While I am culturally Christian and practice that faith (although not super-religiously) I believe it’s important to respectfully acknowledge significant dates, holidays and major events of other world faiths for myriad and meaningful reasons. And to pray for and wish the best for each other, particularly at this excruciatingly challenging and traumatic time more than ever.

As the fasting month of Ramadan comes to an end, Muslims around the world prepare for Eid al-Fitr the three-day festival that celebrates the completion of the fasting month of Ramadan (that began on March 10th), This year it’s likely to take place at sundown on April 9th or 10th… culminating with the communal iftar (breaking the fast) after sundown…

Photos and video clips featured in this post are from my favorite Middle Eastern cuisine restaurant in the city Moustache Pitza, the perfect place to not only experience but enjoy the freshly made delicious Middle Eastern inspired specialties that are also part of the food cultures of many Islamic countries and favorites for Muslims, Christians, Jews, non religious folks and all kindsa humans everywhere...

Special shout-out to LisaRoxanne for hippin us all to this amazing spot!…

(📸 original photos: @thefoodgriot )

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Historical food for thought: it’s estimated that roughly a third of all of the enslaved brought to the Americas from West and Central Africa were Muslims. The first significant populations of Muslims in the Americas. Today Black American Muslims account for more than 20% of all American Muslims representing one of the larger minority Muslim demographics in the US. I recall my friend and culinary history colleague Michael Twitty (who is African American and of the Jewish faith) bringing this to our attention during a talk some years back, followed by brilliant food history content of course…

One of the many perks for my PATREON supporters is the opportunity to access all sorts of stuff (intel, history, cultural commentaries, conversations, interviews and such) on the topics they find interesting. And ones they might not even know they would fine oh so interesting - like foods related to religious holidays. (If you’re already a Patreon supporter I look fwd to you redeeming your perks!)…

THIS LINK takes you to the current month calendar to explore more …

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