Talk about one-stop shopping: Looking for falafel for lunch? A handmade Persian carpet or decorative hanging for the house? How about a tub of hummus, a rare selection of loose teas and Persian cookies, grains in bulk or even a new set of cookware? This and more can all be found at Sayad Market and Deli in Newington.
Celebrating 15 years of doing business, owners Shamiran and Sabri Sayad enjoy a broad customer base that extends from professors at Central Connecticut State University looking to put on an authentic Middle Eastern spread to folks who drive up from Fairfield County to get their fix of stuffed grape leaves and homemade baklava. In addition, the couple has a thriving mail-order business with customers from all over the United States looking for their sometimes hard-to-find favorites.
According to Shamiran, who manages the deli end of the operation, the market's most popular prepared foods are the homemade falafel, hummus and stuffed grape leaves - and there is often a lunchtime rush to accommodate orders. A variety of grinders are also available, from roast beef to tuna, but it is the Middle Eastern fare that creates the repeat business, she said.
"We have our own loyal customers for 15 years," said Shamiran, who with her husband raised two children in Newington, Sabrina and David.
And while times may be tough economically, the couple said their business hasn't suffered for it.
"It's been steady, not bad," Sabri said. "We're the only Persian supermarket in Connecticut."
The owners pride themselves on offering an extensive variety of products: Their refrigerator cases hold four types of imported Feta - French, Greek, Turkish and Syrian, not to mention other types of cheese; exotic teas line the shelves; herbs and spices occupy a corner of the store; and their cookbooks cover Armenian, Persian and several other cuisines.
And Shamiran said she's more than happy to share her own recipes with customers.
"Thanks to Food Network, we get lots of calls," she said, from people who want to know how best to cook with some of the spices and other items they've seen on the network's shows.
But if cooking isn't your thing, you won't go hungry at Sayad.
"If I made you a tray, I [would] put olives in the center, with falafel, stuffed grape leaves, warm pieces of pita, and for dessert, Persian cookies with saffron," she said of plating the quintessential Middle Eastern spread for her customers to take home.
Sayad Market and Deli is located at 95 Fenn Road in Newington. For more information, visit www.sayadinternational.com or call (860)666- 7846.