Halal Food Near Disneyland

Disneyland holds a special place in my heart and was a huge part of my childhood and teenage years. These days, I only get a chance to go once or twice a year. Fortunately, as a local resident, a spontaneous Disneyland visit is only about 15 minutes away from home.

Today, I will be sharing some of my favorite halal restaurants that are within a 15 minute drive from Disneyland. These restaurants are perfect for people who observe zabiha/halal and want to check out California's halal food scene. Having visited many major cities in the US, I am pleased to inform you that Orange County, California offers one of the most vibrant Halal Food scenes in the US.

Turkish Food

• Istanbul Grill (25-minute drive)
• 1313 Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, CA 92802
• Favorite Items: Appetizer Sampler, Iskender Kabob, and Turkish Ice Cream.
• DonerG Turkish & Mediterranean Grill (8-minute drive)
• 2139 East Ball Road, Anaheim, CA 92806
• Favorite Items: Beef Doner Kabob and Vegetarian Plate.

Chinese Food

•  Mas' Chinese Islamic Restaurant (16-minute drive) 
•  601 East Orangethorpe Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92801
• Favorite Items: Sesame Bread, Honey Walnut Shrimp, and Chow Mein.
• Nomad Asian Bistro (28-minute drive)
• 6563 East Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach, CA 90803
• Favorite Items: Orange Chicken, Fried Rice, and Sweet and Sour Soup.

Arabic Food (Sit-Down)

• Olive Tree Restaurant (13-minute drive)
• 512 South Brookhurst Street #3, Anaheim, CA 92804
• Favorite Items: Kabseh, Sayadeyeh, and Fattoush.
• Aleppo's Kitchen (13-minute drive)
• 513 1/2 South Brookhurst Street, Anaheim, CA 92804
• Favorite Items: Kibbeh, Tabbouleh, and Ishta Dessert.

Arabic Food (Take-Out)

• Kareem's Restaurant (14-minute drive)
• 1208 South Brookhurst Street, Anaheim, CA 92804
• Favorite Items: Falalfel plates/sandwiches and Fatet Hummus.
• Al-Amir Bakery (13-minute drive)
• 905 South Brookhurst Street, Anaheim, CA 92804
• Favorite Items: All Manaeesh Types.

Pakistani/Indian Food

• Noorani (20-minute drive)
• 14204 Brookhurst Street, Garden Grove, CA 92843
• Favorite Items: Beef Biryani.

 Persian

• Hatam Restaurant (10-minute drive)
• 1112 North Brookhurst Street #6, Anaheim, CA 92801 
• Favorite Items: Koobideh (beef), Adab Polo (rice with raisins and dates), and Cucumber Yogurt.

Afghan

• Chilli Chutney (30-minute drive)
• Chili Chutney Restaurant, 24301 Muirlands Boulevard, Lake Forest, CA 92630
• Favorite Items: Quabuli Pallow (flavorful rice with carrots and raisins), Mantu (raviollo-like dumpling with meat and yogurt sauce), and Banjan Borani (eggplant).

Dessert

• Knafeh Cafe (12-minute drive)
• 866 South Brookhurst Street, Anaheim, CA 92804
• Favorite Items: Knafeh

Fortnum & Mason: Infusions Orange & Grapefruit Tea

If you ever find yourself strolling Piccadilly in London, you must do yourself a favor and stop at the historic Fortnum & Mason. On a visit several months ago, I had the opportunity to explore the establishment and sample more tea and confections than I could have ever dreamed of. After all of the exploration, I purchased their Infusions Orange & Grapefruit Tea. I am a huge fan of all tea and this one sounded way too good to pass up. I finally had a chance to sit down and try the tea recently.

Elegant Fortnum & Mason packaging.

Once steeped, the tea is a dark red.

I found the tea to be beautifully complex. The orange and grapefruit flavors combined with the hibiscus base come together to form an original taste unlike any tea I have ever tried before. For an even more delightful experience, I added a teaspoon of organic, local honey which sweetened the deal. The tea makes for a wonderful breakfast companion or an afternoon snack coupled with some cookies (or biscuits, as the British would call them). I wish I had space in my luggage to purchase more varieties of Fortnum & Mason tea; for now, this lovely variety will satisfy.

How to Eat a Cherimoya (Custard Apple)

A cherimoya I picked up from my local farmer's market in Orange County, California.

Cherimoya is probably the most underrated fruit on the planet. The fruit, also known as custard apple, is far from beautiful on the outside. It's covered with a skin that is reminiscent of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. And in a world full of luscious strawberries and familiar oranges, why would anyone venture out and try this not-so-attractive fruit? Well, to borrow an overused saying, sometimes it's the inside that counts.

I grew up eating cherimoyas a couple of times a year. I referred to the fruit as "custard" and did not learn the proper name until college. The inside of cherimoyas makes them one of my favorite fruits on the planet. You will want to start by choosing a fruit that is green and firm on the outside. After a few days, it will begin to soften. Once I see any indication of browning, I know that my fruit is ripe and ready to eat. My preferred method of eating is the fruit is to slice it in half and to scoop out the inside with a spoon. You will want to avoid ingesting the large black seeds. I would also avoid eating the green skin, which is bitter.

Cherimoyas are mostly in season in the springtime. One of the negative things about the fruit is the price point. Here in California, Cherimoyas average about $7.50/pound, making them one of the most expensive fruits. Nevertheless, the health benefits of this fruit are abundant. In my book, you should try every fruit at least once. Just be careful with this one... because a cherimoya addiction could be costly. :)

Turkish Airlines Meals

Having flown on Turkish Airlines 10 times in the past nine months, I have had the opportunity to try a few of their in-flight meals. The food is generally good. Here are some of the meals that were served (all are in economy class):

Chicken schnitzel, bread, beans, and pudding. Not bad for a two hour flight. (TLV-IST)

Assorted veggies, cheese, and chocolate cake. (IST-TLV)

Salmon, stew, yogurt, chicken salad, and chocolate pudding. (LAX-IST)

Eggplant stew, rice, bread, and pudding. (IST-LAX)

Lasagna, tabbouli, artichokes, and pudding. (IST-LAX)