New York's holiest and tastiest holiday delicacies may be in Queens, in a converted auto-body shop.
Madani Halal in Ozone Park has garnered a healthy following from epicureans of all faiths.
"Muslim holidays and Thanksgiving is our busiest time of year," said the shop's owner, Imran Uddin, a former advertising sales agent who took over the family business when his father, Riaz, retired in 2004.
"People still come in for the traditional turkey, but we serve tons of customers that bring recipes from their native country with lamb or goat or geese," Uddin said.
The purveyor's roster includes squab, Muscovy duck, pheasant, partridge, goat and other hard-to-find fare. The specialty shop follows strict dietary guidelines so that all meat is ritually slaughtered according to Islamic law.
The word "halal," according to the Koran, means permissible. Koranic laws require Muslims to prepare and eat only halal meat, which must be slaughtered by a practicing Muslim.
The butcher must utter a verse from the Koran including the name of Allah for every animal; a finely edged knife must be used with one cut to the neck; the animal's blood must be drained and no animal may see the death of another animal.
"Halal isn't just how you slaughter an animal," Uddin said. "It is about feeding and keeping them healthy and eating fresh and clean foods. We serve every religion and ethnic group you can imagine because they want fresh meat."
Madani Halal, located on 94th Ave., has been serving up halal cuts of meat for more than 10 years. Uddin has built up a local fan base of transplants from across the world.
"Eating halal is sacred and required of me as a practicing Muslim," said cabinet maker Mohamed Salim, 45, an immigrant from India. "But this is a place for anyone that wants the freshest meat. Nothing tastes better than this."
Dishes such as curried goat and lamb chops are part of Salim's holiday feasts.
"It is not a holiday about just turkey anymore," Salim said.
Madani Halal's goats range in size from 70 to 90 pounds and sell for upwards of $2.75 per pound. Customers choose a goat, and the shop slaughters it, cleans it and butchers it. The store sold about 600 turkeys for Thanksgiving for about $1.85 per pound.
"It is definitely more expensive than a grocery store, but it is always worth it," said Beesnudat Ragoobir, 41, of Ozone Park.
Uddin doesn't get to relax and eat during the holidays himself, but he takes solace in knowing his customers do.
"I don't always get to see it, but I feel like I'm adding a small, special part to the holiday for my customers," he said.
[where: Madani Halal Lamb, Goat & Poultry 100-15 94th Avenue, Ozone Park, NY 11417]
