Fremont, California has claim to the largest Afghan American population in the USA. On the corner of Fremont Boulevard and Bonde Way sits a nondescript building filled with delicious foods from the home country. Inside is a Halal butcher, who prepares the freshest lamb in the region.

Located in an otherwise “boring” Bay Area suburb, this market is renowned by the local Afghan community and beyond for their fresh-baked Barbari bread. People have been known to travel over a hundred miles to stock up on a couple of dozen loaves (which are frozen and taken out when needed). They are stacked bare on shelves and often still warm while you place them in bags yourself. It’s $2 per 3 square foot oval that’s one-inch thick. Yes, you will be given a quizzical look if you order only one loaf. You’ll often run into long lines for this bread on weekends and before Muslim holidays. My wife and I were lucky enough to get introduced to this bread by our generous Afghan neighbors, who happened to knock on our door one evening with a pair of loaves and several pounds of “leftover” kabobs.

Update: This photo was published online and in print in the May 2010 issue of Good Magazine. Online link here: http://www.good.is/post/picture-show-neighborhood-treasure/