It was Super Bowl Sunday in Paris, and I felt like being a good American. So I cooked meat and drank beer while watching the Cardinals get edged out by those damn Steelers. The game didn't start until midnight Paris time, so we had all day to rustle up some American-style foods. The best Jeff and I could do was BBQ chicken wings we bought from a Muslim boucherie in La Courneuve, and homemade bruschetta. I mention that the butcher was Muslim, because that was the name of the shop, Halal Musulmane Boucherie. I have no idea what Halal means, so let us learn together!
Note on Halal: Islam has laws regarding which foods can and cannot be eaten. In non-Arabic-speaking countries, the term is most commonly used in the narrower context of just Muslim dietary laws, especially where meat and poultry are concerned. A variety of substances are considered as harmful (haraam) for humans to consume and, therefore, forbidden as per various Quranic verses. These forbidden foods include, pork meat, blood, animals slaughtered in the name of anyone but Allah, carrion, "fanged beasts of prey" or all carnivorous animals except most fish and sea animals, the meat of donkeys, all insects except for locust, and alcohol and other intoxicants.
La Courneuve is mostly immigrant/ethnic so these boucherie obviously cater to that Muslim populace.
Anyways, we struggled to stay up for the entire game even though it was a great one. I am a little jealous of all the sweet parties I missed back at home, and being around true football fans.
I hope everyone was a little hung over for me.
Note on Halal: Islam has laws regarding which foods can and cannot be eaten. In non-Arabic-speaking countries, the term is most commonly used in the narrower context of just Muslim dietary laws, especially where meat and poultry are concerned. A variety of substances are considered as harmful (haraam) for humans to consume and, therefore, forbidden as per various Quranic verses. These forbidden foods include, pork meat, blood, animals slaughtered in the name of anyone but Allah, carrion, "fanged beasts of prey" or all carnivorous animals except most fish and sea animals, the meat of donkeys, all insects except for locust, and alcohol and other intoxicants.
La Courneuve is mostly immigrant/ethnic so these boucherie obviously cater to that Muslim populace.
Anyways, we struggled to stay up for the entire game even though it was a great one. I am a little jealous of all the sweet parties I missed back at home, and being around true football fans.
I hope everyone was a little hung over for me.
The way things are going back here in the US, we will all be French soon. Except for the football, of course. Really enjoy reading your stories and seeing the pictures. Remember its not just what you take away from these experiences that make them special, but what you give of yourself to them. Enrich each and every person's life you touch, and you in turn will be touched in countless ways.
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