Get Me a Date! Stuffed or Chocolate Covered…
Before you go on thinking that I am referring to some odd sex game and start feeling all titillated about it, I mean the kind of dates that grow on palms (yes, I almost wrote ‘trees’ but corrected myself at the last minute?!) and are found in the desert… NOT the tall, charming and handsome kind that come to pick me up at the door and take me to some fab restaurants for wonderful nights out on the town. We’ll get back to that discussion, another place another time…
On a recent episode of ‘Inside the Middle East’ on CNN – hosted by the glamorous and intelligently gorgeous Hala Gorani, who has become one of my favorite women on TV – Gorani herself stopped by a gourmet date shop in a Dubai Mall. She was offered a taste of each treat in the shop, and between her delighted exultations and my overactive imagination, I’ve spent every night since then dreaming about those little pearls of deliciousness that Middle Eastern dates can be. She tried them stuffed with nuts and caramel, rolled in coconut and covered in chocolate and I tell you, I haven’t been able to think of anything else since. Forget the typical – read: BORING! – Valentine chocolate, I’m ordering a variety pack of gourmet dates for the upcoming holiday and have just the perfect places in mind for you to do the same.
While the fabulous Kanwal Ullah – check out her food column this week, it’s all chocolate and Valentine inspired for the occasion – suggested making a batch of chocolate covered dates and dropping then by my apartment (she is my idea of a FABULOUS woman, both generous and talented!) I really wanted to find a variety of flavors and a place that would deliver. Lucky for me – and The Ajnabee readers of course – Sphinx Ranch in Arizona has just what I craved. The Royal Red Gift Box 2 Layer Medjool Dates Varieties is exactly what I had in mind: partly nutty, partly coconutty, partly chocolate covered, all delicious dates and only $36 plus shipping! Oh, and lets not forget that these dates don’t require conversation at dinner OR shaving my legs for the occasion…
Of course, now that I’m into the fruity date – but of course have not given up on the manly kind – I am coming across loads of great resources. I remembered visiting a date farm near Palm Desert in California with my Dad, back in the days, and have found their website – Oasis Date Garden. Their product is divine, so am a bit torn about ordering from California or Arizona… Hum. The Oasis’ 3-pound Treasure Box for $54 plus shipping is tempting me. Oh, what the hey! I’ll order from both. After all, dates are high in fiber and very, very yummy. And that’s good enough for me, until the real thing comes along…
Images courtesy of Oasis Date Garden, Sphinx Ranch and CNN
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