With the opening
of its first retail store, Moriches Gourmet has brought its world
of imported foods, dried fruits, nuts, chocolates, candies, grains,
beans, coffee, teas, olive oils and more to 18th Avenue – at
a discount.
Owner Yakup Guven says his primary business is supplying luxury
foods from Turkey, Spain, Albania, Russia and other countries
to respected gourmet stores in Manhattan, but decided to open
his own shop in Brooklyn this summer.
On his shelves, you can find cucumber-infused soaps, soy nuts
by the pound, pastas, dried fruits from California, olive oils
from Turkey, Greece, Spain and Italy and even Haribo candies
by the pound.
"We have better prices, very low, because we’re a wholesaler,"
says Guven. "We’re much lower than regular market price."
The shop is so stocked with exotic, fascinating goods, that
it may take a few moments to get acclimated before you start
filling your arms.
"People see dried organic chestnuts, and they’re hard like
a rock," explained Guven, "but Italian people know
you have to soak them in water before you can cook with them."
However, with Moriches’ prices, you can afford to be adventurous
and create some fantastic new desserts with a jar of candied
chestnuts (or marrons glaces) from Turkey ($4.45) or a jar of
scrumptious hazelnut cream ($2.45), also from Turkey. For you,
or the tea lover we all know, there are "Special Gunpowder"
($2.95) or jasmine teas ($3.95) from China. Or why not try an
extra virgin "Village" olive oil from Turkey (at $3.95
for 25 ounces), and see if you can taste the difference?
Guven said he is still adjusting his inventory, "trying
to test the area," which is a traditionally Italian neighborhood
that has become more diversified with a thriving Chinese grocery
store and Russian, Japanese and Vietnamese restaurants nearby.
He has plans to augment his many luxury offerings with necessities
such as dairy products and a fresh fruit stand.
Moriches Gourmet is located at 7224 18th Ave. at 72nd Street
in Bensonhurst. For hours and more information, call (718) 998-7393
or visit the Web sites at www.kilyos.com or www.Moriches.com.
