of fleur de sel once a year. I bought a few boxes last year and have just stocked up again. My wife was slightly amused when i told her i had spent 10 rials on salt!
ReplyDeleteLook forward to reading some more of your reviews. One question - do you know where i can buy 00 flour? It was available here 2 years ago but since then it has disappeared. Thanks
would love to know more about truffle oil in muscat, what brand can you find, is there much demand for it ?
ReplyDeleteAnon: The obvious guess for Tipo00 flour would be Al Fair, because that's the only supermarket that stocks something else than Dahabi. But we didn't see any there. We do seem to recall that we've seen it somewhere though. Maybe the food corner of M&S?
ReplyDeleteTruffle Hunter: We like your website! Truffle oil is not something to buy here in Oman. We've never seen it in any shop here. It's difficult enough to find a decent olive oil in Muscat, let alone such a delicate product as truffle oil. We bought ours in Alba. You can see the brand through this link (not the same store as where we bought it): http://www.bienmanger.com/2F2705_Tartufato_Olive_Oil_White_Truffle.html
ReplyDeleteDo you know this producer? We noticed on your website that you are in the process of offering a truffle oil as well. Do you have any more specifics about that?
In the off chance you are interested, Sultan Center occasionally stocks Truffle Oil and Truffle Butter.
ReplyDeleteThanks, that's good to know! Did you try them, are they any good?
ReplyDeleteI checked Marks & Spencer yesterday but they don't have Tipo 00 flour.
Did notice 'truffle flavoured oil' at Carrefour buy that really sounds like a nono.
thanks for your reply about the flour. Both Sultan Centre and Al Fair used to sell Tipo 00 flour but not recently. My last hope is the organic shop in al masa mall.
ReplyDeleteLet us know if they have any. Last time we were there all the interesting stuff they used to have was gone...
ReplyDeleteThe truffle Butter was outstanding, the truffle oil was average, at best. Keep up the blogging!
ReplyDeleteYou talk about a "few bottles of special wine". I thought that only 1 bottle per person is allowed to import?
ReplyDeleteOR are you just taking chances that they don't care at the airport??
Thx in advance for your answer, as I would die for bringing some of my aged Austrian Rieslings with me on my next visit.....before my family at home discovers them. ;-)
Peter
According to customs regulations, you can bring in 2 bottles (max. 2 litres) per person. Once, we decided to bring all half bottles up until 2l. We got questioned about it, but the customs officer did accept it in the end. But 2 bottles a person should never bring you into any sort of trouble.
ReplyDeleteall that sodium, did it end you guys? disappeared off the face of the blogosphere
ReplyDelete