Today we’d like to introduce you to Aly Sheraly.
Hi Aly, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
Food has always been an important part of my life. Growing up, my mom would always be preparing elaborate traditional meals for our family gatherings. It united out family as we all looked forward to her cooking. When I left home to attend college and beyond, I sought out to find good restaurants that served traditional home-cooked meals. Of course, these restaurants had to serve Halal meat to abide by my religious beliefs. Halal is term that describes foods that are permissible for Muslims to consume. In popular culture Halal food has been popularized by the cart food served by the Halal Guys on the streets of New York City. But rather, Halal is a general term that usually references meats that have been processed according to Islam rituals. So, any dishes that meet those requirements is referred to as Halal.
So, I began to seek out Halal restaurants in the various cities that I would inhabit as I progressed through my studies. finding them back in the day was a little difficult as the internet was still in its early days. I would often ask other students and local about the best Halal spots to try. I realized that quickly providing in-depth quality reviews to others was very beneficial. I began posting detailed reviews with recommendations for my favorite restaurants which garnered a lot of positive feedback. When I first arrived in Orlando about 10 years ago, I saw that there were only a few Halal restaurants scattered throughout the city. Orlando, being a family tourist hub, it was important to find a way to promote Halal restaurants to those seeking out those types of foods.
At the time, there was no site that provided quality in-depth reviews and recommendations for visitors seeking out this information. That’s how Halal Food Guru was born. I created a website and social media presence to act as a resource for locals and visitors alike to find the best Halal restaurants in town and in the region so they could spend less time planning their planning their trip and more time enjoying their trip. The site has been active for about 6 years now and has received a lot positive attention. It was featured on a local NPR podcast called The Zest in 2021. It has helped many visitors who are anxious about finding Halal restaurants in a new city and help locals figure out which restaurants are going above and beyond to provide a great experience for their guests. In the age of blogs and influencers, focusing on a niche category like Halal restaurants in Florida has created a loyal fan base. more importantly, I have been able to organize the listings into digestible lists organized by location, closeness to attractions, food type, and other helpful categories.
On my site, I go by Halal Food Guru and not by my actual name. Most of my followers on the site know me as Halal Food Guru. I have tried to remain anonymous or at least not promote my name. if this article can refer to me as Halal Food Guru that would be more consistent with my work and my brand.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
For the most part, it has been a smooth road. I was able to identify a niche and need in the Orlando community and fill it with local insight and knowledge for both locals and visitors alike. Being from a minority community in the States has its challenges to gain legitimacy and acceptance, but I haven’t experienced any significant backlash or discrimination for being Muslim or catering to our religious needs in this multicultural society. in fact, those that take the time to research and investigate the principles of Halal rituals see the benefits in consuming for their health and ethical or moral standards compared to the current way the industry handles animal welfare.
There have been some challenges in finding the balance in being a force for elevating the Halal food scene in Orlando vs supporting small business that want to be comfortable with the status quo. Restaurants have reached out to me to help with finding Halal suppliers and ways to ensure their menus meet the ritual standards while others have pushed back at the feedback I have provided in my reviews. I try not to take it to heart as I realize I am but one voice amongst many. I use my experience and how I would like to be treated as a customer to guide others with like values and exceptions to those spots that can reasonably meet them.
The pandemic was challenging for the restaurant industry especially in the early months when all dine-in and travel was halted. As a niche reviewer, I used my platform to promote and update the community about the food scene as it evolved. Now, I think in part as a result of the pandemic, patrons are tired of takeout and are wanting more engaging experiences when they go out for a meal. As a result, the foodie scene and community is changing as there is more focus on quality rather than quantity. This is no exception for Halal restaurants, so the foodie community is expecting more from the them too.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Being Halal Food Guru is not my full-time position. It is my passion on the side to help others find the best Halal spots that Orlando has to offer. I am a well-intentioned Muslim passionate about food and the dining experience at Halal restaurants. It can be time-consuming to find and decide which Halal restaurants to visit especially when traveling to a new city. So, I wanted to make it easier for everyone by putting in the work and making it available for everyone.
I often use my tagline in my blog posts and videos “Let Halal Food Guru be your local guide to the Halal Food Scene in Florida for cities like Orlando, Tampa Bay, Miami, Jacksonville, and others.”
While there are many food bloggers, being a food blogger that exclusively reviews Halal restaurants and focuses on the needs of those patrons that are seeking Halal foods sets me apart. Furthermore, being in Orlando allows me to have in-depth and intimate knowledge about the Halal food scene and how it is evolving. Larger bloggers may come into the city and sample the offerings, but can sometimes miss the hidden gems the city has to offer.
The most popular portion of my blog is my Guru’s Top 5. In these type 5 lists, I try to identify 5 halal spots around a certain theme, whether it is food category (5 best halal burgers in Orlando) or geographical location (5 best halal restaurants around universal studios), or events (Top 5 halal restaurants around a certain community event). these make it easy for locals and visitors to plan their visit based on their current needs.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The restaurant industry is constantly evolving as it should to meet the needs of the customer. I’ve noticed more restaurants offering Halal meats as an option for patrons. This is happening at restaurants at the big theme parks but also in other areas too. it reflects a more inclusive intention amongst restaurant owners and a desire to capture new customers that have not been previously considered.
The Halal restaurants, in turn are experiencing increased pressure to elevate and evolve to meet the service and food quality expectations of their customers who are seeing more availability and choice. This can be a challenge, but it is a good one. competition brings innovation. I have seen this in larger markets and cities where the halal food scene has stepped up their game and produced very innovated and fantastic dishes and experiences for their customers. Toronto, Chicago, New York, Houston, LA, and San Fran are great examples of this trend. Orlando being a smaller market is still evolving, but as more tourists come, they will evolve and provide newer and better options in the future. It has already started as the newest generation of restaurants that are opening up post-pandemic are focused on food quality, innovation, and new trends, rather than relying on what has worked in the past.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.halalfoodguru.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/halalfoodguru/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Halal-Food-Guru/100036847616826/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/HalalFoodGuru?app=desktop
Image Credits
halalfoodguru.com
