For mother-daughter team Lydia & Sophia Khalil, fresh and local is not just a buzz word of the moment. It’s a way of life. Food has been a way to connect them with their homeland in Egypt and integrate into their new life in America.
Lydia’s Handcrafted Foods “grew out of our family’s love of food, made well and made with love” so says Lydia, the daughter in the duo that makes up Lydia’s Handcrafted Foods. A native of Egypt who immigrated to America in the 1980s, she brings an authentic representation of what good Middle Eastern food and dishes are all about in a market full of over processed, overly sweet and not very fresh items.
To prove how important quality and fresh ingredient’s are to Lydia’s Handcrafted Foods, they only use the best quality local and imported ingredients, and have a product line of only 10-12 different items. However, just because their product line is small, doesn’t mean that it doesn’t encompass a wide range of Middle Eastern specialties.
Have you ever eyed a delicious looking tray of baklava only to be disappointed in the taste? Many times baklava can be too cloyingly sweet, and none of the other flavors that make baklava great come through. Don’t worry though; you won’t get that with Lydia’s Handcrafted Foods baklava. “Ours is more balanced – flakey, nutty, and sweet. We always tell people – you think you’ve tasted baklava? Well think again!” Well, if that isn’t a reason for you to try their baklava, then I don’t know what is!
But maybe baklava isn’t your style, that’s ok! There’s Dukkah, which is an Egyptian nut and spice mix. Traditionally served with bread and oil, it’s the perfect appetizer! Or how about Semna, which is Arabic clarified butter and Lydia’s is one of the only places you can find it!
So besides being able to sample some of Lydia’s Handcrafted Foods such as the dukkah, baklava, and semna at the Boston Local Food Festival on October 1st, just where CAN you gets your hands on their delicious goods? Check out your local gourmet food stores such as Formaggio Kitchen, Baccos Wine & Cheese, Pemberton Market, and select Whole Foods. And pretty soon, you’ll be able to order through their new website, www.lydiashandcraftedfoods.com. And don’t forget to sign up for their mailing list when you stop by their booth at the Boston Local Food Festival so you can keep yourself updated on all the amazing things happening at Lydia’s Handcrafted Foods.
This post was written by Local in Season contributor and blogger Amanda Laskowski. Amanda also writes her own blog, Tales from a Kitchen Misfit – you should probably go and check it out!