Lebneh, or Labne, is just one of the Middle Eastern treats you can find at Norma's To-Go.
One of the joys of moving to South Jersey from Hunterdon County for me is how close it puts me to good Arab food.
I am one quarter Lebanese on my dad's side, and grew up eating taboulhi, grape leaves, tahini, spinach and meat pies, and pita bread long before such things could be found anywhere outside of an ethnic neighborhood, let alone at your local Acme or Shop Rite.
When my family wanted fresh pita, apricot paste, pomegrante syrup or Armenian string cheese, we drove all the way up to New Brunswick or even Paterson to gather these ingredients.
Even though some of these things are now in supermarkets, there is nothing like living near a real Arab grocery. Which is why I love to shop in the little grocery that connects Norma's Eastern Mediterranean Cuisine and Cous Cous restaurants in Barclay Farms Shopping Center.
It's worth a visit to check out all of the imported cheeses, pastries and dry goods on hand, and to treat yourself to some El Shalati's dried apricot paste, which will make you forget fruit strips forever.
