Butchers - Halah

You won't have to travel too far to find a good Halal butcher in the area. Some chefs reckon that a Halal chicken will produce a much more tender roast than a regular chicken.

Halal lamb, goat, beef and veal is slaughtered twice a week by Reza Farajai for his butchers, Rockville Gourmet Halal Meat, 1331-C Rockville Pike, Rockville, 301 424 4444. He also sells whole halal lambs and goats (which, according to the UN's Food and Agricultural Organisation in Rome, is the world's most widely consumed red meat). Next door, in Sunshine Square, is Sadaf Halal Restaurant, selling Halal fish, kabobs, chicken and shrimp.

For home-made halal spiced lamb sausages and shish taouk for chicken kebab, visit the Lebanese Butcher, 113 E. Annandale Rd, Falls Church, 703 533 2903.

Halal Meat Market, 108 E. Fairfax St, Falls Church, 703 532 3202, sells a range of meats and a vast selection of Middle East and Indian spices, along with fresh Middle Eastern vegetables, breads and groceries (The curious might like to know they also sell frankincense and myrrh, large irregular lumps of light reddish to yellow gum exuded by some of Burseraceae family of deciduous shrubs and large trees, and burned as incense.)

Halal Food Company, 10967 Lute Court, Manassas, 703 257 1383, comes recommended for its selection of meats as well as different styles of tea, black, green, different flavors and loose or bagged. They sell little teapots to brew it in the special Persian style. The owner, Vaheed, or his son, Hamed, will explain how they specially brew the tea along with several other ingredients like cardamom and cinnamon, etc.

Other Halal butchers and markets are:

Rockville: International Super Market & Halal Meat, 1545 Rockville Pike, 301 816 9811,

Langley Park: Bismillah Halal Meat Market, 1401 University Blvd West, 301 434 0051

Arlington: Arlington Grocery & Halal Meat, 3425 Wilson Blvd, 703 525 8323; Khyber Halal Market, 5216 Wilson Blvd, 703 525 8323

Annandale: Halal Meat & Spices, 4231-Q Markham St, 703 941 8395

Falls Church: Halal Meat Market, 108 E. Fairfax St, 703 532 3202

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