Cheers!

Thanks Ben. I’ve written a bit more about eating out in Iraq here:

http://www.foxnomad.com/2011/01/27/a-taste-of-eating-out-in-iraq/

and to answer your questions the produce prices were roughly consistent with what you’d find in southeastern and rural Turkey. (Not expensive for the staples – tomatoes, cucumber, beans, etc.) Whether it’s local or not I can’t say – I doubt it though since the climate and land isn’t very arable. It could be coming from further south in Iraq and Turkey as well to which the Kurdistan Regional Government has strong economic ties to.

There are a few grocery stores here and there – on the small side – but selling the essentials. Sulaymaniyah seemed to have many more of them then Arbil, which did not seem nearly as developed. You could get things to cook yourself like rice and produce but unless you’re staying in a home not have a place to cook it. There were no hostels or hotels with kitchens like you tend to find elsewhere in the world.

You guys have provided a lot of great info. I am curious about the food. I am wondering how reasonably priced the fruit and vegetables are at the market (such as in the photo above). I’m not sure if it is local produce or not, which I know can dramatically affect price. The absurdity of produce costs here in Korea (in comparison to the US) has been quite a shock.

Also, aside from getting food from restaurants, are there grocery stores for you to get things to cook yourself?

Thanks