Black Cherry Mediterranean Market
The Black Cherry Mediterranean Market located at 4346 South 900 East isn’t your run-of-the-mill neighborhood market. Inside its doors you will find specialty food items from the Middle East, Turkey, India and other countries near the Mediterranean Sea. It’s a one-stop shopping destination for imported food and drinks you can’t find any place else.
“Our store has the largest selection of imported foods from the Mediterranean region in the valley,” says owner Jay Mirrafie. “We offer imported specialty foods and drinks from many different countries. We wanted to open a store that caters to more than just one ethnicity.”
When you go to the Black Cherry Mediterranean Market, plan to spend a few extra minutes there, browsing the aisles to get a real sense of the variety of specialty food items it carries. For tea drinkers, the tea and coffee aisle will feel like heaven on earth. Exotic tea boxes with Arabic writing and a wide variety of black, green and other types of teas, along with Turkish coffee, line the aisle giving Black Cherry’s customers many different options. With dozens of different types of tea and coffee products, there is something for every taste.
One of the market’s most popular items is its hummus, a dip made from ground up chickpeas and spices. It’s a very popular dish in the Middle East, and Jay says his customers have come to appreciate the large selection of hummus the market offers.
In addition to a variety of rice, fresh produce, Middle Eastern spices and other Mediterranean staples like pickles, olives and pasta, the market also features a wide variety of fresh ready to eat dishes and boxed meals like curries and falafel. Whether you’re looking for ingredients to whip up your favorite exotic dish, or just looking for a quick and unique meal, the Black Cherry Mediterranean Market is the place to find both.
“We want to make Middle Eastern food more accessible to people,” Jay says.
Mediterranean diets have been known to reduce heart disease and are a healthier way to live. They center around lean protein, healthy fats, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains with a splash of olive or grape seed oil for taste. Jay says many of his customers are looking for these specialty items that can’t be found any place else that go along with the Mediterranean diet.
Part of the diet incorporates healthy dairy products and fresh produce. Black Cherry offers a full line of Middle Eastern dairy products like Greek yogurt, yogurt soda and specialty ice creams in flavors like pistachio with saffron and rose water. It also features seasonal Middle Eastern produce like Persian melons and cucumbers and sour black cherries.
“The majority of our customers are Americans; many of them interested in a Mediterranean diet, which is much healthier,” Jay says. “We give them authentic products that will help them eat healthier.”
The Black Cherry Mediterranean Market is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information about the market and its specialty food items, call 801-904-3989 or visit www.blackcherrymarket.com.
