©Rifai
It's high time we took peanuts seriously! Perhaps because of expressions like, "They're not worth three peanuts," this nut hasn't always been treated with the respect it deserves. Fortunately, Rifai, which has taken over from the A la Ville de Rodez grocery store that had been located on Rue Vieille-du-Temple for a century, is here to rectify this injustice.
Like all inhabitants of the Mediterranean region, the famous Lebanese house founded in 1948 treats nuts (cashews, pistachios, hazelnuts, almonds, macadamia nuts, peanuts, etc.) with the same seriousness as a French winegrower does for wines or a tea house for the precious leaf.
Rifai Marais, ©Rifai
To fully understand the difference between a supermarket product and what we are talking about here, the best thing is to go there and bite into a Chili pistachio, a Truffle cashew nut, a semi-salted almond, a kernel mix or one of thirty products offered at the stall. The crunchy sensation is incomparable, the caliber larger, the aroma more powerful, the pleasure more complete.
“In Lebanon, nuts are part of the culture and the art of hosting: we always welcome a visitor with a selection of nuts, almonds, peanuts, etc. », explains Rifai, who has two stores in Paris (the other is in the 16th), thirty in Lebanon. The house also distributes its products in travel retailers, at Harrods in London and in four or five star hotels.
Rifai Marais, ©Rifai
The selection of roasted products is vast, with varied recipes (cashews with pesto or thyme; sriracha or lemon almonds, etc.) and exotic origins that demonstrate sophisticated sourcing (Vietnam, California, Spain, etc.). Nuts also have the advantage of containing countless nutritional benefits. Rich in fiber, minerals and good fat, they are excellent anti-stress, anti-fatigue and anti-aging.
Let's be honest: when we walked through Rifai's door during a walk in the Marais, we weren't expecting anything special. The (good) surprise was even greater!
▼ Rifai Marais
22 Street Old Temple, 75004 Paris
Every day from 10h to 20h
Rifai Dates, ©Rifai
Text: Katia Barillot
09.04.24
