The Zest Podcast, hosted by the talented Mrs Dalia Colon covers all of Foodie culture in Central Florida. I was honored to share some of my thoughts about the Halal Food Scene in Florida on a recent episode. I hope listeners of the podcast were able to learn a little bit more about Halal food and the diversity of the Orlando Halal Food Scene.

Many may have heard the term Halal in reference to Halal Cart Food, a popular street dish from New York City. It’s a combination of gyro, rice and salad that is smothered in a creamy white sauce. But of course, Halal food is more than just that.

Halal is an Arabic word that means lawful or permissible. So Halal food can, and does, come from many ethnic backgrounds, as long as it uses ingredients that are permissible to Islamic principles. If you need more information about what Halal food is, check out this link.

On this site, I blog about my experiences eating at various Halal restaurants in Orlando, Tampa Bay, Miami and beyond. I often make some TOP 5 lists in addition to in-depth restaurant reviews. My goal is to help visitors to Florida find the best Halal Food with as little effort as possible.

So let me be your local guide to the Halal Food Scene in Florida.

Being on the Zest Podcast was an enjoyable experience and I learned a lot too. Let me detail some of the things I enjoyed about it.

1. Hi, Nice to Meet You.

It’s nice to connect with others interested in food culture and explore our passion for it together. If you are here, it likely means you’re interested in learning more. So thank you for being here, this is where the conversation begins. I’d love for you to explore the site and contact me with any questions or recommendations.

2. Nice to meet Me

When I first started blogging 4 years ago, I did so without expecting it to be anything more than my thoughts “out there” on the internet. It was a way for me to organize my recommendations and channel my passion as a foodie. I was shouting to the great void that is the internet.

After some time, I began to hear voices talking back to me.

It was fun to find fellow foodies. I also joined Instagram and YouTube to connect with other foodies and the larger Halal Foodie Community. Speaking on The Zest Podcast showed me that the foodie culture is growing and so I’ll keep sharing my thoughts for others to enjoy, or even disagree with.

3. The More you Know.

With all the information on the internet, you’d expect our society to be highly educated and well-rounded. However it feels as if we are further from that mark. The rise of echo chambers from social media platforms seems to compound this issue. One of this website’s goal is to promote education and awareness about Halal Food. So this site can be a resource for those interested and who want to learn about the options of the Halal Food Scene in Florida.

4. Now you Know, and Knowing is Half the Battle.

With education comes awareness. Once you know, it’s time to put that knowledge into practice. Small business is the backbone of the American economy, but it’s more than that. Small businesses are the bonds that keep our communities grounded and linked. In an era where minorities have been disenfranchised and everyone has been pushed into their corners, small businesses are the places where community members interact and exchange ideas and values outside the political sphere. This is especially true for small restaurant businesses. In a society where exploring other cultures has become more politicized, eating at culturally diverse spots is the new way for us to build bridges and increase trust in our fractured communities. When you sit down in a restaurant, you are doing more than eating, you are having a cultural experience.

5. Everyday is Small Business Day.

Now that you know small restaurants are the gate way to enlightenment, or at least a full stomach, now is the time to support them. The last year with the pandemic has been hard on all of us. Restaurants are no exception. Many of these Halal restaurants are owned and operated by local families that live in the community they serve. By frequenting them, you are supporting the local economic. So by highlighting these restaurants, I and doing my part of spreading the word. If you are curious, do your part and visit them. Try the food. If you liked it, tell your friends.

6. Bonus: Hi, nice to meet you too.

Meeting an amazing foodie personality like Dalia Colon was a personal highlight for me. While the conversation was short, I really enjoyed speaking with her. It was my first time speaking to an actual live journalist. I was definitely nervous and worried about what I was saying and also not saying. But she was so professional and had a really reassuring method to her interview. I was truly honored to speak with her and hope our paths cross again in the future.

Now we are at the End

Well, there you have it. Some of my thoughts about being on NPR. Since then I have had other interviews about the Halal Food Scene in Florida, so if you want more of me and my thoughts be sure to follow the blog by signing up for the newsletter so your the first to know. You can also follow me on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

I’ll see you on our next Halal Foodie Adventure and Ramadhan Mubarak!