Middle East in the Mid-West

I seem to be slowly moving westward these past few weeks. First with China and the far east, then India, and now here I am with the middle east. There's been a slowly growing population of middle eastern population finding home Under the Arch. And where a people go they bring their food with them, so besides several good eateries like say... Ranoush, we now have two of them, woot woot, one in Kirkwood and one on the loop, and Aya Sofia's we also have several markets that are stocking the goods.

You'll find them tucked away in strip malls and in old buildings, they seem to be waiting, lurking almost in the shadows. Until you walk in, the first thing that should hit you is the smell, a mix of Spices that you as a pour uneducated American wouldn't normally know how to place just lick your lips and you'll feel a slight flavor buzz hitting you. First thing you do is find the back wall, this isn't always going to be an easy task as several are labyrinths of wonders that we Blue eyed devils had no idea existed,  Hookahs and Tea sets, teas that you'd never understand or even begin to know how to brew properly, dates, figs, preserves, spices, turmeric and tamarind all swirling around you in bright packaging showing pictures of beautiful women, men on horse back, dogs, animals of all kind. You feel tempted to snag a treasure from the wall, bolt to the counter pay the snaggle toothed little old woman whose yelling across the store to her husband in a language most american's can't understand and get out of your car feeling like Aladdin after getting out of the Cave of wonders... RESIT, RESIT I say, stay true and find that back wall.

Once you find it, follow your nose to the source of that mix of meat, spices and pita that can only be gyro, every and I do mean every middle eastern market worth their salt will have one, sometimes tucked away so only a regular or family can find it there you'll find the little old man with milk chocolate skin and white hair rolling his eyes upward and moving his mouth, likely a prayer to Allah for patience with this devil woman he married. He'll smile and bow slightly when he see's you bow in return, be polite to this small man. A chalkboard sign will tell you what he offers, it'll be the same everywhere, beef, chicken or lamb, Gyro or Salad. Tell the man what you want. While he's making it he'll ask you about your day,and soon the two of you will be talking about sports and then somehow into politics, this little old man will slip your food into a container handing it over to you take it bow a little at the waist and say thank you as you take it from him and grab a can off coffee drink on your way out. You have now become an initiate to one of the best kept secrets in STL.