Community News V15-I32

Growth reported in Halal cuisine

GrubHub, an online and mobile food ordering service, has released new data that reveals year-over-year growth in non-traditional ethnic cuisine orders.
According to a company news release, GrubHub’s order data reveals that Americans’ takeout orders have extended beyond traditional pizza and Pad Thai, with Pakistani, Caribbean and Halal cuisines experiencing “significant” lifts in order popularity. The growth for Pakistani and Halal takeouts was calculated separately as it was based on self-identification by the restaurants. When combined the Halal growth goes up to show 56 percent.

GrubHub analysts examined year-over-year orders in more than 500 cities across the country. While Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Mexican are the most popular ethnic cuisines, respectively, the following cuisines are experiencing the most significant growth in popularity this year.

•    Pakistani: Almost 97 percent more popular;
•    Caribbean: More than 68 percent more popular;
•    Halal: Almost 40 percent more popular;
•    Spanish: more than 36 percent more popular; and
•    African: More than 30 percent more popular.

Interfaith iftar held in Frederick

FREDERICK,MD–Members of diverse faiths attended the iftar held last Saturday by the Islamic Society of Frederick, the Frederick News Post reported.

Members of local Catholic, evangelical and Episcopal clergy came to the iftar, as well as local government officials, including Mayor Randy McClement. Saturday’s event provided a chance for Frederick’s Islamic community to share their traditions with neighbors of other faiths, and to challenge the stereotypes that can accompany religious differences.

“Discrimination is a part of the American way,” said Zahid Bukhari, former president of the Islamic Circle of North America, at Saturday’s event, referring to multiple religious and cultural groups that have faced adversity in the United States. “The only way to control that is to make alliances.”

Bukhari also mentioned the trends in the media regarding Islam. Through his research, he has found that Islam has been a topic presented in the New York Times more than 21,000 times since 9/11 in 2001, when it was only mentioned about 11,000 times in the 150 years before that.

Muslims volunteer at foodbank in Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY–Muslim Americans around the country have been actively involved in charitable acts in the month of Ramadan and have vowed to continue them throughout the year. More than  130 Oklahoma Muslims to volunteer Saturday at the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City. Volunteering at the food bank was the kickoff event to a new campaign from the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations to take part in activities that will enhance the quality of life for fellow Oklahomans.

The Oklahoma Muslims Care campaign is designed to coordinate volunteer opportunities for Oklahoma Muslims so they can show their pride in their state through giving back.

Abu Khan reaches semi-finals of tennis tournament

Naperville resident Abu Khan lost in the first round of the Boys 16 Singles division at the Five Star Tennis Summer Standoff on July 19-21 in Plainfield.

According to the States Tennis Association, he lost to Hemanth Kalidindi, of Naperville, 1-6, 6-0, 6-4.

In the consolation bracket, he won one match before losing in the semifinals to Peter Alex, of Darien, 6-0, 6-0. He beat Alexander Winters, of St. Charles, 7-5, 6-1, in the quarterfinals.

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