Halal Foodies

EID MUBARAK!

noreply@blogger.com (Attiq) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 11:58:00 +0000

Wishing all our fellow Halal Foodies a very happy, blessed, and peaceful Eid. May this special day be filled with joy and yummy treats!

Check out some of these Eid Cakes.

Via Fungur.com

Via Rabbya's Sweet Treats

Via Squidoo

Via Shiasisters

This doesn't really have anything to do with Eid, but it looks really cool!

Muslim Couple from Alabama Discuss Ramadan

noreply@blogger.com (Attiq) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 17:58:00 +0000

Via AL.com

A Muslim couple helps build awareness of Islam, Ramadan, and Turkish food in Alabama.

In south Alabama, as in their native Turkey, Ümit and Gülcan Gunebir observe Ramadan with prayer and fasting.

For the past six years, Gunebir, 32, has lived in Mobile, working as executive director of Peace Valley Foundation, a Turkish-based nonprofit with the stated mission to foster cultural and educational ties between the U.S. and Turkey.

In Mobile and other parts of the state, he says, he is involved in interfaith relations.

Gunebir’s territory is Alabama, and he has led area civic leaders on several educational exchange trips to Turkey.

For example, he is a participant in Spring Hill College’s Trialogue, which brings together Christians, Jews, and Muslims for reflective interchange....

...With sundown comes the time for breaking the fast — known as “Iftar.”
The couple, with guests at their table, sit and pray silently. They begin, Ümit Gunebir says, by reciting “In the name of Allah, the most merciful and the most compassionate.” After prayers, it is time to eat.

First comes lentil soup, then chicken shish kebab and rice pilaf.

Next Turkish meatballs, called kofte. Melon and nuts — the meal continues.

The Gunebir table is filled with Turkish dishes and flavors.

The stuffed grape leaves are spicy; one condiment, called Turkish delight, is spongy and sweet.

Near 9 p.m., Ümit Gunebir glances at the clock — time for another supplication.

The couple excuse themselves from their guests and go to a room where they kneel and pray.

Then they are back at the table, passing around almond cakes, finishing the evening with hot Turkish tea.

Ramadan Cupcakes! Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Attiq) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 23:41:00 +0000

A few days ago I posted this picture of some homemade Ramadan Cupcakes baked by my little sister.

Looks like a popular New York City cupcakery is also getting into the Ramadan spirit with the delicious looking treats below. It's great seeing businesses like this catering towards Muslims and adopting Ramadan promotions!

Via. Elan

Teaming with Divanee.com, Butter Lane locations in both Manhattan and Brooklyn have designed these one-of-a-kind cupcakes to welcome the Muslim holy month known as Ramadan, the thirty days each year in which Muslims all over the globe fast from sunrise to sunset.

A dollar of each cupcake purchase will also benefit the Save A Mother Foundation, an educational organization aimed at empowering women and connecting them to public health systems in India.

Mirch Masala - Halal Indian Food in Beijing, China

noreply@blogger.com (Attiq) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 11:20:00 +0000

No, I'm not in China right now (I wish!). But I did recently come across this blog entry/restaurant review about Mirch Masala, a halal Indian restaurant in China. Seems like a place I would definitely check out if I ever found myself roaming the streets of Beijing.

Indian food in China...is there anything the Chinese can't make???

Mirch Masala is a stylish restaurant located on the Chaoyang District. The Indian dishes are made using free-range Halal meat, so the food is also suitable for Muslims. Mirch Masala is now one of the selective favourites of Tandoori and Curry lovers.

The ambience of the restaurant was warm and welcoming, and yet hearty and relaxed. The deco was truly Indian, with autumn colours and Indian style paintings. Not only this, but to give it a true Indian feeling, thy even had Indian music playing subtly in the background. The service was warm and inviting which makes you feel right at home.

Although there was a slight communication barrier, the staff was more then willing to help, and their patience still amazes me. They were willing to always go that extra mile for us, and they always had a smile plastered over their faces. The service was also quick and friendly.

The quality of the food was truly astounding; it tasted exactly like the Mirch Masla branch in England. You could tell that they used the freshest ingredients in their dishes. The special masalas are prepared from scratch daily so that no food will be carried over the next day.

Full Article Via ChinaTravelDepot.com

Ramadan Cupcakes!

noreply@blogger.com (Attiq) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 23:42:00 +0000

Another week of this glorious month has passed and it has been another week filled with family iftars, masjid events, and dinner invites from friends. I've been blessed with a huge family, and this is definitely one of the perks!

On the downside, I still haven't been to a single restaurant these past two weeks, nor have I had a chance to try the Saffron Road products that we've stocked up on. But a review will come later this week, InshAlllah.

Until then, check out these awsome cupcakes my sister whipped up! Today just happens to be Pakistan's Independence day (see Pakistani flag), but I'm calling them Ramadan Cupcakes. Only about 20 minutes left until iftar, can't wait to dig into these!

More on the Whole Foods' Ramadan Crisis

noreply@blogger.com (Attiq) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 16:58:00 +0000

Via FastCompany

A pioneering Ramadan marketing campaign at Whole Foods has turned into a headache thanks to a handful of vocal anti-Muslim bloggers. The Houston Press leaked an internal company email claiming “it would be best” if Whole Foods did not observe Ramadan in-store, leading to widespread blowback from angry customers who supported the promotion.

The campaign is still taking place and has not been canceled, according to Liz Burkhart of Whole Foods. Burkhart added that it was “business as usual” for the promotion and that the company is excited about the promotion. Lisa Mabe, a spokesperson for Saffron Road, also confirms the campaign is still on.

Mainstream companies have been trying to target the Muslim-American niche market for years due to special buying needs that show parallels with the purchasing habits of Jewish-Americans and Mormons. The headaches of the Whole Foods campaign constitute a setback. Ibrahim Hooper, spokesperson for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a prominent Muslim-American advocacy group, tells Fast Company that “it is unfortunate anything to do with Muslims or Islam will come under attack from a cottage industry” of anti-Islamic bloggers and activists.

Continue reading to see my thoughts...

We're just not there yet. We want these companies to promote Ramadan the same way they promote Passover and Christmas, but it will take time. It took MANY years for corporations/retailers to recognize the needs of the Jewish community and begin marketing to them. The Muslim community still has a ways to go.

InshAllah, we'll get there, but in the meanwhile I think the impact of this pioneering effort from Whole Foods and Saffron Road should not be understated. They took a step in the right direction and are now seeing some resistance. The Islamphobes and bigots will always be there, but we need to step up and do our part. We need to support this campaign to show Whole Foods and other major grocers that catering to the Muslim community is worth the effort and can yield significant return on investment.

Halal Sign in Whole Foods

noreply@blogger.com (Attiq) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 21:24:00 +0000

The major rumor against Whole Foods was that management ordered signs promoting their Halal products be removed. Coincidentally, I was in a Whole Foods store last night and took this picture. This shows that they did not remove halal signs (at least as of 7 PM yesterday).

Whole Foods Stands Behind Their Ramadan Promotions

noreply@blogger.com (Attiq) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 19:47:00 +0000

Despite a wave of false rumors that it was backing out of its Ramadan campaign, Whole Foods has directly stated via Twitter that they are indeed standing behind their efforts.

"We are still carrying and promoting halal products for those that are celebrating Ramadan this month. We never sent a communication from our headquarters requesting stores take down signs or remove parts from this promotion. We have 12 different operating regions and unfortunately, one region reacted by sending out directions to promote halal and not specifically Ramadan after some negative online comments."

Once again I commend the Whole Foods and Saffron Road teams for their outstanding efforts to heighten awareness of this holy month. My original post can be read here.

Our Freezer Is Now Stocked with Saffron Road!

noreply@blogger.com (Attiq) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 16:48:00 +0000

Last night, with our coupons in hand, the wife and I took a trip to Whole Foods and bought one of each Saffron Road entree they had in stock. We were able to pick-up the following:

Lamb Vindaloo
Chicken Tikka Masala (we got the last one!)
Lamb Saag
Chicken Biryani
Lemongrass Basil Chicken
Chicken Pad Thai

We were a bit disappointed that they didn't have the Moroccan Lamb Stew, but we are going to check at other locations for it.

We'll be reviewing each of these entrees over the next few weeks. I think my wife and I will be able to provide an interesting perspective since we both grew up on Pakistani/Indian food. As always, we'll be sharing our honest opinions, so be sure to check back to find out what we think of these exciting new products.

Nestle "Flavours of Ramadan" Marketing Campaign

noreply@blogger.com (Attiq) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 17:58:00 +0000

Food giant Nestle is reaching out to Muslims and small business owners in Europe with its "Taste of Home" and "Flavors of Ramadan" marketing campaigns this month.

The Taste of Home campaign – which was extended to focus predominantly on halal last year with its Flavours of Ramadan range in August 2010 – launched it again this month to offer halal-certified brands such as Maggi, Nido, Carnation and Milo to consumers throughout the Islamic fasting period.

Mohammad Rahimi Abdullah, Sales and Marketing Specialist for Ethnic Business at Nestrade, explained that while the Taste of Home campaign encourages the Company’s connection with small businesses in Mom and Pop stores, it also enhances Nestlé’s communication with consumers.

Included in the range is the Maggi Chorba soup product, which is an example of a must-have nostalgic product for a consumer from North Africa during Ramadan, but is available to them whether he/she is in Milan or in Brussels.

In addition, in trying to approach more consumers, the Taste of Home range, including Flavours of Ramadan, is also for non-Muslims who wish to buy these products and meet the community at these Mom and Pop stores. So it is not only about servicing the ethnic group, it is also about extending to other communities who have developed a taste for exotic foods as well.

Halal at Nestlé

Since the 1980s, Nestlé has been offering halal versions of well-known products right across its range of food and beverages, including confectionery such as Kit Kat and Smarties, Maggi soups, Nido and Neslac milk, Milo malted drinks and Nescafé coffee.

An Islamic inspection authority such as the Halal Feed & Food Inspection Authority (HFFIA) or the Islamic Food Council of Europe inspects Nestlé factories along with a Nestlé Halal Committee member to ensure that products comply before the halal certification can be awarded.

Of Nestlé's 443 factories worldwide, 85 have a halal certification with 154 halal-certified production lines situated mainly in Indonesia, South Africa, the Middle East, Turkey and Malaysia – with Malaysia as the Halal Excellence Centre and biggest halal food producer within the Nestlé Group, exporting to more than 50 countries worldwide.

A total of 20 of Nestlé's factories in Europe have halal-certified production lines, for example, Nestlé's Konolfingen factory in Switzerland produces halal-certified Healthcare Nutrition range for export to South-East Asia.

Full Articles via Food Ingredients First and Nestle.com

Atomic Wings - Halal Again!

noreply@blogger.com (Attiq) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:24:00 +0000

UPDATE - 9/8/11 - NO LONGER HALAL!

I just got some great news from the folks at Atomic Wings, their food is once again Halal!! Just in time for Ramadan. And now it's better than ever. Check out our original post here.

Previously only the chicken was halal, but now they've kicked it up a notch.

All of the following items are now halal.

Chicken Wings
Chicken Fingers
Hamburgers
Beef Chili

The turkey burger is still not halal, but they are working on it.

They also have an Iftar special going on for $8.99 which has a bit of a Pakistani twist. It includes things like Wings, Chicken Fingers, Dates, Rooh Afza drink, Pakoras, and much more.

Let's support them so they can show their franchisor that catering to Muslims is worth while and profitable. Our support will allow them to maintain their halal status and maybe even enable them to open up more halal Atomic Wings locations.

So be sure to check them out this Ramadan and beyond at 311 Broadway in the downtown Financial district of NYC.

Bella Italia Ristorante - Authentic Halal Italian Cuisine

noreply@blogger.com (Attiq) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:07:00 +0000

170 Main Street
Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660

Ramadan Mubarak!! Today marks the beginning of our most holy month, Alhamdulillah. May Allah (SWT) accept all of our fasting, prayers, zakat, and enable us to receive maximum benefit during this sacred month. I wish everyone a blessed, peaceful, and joyful Ramadan, InshAllah.

As a special Ramadan treat, I want to share one of my absolute favorite restaurants. You'll definitely want to check this place out for one of your iftars in the days to come. If you enjoy this post, please support us by 'Liking' our Facebook page and following us on Twitter.

Welcome to North Jersey, home to The Sopranos, many shopping malls, Sameer's Eats, and a very unique halal dining experience - Bella Italia Ristorante. Located in Ridgefield Park, NJ, Bella Italia serves truly authentic Italian cuisine prepared by a brother that spent 15 years studying culinary arts and working as a chef in Turin, Italy.

Owner/Chef, Ibrahim Amin, who is originally from Egypt, migrated to Italy as a young man and worked as a chef in some of northern Italy's finest restaurants. After perfecting his craft, he has spent the past 16 years dazzling locals with that same five-star cuisine in his cozy New Jersey restaurant.

Bella Italia has been a well kept secret for nearly two decades, and I'd venture to say that very few Muslims in New Jersey even knew of it. It is my pleasure to share this secret with the Muslim community and bring you another Halal Foodies Exclusive.

Chef Ibrahim Amin with his wife Rashida

The Food

Bella Italia serves 100% zabihah chicken, ground beef, and steak. The only meat item that is not halal is the veal. Additionally, they serve an array of fresh seafood.

A common practice in fine Italian cooking is the use of wine. Alhamdulillah, Chef Ibrahim does NOT use any alcohol what so ever when he is cooking. With his creative use of substitutes, Chef Ibrahim is able to create all his dishes with no alcohol - without compromising the authentic Italian taste! He diligently prepares all his sauces from scratch and explains "I have to answer to Allah" when I asked about the use of alcohol.

With over 30 pasta dishes as well as an array of chicken, seafood, and steak entrees, you are sure to find something that will satisfy your taste buds on the Bella Italia menu.

The first stop on your way to culinary bliss is the bread. That's right, the bread is amazing! It's baked fresh in-house every day and is served nice and hot. It's crispy on the outside and delectably soft on the inside.

Fresh Bread - Baked Daily

To pair with your bread, I suggest ordering a bowl of the French Onion Soup. It's one of the best soups I've ever had. French onion soup sounds harmless and seems like it would be halal from anywhere. But it's actually made with chicken broth. Chef Ibrahim makes this soup from scratch and it is out of this world. The broth is so flavorful, loaded with onions, croutons, and topped loads of fresh mozzarella cheese that melts in the hot soup - all served in a clay pot to retain heat.

French Onion Soup $4.95

French Onion Soup, delicious melted fresh mozzarella

For appetizer, try the calamari . If you are like us, you might be reluctant to order seafood at a halal establishment (why not go for the meat we can't have everywhere else?). But after years of noticing how popular Bella Italia's seafood creations are among the locals, we finally decided to give it a try. This is some of the most tender calamari I've ever had the pleasure to eat. It is made with a light and crispy batter and is served with lemon and a marinara dipping sauce. I think it's finally time to try one of their seafood entrees on my next visit.

Fried Calamari $8.95

The entrees are prepared fresh to order and are served in very generous portions. My wife's favorite entree is the Chicken Marsala. The waiter makes fun of her because she never tries anything else. But it really is that good. The chicken in this dish is moist, tender, and juicy. The sauce is rich, savory, flavorful and bursting with an abundance of mushrooms.

Chicken Marsala $14.95

Unlike my wife, I like to try different things whenever we go to Bella Italia. On our most recent trip, the waiter convinced me to try the special "Steak Poivre" (not on the menu). I was a little hesitant because I figured if I wanted steak I'd go to a steakhouse. All I can say is that my stomach was very happy that I ended up listening to the waiter's suggestion.

Steak Poivre $21.95

The steak was a nice thick rib-eye, broiled to perfection and immersed in this AMAZING brown sauce. Although the steak was well-done (I prefer medium), it was extremely tender. The sauce was really delicious, consisting of beef stock, fresh black pepper and parsley, it really complimented the steak perfectly and must have contributed to the tenderness. Chef Ibrahim told me the sauce is known as a "poivre sauce" which is actually a French sauce made from brandy. But of course Chef Ibrahim puts his non-alcoholic spin on it. Between this and the French onion soup, you even get a taste of French cuisine at Bella Italia. I'm assuming since Turin is in Italy's northern region, Chef Ibrahim's cooking was probably influenced by the city's close proximity to France. Other memorable entrees we have tried are the Chicken Francese and Chicken Campagnola.

I really can go on and on about the food, but you don't have to take my word for it. Most of Bella Italia's regular customers are local non-Muslims, many of whom are Italian. Check out some of these reviews. Even while we were there, people coming and going were adamantly raving about how great the food is and literally stating their "compliments to the chef."

Cons

Everything I've tasted here has been outstanding. I just wish the veal was halal so I could experience that too.

Bella Italia does not serve alcohol, but they do allow customers to bring their own bottles. So you will see people drinking wine with their meals.

The Experience

The food alone is worth making the trip to Ridgefield Park to visit Bella Italia. Entrees are priced in the range of $15 to $20. They do have a less expensive lunch menu for around $8-$10. There is also an "Early Bird Dinner Special" which includes an entree, soup, salad, coffee or tea, and a desert for about $15. The lunch special is available Monday through Friday, 11:30AM to 3:00PM and the "Early Bird" is from 4PM-6PM on weekdays and 3:30PM to 5:30PM on weekends.

Although the prices are a bit on the high end as compared to most other halal eateries in the area, when compared to similar Italian restaurants, the prices are very reasonable. And the portions are very big.

Overall, I generally receive very good service at Bella Italia. If it is busy you might have to wait a little longer for your food. It's a small restaurant and there is only one waiter who handles the whole place. He is also Muslim and a very nice, friendly, funny, guy that will keep you entertained throughout your meal. He'll also give great recommendations of daily specials and items you may not find on the menu. From time to time, Chef Ibrahim will also venture out into the dining area, greet the customers, and make sure everything is going well. You'll feel like a guest in someone's home at Bella Italia.

As I mentioned, the restaurant is relatively small, but I would estimate it can seat about 30-35 people.

The decor is very out-dated and is in serious need of an upgrade. The pink walls, neon lights, fake silk flowers, and ceiling fans might make you cringe when you walk in. But once you start eating you'll forget all about your surroundings.

Next time you are going out for a nice meal or celebrating an occasion, skip the Olive Garden, Cheesecake Factory, or that fancy seafood restaurant. Bella Italia Ristorante is unlike any other halal restaurant in the New York/New Jersey area. It is not a pizzeria that also serves Italian pastas etc. This is high-quality, authentic, Italian cuisine prepared by a chef that really understands how to combine ingredients, flavors, big portions, and service to satisfy all his customers. And where else can you find HALAL French onion soup in the area (seriously - if you know of any place that serves it, please let us know!)?

Little Morocco - Best Merguez Sandwich in NYC

noreply@blogger.com (Attiq) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 18:12:00 +0000

2439 Steinway St Astoria, NY 11103

On the recommendation of some friends from Queens/Long Island, my wife and I headed to Astoria Queens last week to check out Little Morocco. Located on a corner of Steinway Street among an array middle eastern restaurants, grocery stores, and hookah bars, Little Morocco is a popular take out joint serving authentic Moroccan cuisine.

Our friends recommended we go here to try the burger, which they claimed was better than the burgers at the wildly popular "Crave Shack" just up the road (review to come at a later date). Before going, I did some homework on the place and discovered that the New York Times had declared Little Morocco's merguez sandwich to be the best in NYC. All I could say was, what the heck is "merguez?"

The Food

Merguez is a spicy Moroccan sausage made from beef and lamb. Naturally, I had to give it a try. In addition to merguez, Little Morocco serves a variety of kabab sandwiches and rice platters, soups, and an array of dishes from a hot buffet.

The Merguez sandwich is made with six sausage links stuffed in a soft hero roll, topped with lettuce, red onion, green olives, and an excellent hot sauce. The spicy merguez is cooked on a charcoal grill and has a nice soft texture. The hot sauce is not too spicy, but gives the sandwich an extra kick. I think what really brings this sandwich together is the slight bitterness of the green olives. The combination of flavors in this sandwich work really well. For $6, it's a sandwich I would definitely order again.

On a side note, the NY Times article mentions some kind of wine sauce. I asked the staff about it and they adamantly stated that there isn't a single drop of alcohol in the restaurant.

Again, the reason we went to Little Morocco was to try the highly recommended hamburger. I'll travel far and wide for a good burger. But unfortunately, this burger just didn't do it for me.

A good burger needs to have an element of fat to give it that real juicy burger flavor. This burger was just too lean and overcooked for my taste. It was a good sized burger, but size alone cannot overcome a helplessly dry patty. I wouldn't say it was awful, but I have definitely had better.

To my friends in New York, if this is your idea of a good burger, you guys are seriously missing out. You need to come out to Jersey and visit Kabab Paradise. You'll forget all about the Little Morocco burger.

We ended our meal with a cup of the mint tea. This flavorful tea comes stuffed with fresh mint leaves, which was a nice soothing way to top off the meal.

The Experience

Little Morocco is a very small take out place with very limited indoor seating. On a nice night, you can sit outside and enjoy a cool summer breeze as we did. There are about 20 seats out on the sidewalk. The food comes out very quickly.

After your meal, you can walk directly across the street and offer Salah at this beautiful masjid which is always bustling given the area's vibrant Muslim community.

Saffron Road Teams Up With Whole Foods for Ramadan Promotions

noreply@blogger.com (Attiq) — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 17:04:00 +0000

Saffron Road is partnering with Whole Foods Market to bring Muslims an array of festivities and promotions during the month of Ramadan.

"To help its Muslim consumers celebrate, Saffron Road is partnering with Whole Foods Market to host several blog posts and offer shoppers chances to win free Saffron Road products and a $100 Whole Foods Market gift card on the grocer’s Whole Story Blog."

I work as a brand manager for a very large national brand that has a huge presence in supermarkets. I know first hand the challenges associated with executing a promotion with a large retailer, such as Whole Foods. I commend the team at Saffron Road for this huge win not only for their brand, but also for the American Muslim community. This is a great way to heighten the overall awareness of our most holy month. Whole Foods should also receive high praise for taking a giant step towards fostering a greater relationship with the Muslim community.

“This will be the first time a major grocery chain in the United States acknowledges Ramadan in this way on a national level. Considering Saffron Road’s products are available in more than 90 percent of Whole Foods Market stores nationwide, this is a major positive move forward for addressing the needs of the American halal consumer all over the United States." - Adnan Durrani, CEO of Saffron Road

Saffron Road is also working with Yvonne Maffei of My Halal Kitchen to bring consumers Ramadan-related tips and recipes to prepare for suhoor and iftar meals throughout the season. Addtionally, Saffron Road is offering printable coupons for its products via zabihah.com and elanthemag.com. Saffron Road will also be increasing their online efforts during Ramadan via Facebook.

Again, I cannot understate the over-arching significance of this great effort. This is an exciting advancement for halal foods in the U.S.

Full article via Natural Products Marketplace.

Heat Wave Affecting Halal Street Food Vendors

noreply@blogger.com (Attiq) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 22:53:00 +0000

The recent east coast heat wave does not bother Rezwan Jahengir, a native of Pakistan, who is used to soaring summer temperatures. But the heat is taking a toll on his halal food truck business.

“I’ve never seen business this bad,” he said, shaking his head. “It’s the heat.”

Full article Via NY Times.

53rd & 6th Tote Bags

noreply@blogger.com (Attiq) — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:21:00 +0000

Looks like "The Halal Guys" at the famous 53rd & 6th Gyro Cart are giving away reusable tote bags when you place a big order. You can also buy one for $1. Not a bad deal for a NYC souvenir! Check out the post from the folks at Midtown Lunch.

Mamoun's Falafel Restaurant - Mamoun Finally Crosses the Hudson!

noreply@blogger.com (Attiq) — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 15:01:00 +0000

Halal Foodies Exclusive
Added to Zabihah.com courtesy of Halal Foodies

The famous Mamoun's Falalfel Restaurant, a New York City legend which has over 1,500 Yelp reviews and has been featured in the book "1000 Places To See Before You Die", has finally made its way over to the Garden State.

The man with the shaggy hair and unkempt mustache recently made the arduous journey across the Hudson River and decided to set up shop right outside the Holland Tunnel in Hoboken, NJ.

Jersey halal foodies rejoice! We no longer have to pay the $8 toll to savor one of NYC's best halal meals.

The Food

First of all, I've heard rumors over the years that Mamoun's does not serve halal food. I have verified with the staff and the owner (Mamoun's own son) that the meat at all their locations is 100% zabihah halal. There is a halal certificate on display in the new Hoboken location.

Also, check out the Hoboken location's full menu here.

Now that that's settled, lets talk about the food!

Mamoun's is famous for its falafel sandwiches. The new Hoboken location maintains the standard of falafel excellence that I have come to love. At $2.50 the sandwich is an amazing deal.

The fresh taste and texture of Mamoun's ground chickpea concoction with the smooth and tangy tahini sauce will give you cravings in the middle of the night. Which is okay because they're open till 2AM on weekdays and 5AM on the weekends.

Falafel Sandwich $2.50

The shawarma sandwiches at Mamoun's are packed with delicious slow roasted shredded lamb.The lamb sandwich is topped with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and a tahini sauce. Unlike some shawarma places that serve chewy lamb meat; Mamoun's lamb is moist, tender, seasoned, and very flavorful.

Shawarma Sandwich $5.50

I usually stick to the falafel and shawarma, but last night I had my sister with me who decided to get the chicken kebob sandwich. I took a small sample of the chicken from her sandwich, and all I can say is WOW! Mamoun's chicken kebob, where have you been all my life?!? It was so good, I went and ordered another chicken kebob sandwich for myself.

The chicken is juicy and has a distinct grilled, smoky flavor. The sandwich comes with lettuce, tomatoes etc. The only complaint I have about this sandwich is that the chicken was drowning in a sea of lettuce. At $5.50, the sandwich is still worth it, but next time I might go with the chicken kebob plate for $11.

The Mamoun's Hot Sauce is also famous, or infamous, depending on your threshold for spicy food. It is a very potent sauce that will over-power the flavors of your food if you're not careful. You can even buy your own bottle of this legendary condiment.

If you're still hungry after your meal, you can try one of Mamoun's delicious pastries.

Cons

The Greenwich Village location in New York City is the epitome of a hole in the wall restaurant. There is barely enough room to stand in there when you order, let alone sit and eat. Although, a con for the NYC locations, this is not an issue in Hoboken.

As mentioned, I wish there was more kebob and less lettuce in the chicken kebob sandwich. The hot sauce is good but VERY hot, and will overpower your food's flavors if you put too much.

The Experience

Part of going to Mamoun's on MacDougal Street in the Village is the experience of waiting on a line that goes out the door, and making your way to the counter of this tiny hole in the wall fast food middle eastern restaurant. That's one of the reasons that Mamoun's made the list of "1000 Places To See Before You Die."

However, when Mamoun came to Hoboken, he decided to splurge a little on the size and overall atmosphere of his newest location. It's still a take out type of place, but with a much improved seating area.

The restaurant has a very inviting feel, with earth tones all around complimented by soothing middle eastern music. Normally I'm not a fan of wood paneling, but Mamoun's makes it work with these nice dome shaped carvings.

This location has indoor seating for about 25 people, and additional outdoor seating for about 15. A big step up from the NYC location

Finally, Mamoun's also offers delivery service throughout Hoboken, Jersey City, Weehawken, and Union City. They'll also glady cater your event anywhere in the tri-state area.

Mamoun's is best known for it's two locations in Manhattan, and also for it's one in New Haven, CT

But on behalf of all of New Jersey, Welcome Mamouns!

Kings Family Restaurant - A Feast Fit For A King

noreply@blogger.com (Attiq) — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 21:37:00 +0000

Kings Family Restaurant & Catering located at 557 Clinton Ave in Newark, NJ claims to have "The Finest Halal Food In Town."

Based on my own experiences in Newark over the years - Kings' combination of quality ingredients, menu variety, taste, and large portions only lead me to agree with their claim of having the finest halal food New Jersey's largest city has to offer.

The food is certainly fit for a king, or at the very least fit for a mayor....

Mayor Corey Booker with Kings' owner Younis Moheisen

The Food

Whether you're in the mood for breakfast, lunch, or dinner - Kings' will have something on their menu for you. The menu's extensive selection of breakfast and dinner entrees are reminiscent of a traditional diner, but with a halal soul food twist.

Breakfast

The breakfast at Kings' is a unique halal experience in my opinion - one that any halal foodie should add to their to do list. Where else in north Jersey can you get a freshly made, hot breakfast that includes your choice of eggs, waffles, pancakes, halal bacon, halal sausage, or my personal favorite, halal steak. The pancakes and waffles are amazing. The breakfast here is extremely popular, especially on weekends when the place gets packed. Skip the IHOP and check out Kings for your next breakfast outing.

I went for dinner on my most recent visit, so I'll be sure to update this section with pictures the next time I go for breakfast.

Lunch/Dinner

Burgers, sandwiches, gyros, cheese steaks, fried chicken - all these type of items are available at Kings. But what I go to Kings for are the 'Dinner Entrees' (which you can also order during lunch).

Items such as BBQ Ribs, Turkey Meatloaf, Smothered Turkey Chops, Oxtail, or Chicken and Waffles are items you may not find at any other halal restaurants in the area. Kings does all these things and more.

These entrees range in price from $9.99 to $13.99 and come with your choice of two massive sides and cornbread. Side orders include items such as mashed potatoes, stuffing, mac n cheese, candied yams, and many more.

The owner, Younis Moheisen, who has been in the restaurant business for 20 years, tells me that most of the menu items are made from scratch! The only thing that comes from a can is the corn side dish.

On our recent visit, my wife and I had one of our all time favorites, the Smothered Turkey Chops and something we hadn't tried before, the BBQ Ribs.

Smothered Turkey Chops Dinner w/ Mashed Potatoes & Stuffing

Smothered Turkey Chops

The Smothered Turkey Chops are one of my favorite dinner items at Kings. These are nice cuts of boneless turkey meat, breaded and cooked to perfection and smothered in a sea of delicious gravy. These Turkey Chops have a nice crunch and are a bit salty, but the saltiness works well with the smooth gravy.

BBQ Beef Ribs Dinner w/ Mashed Potatoes & Mac n Cheese

BBQ Beef Ribs

These BBQ Beef Ribs are juicy and dripping in a delicious barbecue sauce. These are definitely worth trying. Some of the pieces did have some excess fat on them, which is what really gives the ribs their flavor while cooking. Once you get around the fat, you'll be able to enjoy some nice tender juicy meat.

Side Orders

One of my favorite things about eating at Kings is the side orders. When you order a dinner entree, you get huge servings of whichever TWO sides your heart desires. Potato salad, macaroni salad, string beans, rice with gravy, and collard greens are just a few of the many side dishes available.

A few of my favorite side items are the Mashed Potatoes, Stuffing, and Macaroni and Cheese.You won't be disappointed with any of the sides pictured below. Remember, these are all made from scratch.

Mac n Cheese

Mashed Potatoes with Gravy

Stuffing

Cons

A few years ago, I tried the Veal Parmigiana dinner at Kings. The veal was a weird texture, and almost seemed like processed meat. This was several years ago, so it might be better now.

A note about the hours - although King's lists 9 pm as closing, it seems that last seating is actually at 8:30 and they try to get the place closed by 9.

Also, the restaurant is located in a sketchy neighborhood (but once you get inside, the seating is very nice).

The Experience

Kings Family Restaurant is located in Newark's South Ward. Kings is definitely a hidden gem in a neighborhood not known for its dining. There is parking available in the back. The decor is nice, and the seating is spacious and comfortable. Younis, the owner, strives to provide a family friendly environment. I think he has achieved that with the details he has put into creating the ambiance of his restaurant.

The service is also exceptional. My experience with the wait staff has been very positive. All of the waiters and waitresses that I have dealt with are friendly, outgoing, and knowledgeable about the menu. Also, Younis told me that if there's something not on the menu that you're in the mood for, just ask and they may be able to make it for you.

They also do caterings for all occasions. Additionally, they are in the process of adding a catering hall to their existing location. This is exciting news because there are very few catering halls in the area that only serve halal food and do not serve alcohol.

Something fun to do while you wait for you food

Kings Family Restaurant and Catering serves an array of delicious entrees at affordable prices. High quality, homemade, fresh ingredients, combined with huge portions make up some serious feasts - fit for a King.

New York Fried Chicken - Seinfeld Worthy Calzones

noreply@blogger.com (Attiq) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 07:31:00 +0000

Halal Foodies Exclusive

You wouldn't have found "New York Fried Chicken" located in Elizabeth, NJ on zabihah.com. But now you will, courtesy of HalalFoodies.com. Shout out to my friend Mostafa for introducing me to this place.

"New York Fried Chicken" is located directly off of route 1&9, right down the road from the Jersey Gardens outlet mall, Ikea, and Newark Airport. On the surface, this place looks like your typical halal fried chicken spot. It's open 24 hours and serves the typical fare - fried chicken, burgers, fries etc. On the inside however they're cooking up some halal calzones that even George Costanza and George Steinbrenner would approve of.

The Food

Other than the calzones, the food here is pretty average and consistent with any other fried chicken spot. Not everything is halal, so make sure you ask before you order. I recommend the halal chicken calzone or the halal cheese steak calzone (I always specify that I want it halal at these type of places).

Chicken Calzone (left) Cheese Steak Calzone (right) - Only $4.50 each

It only takes $4.50 to get yourself one of these massive calzones (a little extra for the peppers, onions etc). That's a sweet deal anyway you slice it.

The reason I love these calzones is because of the crust. It's rich and tasty, but not dense and doughy like at some other places. It's light, crispy and airy. The calzones are also filled with enough meat and cheese to satisfy a grown man like my self.

I would recommend calling ahead because they make these fresh and it takes about 15-20 min to make one.

Cons

Tiny sauce containers. Look at the size of these puppies, and then look at the miniscule amount of sauce you get. If you're like me and like a lot of sauce, then you better ask for more.

The Experience

As I mentioned before, these calzones are excellent and in my opinion would be highly sought after by the cast of "Seinfeld." Other than the calzones, NYFC is the same as any other halal fried chicken spot, quick, low-quality take out food. There is limited seating available.

So if you're doing some shopping at the outlet mall, or looking for some new furniture at Ikea, or even dropping someone off at the airport - it's worth stopping by for one of these delicious treats.

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Gelatin-Free Marshmallow Ice Cream!

noreply@blogger.com (Shanza) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 02:05:00 +0000

Rice Krispie Treats, Lucky Charms, Peeps, and S’mores are just some of the many fun treats that we have to miss out on thanks to mainstream marshmallows not being halal. In an effort to brighten up your bleak marshmallow-free lives, we have some good news to share…

Marshmallow found in ice cream often does not contain gelatin! Check the ingredients for ice cream flavors such as Rocky Road, Chocolate Marshmallow and others that list marshmallow in the description, and you will likely find that the ‘marshmallow’ in these is made without gelatin. So before you pass over a flavor thinking it is not halal, flip over the carton and check the ingredients. The ingredients do vary by brand so be sure to confirm that there is no gelatin before digging in.

One of our ALL TIME FAVORITE ice cream flavors is Turkey Hill’s ‘Phillies Graham Slam.’ Turkey Hill describes it as ‘Graham flavored Ice Cream with scoops of choco marshmallow cups and a graham swirl.’ The delightful and dominant graham flavor of the ice cream cannot be missed, the crunchiness of the graham swirl makes for great texture, the coating of the marshmallow cups is a rich milk chocolate and the sweet 'marshmallow' filling in the cups is gelatin free! (Check out the ingredients for yourself if you don’t believe us). Considering that I am a devoted chocolate-lover, I am VERY picky about desserts that are not predominately chocolate, but this one is definitely up to par. If you have been shying away from ice cream flavors such as Rocky Road assuming they always contain gelatin, find one of the gelatin-free brands and try it out. Don’t forget to tell us about your experience by commenting here.

Here are a few more ice cream brands/flavors that contain gelatin-free marshmallow:

Ben & Jerry's Clusterfluff

Haagen-Dazs Rocky Road

Turkey Hill Rocky Road

And again, please be aware that all marshmallow found in ice cream is NOT necessarily gelatin free. For example, Blue Bunny Rocky Road DOES contain gelatin.

This is NOT halal

Keep checking under our Gelatin section for new posts about gelatin-alternative and halal-gelatin products. Also, we'd love to hear about your favorite gelatinous childhood treats that you wish were halal! We will be posting soon about our favorite halal marshmallow brands, our take on vegetarian and fish gelatin, and alternatives that we have found.

HalalFoodies.com in "The Record"

noreply@blogger.com (Attiq) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 18:47:00 +0000

North Jersey based newspaper "The Record" ran a great article about religious food websites and apps which mentioned yours truly and HalalFoodies.com. Although they spelled the name of our website incorrectly (without the S), the article highlighted our innaugural post about Kabab Paradise.

"A similar foodie movement is cropping up in the Muslim world. Attiq Amjad, who grew up in Paramus and works in brand management, uses an app and website called zabihah.com to find the best halal restaurants from Paris to Paterson. “I want to go out and eat a nice meal, and when I’m eating something permissible from a spiritual standpoint it tastes better for me,” said Amjad.

The dining database even inspired him and his wife to launch a blog called halalfoodie.com. His inaugural post is dedicated to Kabab Paradise, an Afghan and hamburger place in Lake Hiawatha that recently opened a branch in Fair Lawn. Posting mouthwatering photos of burgers, kababs, and fragrant rice garnished with raisins and carrots he writes, “Kabab Paradise is a halal foodie’s dream come true.”

Also featured in the article is zabihah.com and my old friend Sameer from Sameer's Eats.

Continue on to read the full article.

Foodies with religious dietary restrictions get help
Websites, apps find eateries
By SACHI FUJIMORI
STAFF WRITER
Sameer Sarmast is the type of foodie who will drive to Philadelphia just to taste the best cheesesteak or a half-hour from his Paramus home for his favorite juicy burger. “I love food. I’m one of those guys who eats out 70 percent of the time,” said the 29-year-old, who works in banking.
But unlike the growing ranks of adventurous eaters, who scour dining websites like Yelp and Urbanspoon seeking out their next memorable meal with unfettered abandon, Sarmast has certain religious dietary restrictions.
As a Muslim, Sarmast eats only meat that is zabihah— meaning it’s been slaughtered according to specific Islamic guidelines. He can’t have alcohol — not even in a sauce. And the latest fad of wrapping everything in bacon, garnishing it with pancetta, or braising it with pork belly — that, of course, is totally off limits.
But just because you have to answer to a higher power when eating out, it doesn’t mean you can’t be a serious food connoisseur. A new genre of dining database sites caters specifically to religious diners, who are as passionate and curious about good eats as the secular set.
Koshertopia.com, a database of kosher dining in the tri-state area, provides information you’re not going to find on a mainstream dining site. In addition to neighborhood and restaurant type, users can look up a place according to the religious agency that certified it (there are more than 70). Logos depicting a wedge of cheese, a steak, and head of broccoli indicate whether the establishment’s menu is dairy, meat, or pareve — meaning that it serves neither.
“There’s a lot of technical details our users won’t trust coming from another site,” said Avi Feld, of Teaneck, who heads up sales and marketing for the site, which also offers coupons, reviews and dining news. “We really decided there needs to be a place that kosher consumers can go to read reviews from other kosher diners,” he said.
The site helps users discover hidden gems — like Rosa’s Pizza in the Empire State Building; the Bukhari, a Central Asian/Jewish place on a third floor in midtown’s diamond district; or practical information, like which Dunkin’ Donuts in North Jersey are kosher. Among the community of posters there’s also a basic acceptance that the food will cost more. “Someone who’s not kosher would say it’s expensive. But a kosher consumer understands the costs, that it’s more expensive to produce,” said Feld.
A similar foodie movement is cropping up in the Muslim world. Attiq Amjad, who grew up in Paramus and works in brand management, uses an app and website called zabihah.com to find the best halal restaurants from Paris to Paterson. “I want to go out and eat a nice meal, and when I’m eating something permissible from a spiritual standpoint it tastes better for me,” said Amjad.
The dining database even inspired him and his wife to launch a blog called halalfoodie.com. His inaugural post is dedicated to Kabab Paradise, an Afghan and hamburger place in Lake Hiawatha that recently opened a branch in Fair Lawn. Posting mouthwatering photos of burgers, kababs, and fragrant rice garnished with raisins and carrots he writes, “Kabab Paradise is a halal foodie’s dream come true.”
Sarmast of Paramus also has an equal zeal for Kabab Paradise, regularly making the trek to Morris County just to satisfy his burger craving. He turns to Yelp and other mainstream dining sites when looking for seafood restaurants or dessert places, but when he wants to eat meat, which must be slaughtered according to Islamic law, he pulls up zabihah.com on his Android. Having this site at his fingertips, is like having an inside connection to millions of Muslims: getting the scoop on good halal Chinese food in the area; or where to find the tastiest chicken pide, a thin crust pizza topped with diced chicken and vegetables, in South Paterson. “It’s based on the Muslim view and everyone knows about zabihah.com. Without this database, you have to go by word of mouth,” he said.
Like many foodies who dream of becoming a Food Network star, Sarmast hopes to fill a vacant niche as America’s next halal food personality. He got started by launching his own video blog sameerseats.com, where he visits popular halal eateries around the country. With gusto to match Guy Fieri ( of “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” fame), he recently filmed an episode in the City of Brotherly Love sampling what he considers the best Philly cheesesteak, which also happens to be halal. “In recent times, much is coming out about the lifestyles of Muslim-Americans. This is a way we can all come together on food. No matter what your religion is, we want to enjoy good food,” he said.
E-mail: fujimori@northjersey.com

Chicken Go Round - More Than Just Chicken Goin Round

noreply@blogger.com (Attiq) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 19:16:00 +0000

Chicken Go Round is a new, fully halal restaurant in Jersey City with a menu that will make your head go round, and round. Don't let the name fool you, they do more than just chicken - and based on what my wife and I sampled, they do it well.

The menu has a lot going on with it, so I'm not exactly sure what this place is trying to be. Their sign reads "Rotisserie BBQ & Grill" yet the menu has a wider range of options than the name suggests. Menu items include rotisserie chicken (obviously), burgers, wings, quesadillas, nachos, and shish kababs (because apparently you can't have a halal restaurant without kababs). In addition to the variety of food options is the assortment of cuisine styles, including Southwest, Cajun, and Tex-Mex. Don't get me wrong, variety is good, I like variety, but it was just a little confusing.

The Food

After staring at the menu for a few minutes, I asked one of the staff members for a recommendation. He suggested a quesadilla which, according to him, is their best seller. In addition to the quesadilla we tried the Texas chilli, and the rotisserie chicken w/ rice and beans.

Beef Quesadilla $6.99

A look inside the Beef Quesadilla

We ordered the beef quesadilla, which I thought was going to be ground beef, but it actually turned out to be little pieces of steak. It was a nice surprise. On first sight I was not impressed with the quantity of beef in the quesadilla. However, by the time I finished eating I was more than satisfied with amount of meat I had just consumed. You basically get steak with every bite. The steak was flavorful and tender and was complimented by pico de gallo and cheese in the tortilla, along with salsa and sour cream on the side. All these elements combined for a flavorful tex-mex experience.

Texas Chili Bowl $3.99

Texas Chili - Mildly spicy, hearty beef and beans

At Chicken Go Round I learned for the first time what an authentic chili is supposed to taste like. I've had chili at a few other halal restaurants, but the chili at those places tasted like they threw in too much Indian spices. The "Texas Chili" at Chicken Go Round did not taste like Indian food, and I enjoyed every bit of it. The Texas Chili was subtly spicy, and was topped with pico de gallo and melted nacho cheese (the cheese was good, so I'll have to order some nachos next time). The combination of ground beef and beans had a nice hearty texture. For a hotter, spicier experience, try the Louisiana Chili.

1/4 Rotisserie Chicken with Rice & Red Beans $3.99

Aerial View of Chicken with Rice & Red Beans - Big portions for only $3.99

Since the place is called "Chicken Go Round," I just had to try the rotisserie chicken. It is actually cooked on a rotating rotisserie (we couldn't get a good picture because it was behind glass). The process of rotisserie cooking creates a self-basted, slow-roasted, generally juicier chicken. This was definitely evident with the chicken that we tried. The meat was succulent and juicy with a nice smoky flavor. The seasoning on the chicken was excellent, not spicy, but flavorful. The skin had a nice grilled charred crisp to it. It's making my mouth water just thinking about that juicy chicken that was practically falling off the bone.

Cons

Based on what I tasted, the only con that I can speak of is the rice and red beans. The rice had some unusual seasonings and the beans were bland. You can get black beans instead of the red, perhaps those are better (leave a comment below if they are).

The Experience

Chicken Go Round is set up as a fast food restaurant. You go to the counter order your food then sit down and enjoy. The restaurant is very clean, tastefully decorated, fairly big, and has seating for about 20 people.

It has strange barren feel to it though. I think they could utilize their space a little more efficiently. The space is long and narrow which understandably could be challenging to set up with tables. When you walk in, you see all the tables set up against the wall on the left side of the restaurant and nothing but a garbage can on the right side. The lack of symmetry makes the place feel eerily empty.

Overall, Chicken Go Round is a nice change of pace, and brings some authentic Southwest/Cajun/Tex-Mex cuisine to north Jersey. The food is high in quality and taste, the decor is simple and clean, and the staff is very friendly. Chicken Go Round will keep YOU coming back 'round for their array of specialties.

The Beauty of Islamic Slaughter

noreply@blogger.com (Attiq) — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 13:57:00 +0000

Subhan'Allah this is a powerful video about Islamic slaughter. It masterfully depicts the peace, tranquility, and beauty of slaughtering animals according to Islamic tradition. (Don't worry, they don't show any blood or any animals actually being slaughtered.)

The Comet Burger - Kabab Paradise New Release!

noreply@blogger.com (Attiq) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 23:47:00 +0000

The guys at Kabab Paradise have been back in the lab whipping up another one of their "Extra Delicious" specialties. Today, I tried their latest creation, "The Comet Burger."

The Comet Burger combines two Kabab Paradise favorites, a burger and the Spicy Honey BBQ Chicken Cutlet...just saying all that is a mouthful! But it tastes as good as it sounds.

The Comet Burger is made up of one of Kabab Paradise's delicious burger patties topped with tender pieces of sweet and spicy chicken, sauteed mushrooms and onions, lettuce, tomato and american cheese. This new burger delivered a blend of flavors that satisfied all my taste buds.

I have tried all of the Kabab Paradise burgers and this one is by far the spiciest. But even though it has some serious heat, the honey bbq kicks in to sweeten your mouth nicely.

The Comet Burger adds another excellent burger option to the "star" studded Kabab Paradise line-up.

Unity Halal Meat - Crack Burgers

noreply@blogger.com (Attiq) — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 13:14:00 +0000

The days are getting longer, the temperature is getting hotter, kids are playing outside, and the sweet scents of barbecue are in the air. It's summer! One of my all time favorite summer activities is barbecuing. I started barbecuing in my teenage years, taking over the spatula from my dad. I'm not claiming to be a bbq expert, but there's just something about cooking meat on a grill and serving my friends and family that is very fulfilling. It's even more fulfilling when you see your friends devour the food you cooked, and say things to you like "Where did you get those burgers from?!?" I've even had friends call, text, and email me the next day asking about my burgers. They all want to know how I made them and where I got them from, and I have always tried to keep it a secret for the most part. But today I'll share my secret right here on Halal Foodies.com. These highly acclaimed burgers are made by a halal meat shop that's been in business for over 40 years, Unity Halal Meat, in Newark, NJ.

Let me paint you a picture. You and your friends are sitting on folding chairs in your backyard just hanging out and talking. You just finished serving barbecued burgers and hot dogs and everyone is so full they can barely speak. Then out of no where of one of your friends says, "Man, those were good burgers, I need to get another one!"

Try them once, and you'll be hooked. It happened to me and a bunch of my friends. That's why I call them Crack Burgers.

What makes these burgers so good is difficult to put into words. The burgers are not too big, not too small, not too thick, not too thin...they're just right. They have a perfect blend of lean ground beef with the right amount of fat which gives these patties its distinct flavor. The ingredients say "Beef, Water, Soy Flour." Maybe the soy flour is the secret ingredient? I just don't know. All I know is they are good!

The burgers come pre-packed and are always stocked in the freezer on the left when you walk in. They are usually available in a pack of 8, but I recently came across a new 4 pack. The 8 pack will run you about $6 (depends on the weight), and the 4 pack will cost you about $3.

For best results, cook them on a grill; coal, gas, electric, all are suitable for the "Crack Burger."

I like to season them with salt and pepper while they are cooking. Trust me, this is only to enhance the flavor of the meat. You can easily get away without seasoning, but I still recommend it.

Finally, finish off the burgers with your choice of toppings. I often just eat them in a simplistic manner, with only a slice of cheese and ketchup, to fully enjoy the meaty goodness.

Unity Halal Meat is owned and operated by African-American Muslims. Why is this significant? Well, let's think about it. If I want some chicken legs that would be suitable for "Tandoori Chicken", I might go to a Pakistani owned halal meat shop. They might even put the masala (tandoori seasonings) on it for you. If I want some Turkish "Adana Kababs" I'd go to a Turkish owned meat shop. And so on and so forth. Yes, for the most part, any good butcher shop will be able to cut the meat the way you want it. But if you're looking for some good ole American style burgers, steaks, and sausages, you need to hit up Unity.

They have a nice variety of steaks and sausages on display, and can also give you any kind of steak you want if it's not on display. I've tried T-Bone and Tenderloin steaks. Another great ad on for your burgers is bacon, available at Unity in beef or turkey. These are all fresh and high grade quality meats.

If you're on a diet, one healthy alternative is the Turkey Burger. Turkey Burgers are something I really have not seen in any other halal meat shop. These actually taste really good and are definitely low in fat. I've cooked them on the George Foreman grill and have witnessed very little if any fat end up in the drip tray. (I definitely cannot say the same about the beef burgers)

So before you fire up the grill for your next summer BBQ, take a trip down to Newark and visit Unity Halal Meats. Located right on the corner of University and Orange Ave, a few blocks from the Rutgers Newark main campus and only 1 block from both the Rutgers Business School and Broad St train station.