I am so excited! Wait, really though…like tippy-toe-dancing-in-place with wavy-flappy hands excited!
By now you must realize I am a Danville native, which in general terms means that for the very longest of times, Danville was all I knew. Couldn’t wait to get out as a youth and couldn’t wait to get back as an adult. My travels took me much further and broader than I could even have dreamed from my bedroom in Sycamore, once I did have the opportunity to go.
My travels took me to Africa, Vietnam, Pakistan, Indonesia and India while I traversed the globe brining affordable healthcare to developing countries. While in each of these places I immersed myself in the culture and I ate the way they ate. Hence my love for pho, nyamachoma, padang, nihari, and biryani. And those loves do not go away. (Side note: this article may/should result in multiple google searches for terminology unknown as to enhance the readers’ experience.)
By and large, the best eating is Middle Eastern. The dishes are clean and bountiful and cater more to the vegetarian but waste none of the animal when used. They are colorful and flavorful and always seem to focus on community sharing or gatherings. I always leave a Middle Eastern table with that “right kind of full,” that I have spoken of in the past—never that greasy-gut, bowling-ball feeling that American food leaves me with.
This love affair with food is wonderful when you find yourself at a back alley hawker stand in faraway worlds, but what am I to do once I return to the fish bowl from which I came. These desires don’t just diminish, and sometimes I NEED dolmas.
Danville Market was the only place within 20 miles that I knew of where I could go to pick up true Middle Easter Groceries in which to make my own versions of classics at home, but the people there were so terribly rude. By now you know me to be a man of substance and while the store had so many things I wanted, I refused to go there on principal based on my third unsuccessful attempt. The owner clearly wasn’t happy to have me as his customer, so I was content to oblige…not happy. Content.
All of a sudden I need Tahini, and I need it now. I’ll just run in, grunt at the man, pay and go.
As I walk in, Malisa Meemari is making fresh coffee and looks up to smile and welcome me. This isn’t the Gargamel I was expecting. Then I hear the sounds of a jovial husband and wife (Morad and Minou) coming from behind the lunch counter. They are loudly welcoming me in with her hands full of fresh vegetation and his with a sword and spiced meat creating true kabob.
This isn’t the market I remember. The items on the shelves are the same. The kitchen looks the same. But there is no little dark cloud. The place is sunny, happy and full of positive energy. The inhabitants are elated to see me! TRULY elated to see me. I quickly ask if the store had changed owners. Why yes, it has!
The Meemaris (formally of the Kabob House in Walnut Creek) gave up 30 years of restaurant success for the quieter (we’ll see) life of grocery and counter. Daughters Malisa and Mahsa have taken their spots amid their busy lives to craft the lunch menu and help launch to day-to-day operations, and I have a place to shop again!
I got my tahini, and six other things I didn’t come in for. Shook all their hands. Was promised a wonderful hand-crafted meal by mom and floated to my car.
My Christmas has come early!
508 San Ramon Valley Blvd., Danville
925-820-2319
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