A Top Chef Takes Us Through Her Weekly Food Shop
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FRUIT & VEG
Strawberries: My baby and middle son both love strawberries, so we will always have a punnet or two at any given point. I just spent the summer in the UK for our Kinoya in London, and the price difference in fruit compared to Dubai is a bit bonkers but we have an amazing selection of seasonal fruit from all over the world here, and I am not mad about that.
Mangoes: As an Indian girl, I can’t not have mangoes in my house. My go-to is Mango DXB. They stock mangoes from everywhere, but during monsoon season, having Indian mangoes in the house is a an unmatched mood.
Watermelon: This takes up room, but it’s a must-have in the summer.
Berries: I tend to get all my berries at Driscoll as they last the longest lasting, but I believe Kibsons is better bang for your buck. I find Spinneys the quickest in terms of delivery, though.
Mandarins: My husband gets the best ones – he has a knack for picking the ripest.
Bananas: My schedule sometimes only allows for food on the move, so a banana is a winner when it comes to grab-and-go. I also travel a lot with the baby and again, bananas are great for snacks. I don’t have to worry about sanitation, and it’s a handy back-up food while I figure out how to make a meal.
Garlic, limes, ginger & fresh coriander: Absolutely non-negotiable. There would be mild panic if I ran out of any of them. I do ginger shots most mornings – it’s a nice way to start the day. Plus, I make broth every few days at home for soup bases and my baby’s food, so ginger is a must.
Spring onions & miso paste: Of course, I always have these so I can bang out a quick miso soup on demand – my baby is obsessed with miso soup.
Petit Pois (Emborg): Super handy for soups, sides, and for a general presence of greens, so you feel less guilty about your kids not eating enough vegetables.
Tomatoes, spinach & curry leaves: We grow our own spinach and curry leaves, and we use those a lot.
FRIDGE STAPLES
Organic chicken: It’s my favourite meat to eat. I mean, my ramen is chicken-based, so I feel like I owe a lot to this beautiful bird. It’s also so versatile – you can roast it, make a broth out of it, make a curry, or bomb fried chicken.
Beef: My middle son loves steak, and he’s a picky eater, so I like to have a nice inventory of things he will eat. Carni Store does the best meats in town.
Tofu: There’s always some tofu in the fridge, because why not?
SEAFOOD
Fresh seafood: I love fish. I eat sushi for breakfast most days, and there will always be a few fresh cuts of sashimi in my fridge – from Kinoya, of course. Akami and amachi are my favourite, as they are leaner cuts. Wemart is really close to my house, so for the freshest seafood, that’s my go-to.
Caviar: I eat a spoon of caviar most days to get my dose of iron and omega. I order from Caviar Boutique, and there’s always a tin in my fridge. It’s my small luxury in life, and I love supporting them.
DRINKS
Kombucha: I don’t drink alcohol, so my beverage indulgence comes from kombucha. I have a fridge stacked at any given point with Yala Bucha.
Matcha: I am also a tea drinker and like to make ceremonial matcha. The best matcha for me is Haiyatea, and you will always find a few grades of it in my fridge.
PANTRY ESSENTIALS
Extra Virgin Olive Oil: I have an EVOO addiction, so I hoard. The most special EVOO in my inventory right now is eL Seed’s brand – not only is the olive oil beautiful, but the bottle is a work of art. I have two of his bottles. I also just came from Spain and picked up a few bottles that were endorsed by Chef Albert Adrià, and you can’t go wrong with that.
SWEET TREATS
Chocolate: I grew up in Dubai, and when you went to someone’s house (a friend’s house), their mum would always have chocolates on the coffee table. As a mother, I love this, and I want my kids and any guests that come to the house to have access to chocolate – because how joyful is that! My favourite ones are from Mirzam, I always have a variety in my house.
SUPPLEMENTS
Sea moss: I recently discovered sea moss about six months ago, and I am absolutely hooked. I don’t like taking supplements because I find they really don’t get fully absorbed, so I try and find other forms of taking nutrients. I highly recommend C-MOSS as it’s sea moss infused with vitamin C. She’s a small business too, so I love to support.
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