AYOUB’S DRIED FRUITS & NUTS 

“Evolving Healthy Snacks”

With their self-explanatory name and their slogan “We’re Nuts About Nuts”, Ayoub’s Dried Fruits & Nuts on Denman has become a West End favorite destination for anyone in the neighborhood looking for fresh and healthy snack food and recipe ingredients.

Denman Street manager at Ayoub’s Carolina Mafra scoops up some treats.

Since the early 1980s, Chef Ayoub and his trained chefs have been roasting nuts by hand with artisanal craftsmanship. There is an art to roasting a product using unique flavours, while maintaining the natural essence. The craft of nut-roasting has an ancient and rich history, and Chef Ayoub has always respected that as he pursues his personal goal to never stop innovating and developing his own style.

Nuts are one of nature's most nourishing foods, packed with heart-healthy fats, protein, vitamins and minerals. Nuts are actually a fruit, composed of a hard shell and a seed ("nut"). They are a healthy, compact, convenience food with a long shelf life, and minimal preparation.

The nuts on offer, roasted daily and by hand, include all the favorites such as almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, and pistachios, as well as some lesser known types and specialties like soft-roasted chickpeas.

Conceived by Chef Ayoub, and passed down to his son Amir, Ayoub’s developed their own unique roasting ovens and techniques. “All of our roasted nuts are crafted in small batches to ensure quality and consistency,” explains Amir. “Far from corporate, assembly line production - This is great people, doing what they love, to perfection. We think this makes a difference.”

According to Amir, their wide selection of dried, fat-free fruits consist of “basically fresh fruit that never spent a winter in Vancouver”.

For snacks on the go, a secret ingredient for your next special recipe, or in lunch bags to supply extra fibre, minerals, and antioxidants, dried fruit are a healthy choice with the satisfaction of something sweet. Perfect for a natural burst of energy while staying clear of the candy aisle.

Sourced and imported from around the world, Ayoub’s selection includes apricots, figs, dates, mango slices, sour cherries … well, you’ll just have to drop by yourself and see what’s on offer — we don’t have room here for the full list.

While they aren’t featured in the store’s name, Ayoub’s also offers a wide variety of the world’s favorite seeds for snacking or to add to your cooking. Watermelon, sunflower, and pumpkin seeds are among the most popular.

Being the foundation of plant life, seeds hold some of the highest quality essential fats and nutrients. Because of their small size, seeds are versatile and can be used in nearly all forms of cooking, baking, or snacking.

Ayoub’s also offers a variety of chocolate and spice selections to further enhance your cooking and supplement your snack bag.

And why not mix it up? Ayoub’s features a number of signature mixes with nuts roasted with lime, pepper, saffron, and other spicy, tasty flavours.

Ayoub’s Dried Fruit & Nuts on Denman is one of five locations in Metro Vancouver. Aren’t we lucky? As Amir says, “The best things in life come in small packages at our stores.”

Ayoub’s Dried Fruits & Nuts is at 986 Denman.

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Kevin Dale McKeown
Editor & Publisher
editor@thewestendjournal.ca