>> "VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] HUELL: WELL, HELLO, EVERYBODY.

I'M HUELL HOWSER.

GET READY FOR A TRUE LEARNING EXPERIENCE.

LET ME SET UP THIS STORY FOR YOU.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE PROGRAMS ON THE RADIO IS ON KCRW ON SATURDAY MORNINGS AT 11:00.

IT'S CALLED "THE GOOD FOOD SHOW," AND THE OTHER DAY, I WAS LISTENING TO THE PROGRAM, AND THEY WERE DISCUSSING THE SUBJECT OF HALAL, AND IT WAS SO FASCINATING THAT I GOT ON THE PHONE AND CALLED UP THE FOOD WRITER WHO WAS ON THE RADIO TALKING ABOUT IT.

EDDIE, YOU'RE HERE BECAUSE YOU GOT A PHONE CALL FROM ME.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, HUELL.

HUELL: ALL RIGHT.

NOW LET'S START THIS THING OFF BY EXPLAINING TO EVERYBODY--BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS--JUST WHAT IS HALAL FOOD?

>> WELL, TO KEEP IT AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE, HALAL ESSENTIALLY IS A PRESCRIBED WAY OF SLAUGHTER, FOLLOWING THE ISLAMIC LAWS, SO ESSENTIALLY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MEAT HERE, SPECIFICALLY BEEF OR CHICKEN, AND WHAT THEY DO IS, THEY BASICALLY KILL THE ANIMAL AS HUMANELY AS POSSIBLE WHILE PRAYING, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY INVOKING THE NAME OF GOD DURING THE SLAUGHTER.

HUELL: ALL RIGHT.

NOW IT INVOLVES MEAT, BUT IT ALSO--AS WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT TODAY-- INVOLVES OTHER FOOD PRODUCTS, AS WELL, DOESN'T IT?

>> YES, IT DOES.

THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE BASICALLY HARAM, WHICH BASICALLY MEANS UNLAWFUL OR PROHIBITED, AND THAT'S THE OPPOSITE OF HALAL, AND THESE THINGS INCLUDE PORK, PORK BYPRODUCTS, ALCOHOL, ANY PROCESSING WITH ALCOHOL, LARD, ESSENTIALLY THOSE BASIC THINGS.

HUELL: AND THERE ARE PLACES THAT YOU CAN GO TO GET HALAL HERE IN LOS ANGELES AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, AND WE HAPPEN TO BE STANDING IN FRONT OF ONE.

HUELL: WE ARE, RIGHT HERE ON VENICE BOULEVARD IN FRONT OF THE PAYLESS PRODUCE MARKET, AND YOU'VE BEEN NODDING AS YOU WERE LISTENING TO EDDIE.

EDINA IS HERE BECAUSE NEITHER OF US ARE MUSLIM.

>> RIGHT.

HUELL: SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

YOU'RE HERE TO KEEP US ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW.

>> NO.

YOU SEEM TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SO FAR, SO I'M QUALITY CONTROL, AND I CAN GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA PERSPECTIVE FROM AN AMERICAN MUSLIM HERSELF.

HUELL: DO YOU PRACTICE HALAL?

DO YOU EAT ONLY HALAL FOOD?

>> I DON'T PRACTICE IT STRICTLY.

I EAT HALAL FOOD WHEN IT IS AVAILABLE, BUT WHEN IT IS UNAVAILABLE, I SIMPLY--THERE IS A PRACTICE WITHIN ISLAMIC TRADITION THAT ALLOWS YOU TO JUST INVOKE GOD'S NAME BEFORE YOU EAT ANY MEAT BY JUST SAYING, "IN THE NAME OF GOD MOST GRACIOUS, MOST MERCIFUL," AND THAT IS A WAY OF SORT OF MAKING YOUR FOOD HALAL IF IT IS BEEF OR CHICKEN, SO, YOU KNOW, IN SOME CASES, THAT'S WHAT I DO, ALSO.

HUELL: IN OTHER WORDS, YOU'RE DOING THE BEST YOU CAN.

>> EXACTLY.

AREN'T WE ALL?

HUELL: EXACTLY.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GONNA GO INSIDE AND FIND OUT BECAUSE THIS STORE IS FILLED WITH HALAL, AND THEN AFTER WE GO THROUGH THIS STORE, WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA GO TO A RESTAURANT AND HAVE A TRUE HALAL MEAL.

THIS IS GONNA BE VERY INTERESTING AND A TRUE LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ALL OF US.

LET'S GET STARTED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

HUELL: BOY, WE DIDN'T GET VERY FAR INSIDE THE STORE.

YOU'VE STOPPED US RIGHT HERE INSIDE THE FRONT DOOR TO LOOK AT SWEETS.

WHY ARE WE LOOKING AT SWEETS?

>> WELL, EVERYBODY LOVES SWEETS, AND I FELT HALAL SWEETS WAS EXTRA-INTERESTING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, HOW BAD COULD SWEETS BE?

BUT THERE ARE ACTUALLY RESTRICTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO SWEETS.

HUELL: WHAT KIND OF RESTRICTIONS?

>> WELL, FOR EXAMPLE, ALCOHOL IS A BIG NO-NO IN HALAL DIETARY PRACTICES.

HUELL: WAIT A MINUTE.

THERE'S NOT ALCOHOL IN SWEETS!

>> WELL, SEE, THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE WRONG, HUELL.

A LOT OF PROCESSED FOODS, ESPECIALLY SWEETS, CONTAIN THINGS LIKE VANILLA, AND THERE'S A HIGH ALCOHOL CONTENT IN VANILLA, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THERE'S LARD IN SWEETS.

HUELL: SO YOU CAN'T USE LARD?

>> RIGHT.

THOSE ARE PORK BYPRODUCTS, SO LARD IS GROUND-UP PIG BONES, AND SO IF YOU FOLLOW THE HALAL, THEN YOU WOULD LOOK TO THE INGREDIENTS LISTED ON A PACKAGE TO SEE IF THERE'S GELATIN LISTED.

HUELL: NOW THIS SAYS IT'S A PRODUCT OF ITALY.

WHY WOULD THIS BE HALAL?

IT'S FROM ITALY.

IT'S PROBABLY FULL OF ALCOHOL!

>> WELL, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY NEED--WHEN YOU PICK UP PACKAGES, MOST OF THEM YOU'RE NOT LOOKING FOR A HALAL STAMP NECESSARILY.

IF YOU'RE UNSURE ABOUT THE CONTENTS, THEN YOU CHECK THE INGREDIENTS TO SEE WHETHER, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE ANY PORK BYPRODUCTS OR ALCOHOL BYPRODUCTS THAT ARE LISTED.

UM, YEAH, SO HERE-- HUELL: BOY, YOU GOT TO READ THE FINE PRINT, DON'T YOU?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE WE LOOK AT THE HEALTH LISTINGS THESE DAYS TO CHECK CALORIE AND FAT CONTENT.

THIS IS JUST ANOTHER STEP TO JUST CHECK OUT THE INGREDIENTS.

HUELL: THIS IS FROM TURKEY, SO THIS--NOW THIS MIGHT FIT THE BILL RIGHT HERE.

>> IT MIGHT INDEED, YEAH.

I MEAN, YOU NEVER KNOW.

THERE ARE NO SORT OF ACROSS-THE-BOARD WAYS OF READING THESE.

HUELL: SO YOU HAVE TO REALLY BE LOOKING AT THE LABELS-- >> WELL, IT'S JUST AN EXTRA STEP.

YOU KNOW, THE WAY THAT I LOOK AT IT IS, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO PURCHASE ORGANIC PRODUCTS OR TO PURCHASE VEGAN PRODUCTS OR, YOU KNOW, THINGS ALONG THOSE LINES OR NONHYDROGENATED OIL.

I MEAN, LOOK AT ALL THE HEALTH PRECAUTIONS THAT WE TAKE AS A SOCIETY.

THIS IS JUST ANOTHER WAY OF LOOKING AT IT.

HUELL: SO OUT OF ALL THIS SWEET, ALL THESE COOKIES HERE, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THESE DO YOU THINK ARE FAIR GAME FOR YOU TO EAT?

>> OH, I'D SAY PROBABLY AT LEAST 3/4 OF THEM.

HUELL: REALLY?

BECAUSE THEY'RE IN THIS STORE?

>> WELL, BECAUSE THEY'RE IN THE STORE AND BECAUSE I WOULDN'T IMAGINE THAT THERE WOULD NECESSARILY BE ANYTHING ON THESE SHELVES THAT WOULD HAVE ANY PORK BYPRODUCTS.

ONE OF THE AREAS THAT PEOPLE GENERALLY LOOK TO ARE THINGS LIKE MARSHMALLOWS.

MARSHMALLOWS AND, LIKE, JELL-O GENERALLY HAVE GELATIN IN THEM.

HUELL: BAD.

>> YEAH.

SO THOSE YOU WOULD AVOID, AND SO THEN THEY CREATE ALTERNATIVES, WHICH ARE HALAL MARSHMALLOWS, WHICH ARE GELATIN-FREE.

HUELL: COME ON THROUGH.

HE'S LOADED DOWN.

GOOD MORNING.

>> BUENOS DIAS.

>> GOOD MORNING.

>> GOOD MORNING, GUYS.

HUELL: ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GONNA GET--WE'RE GONNA GO FURTHER DOWN THE STORE.

WE GOT THE WHOLE STORE TO GO.

WE JUST STOPPED HERE AT THE FRONT.

NOW WE'RE MOVING DOWN TO THE CONDIMENTS.

THAT'S WHERE YOU WANTED TO STOP, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT CONDIMENTS FOR?

>> WELL, CONDIMENTS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR CONTAINING ALCOHOL IN THE BREWING PROCESS, SO WE HAVE A VARIETY HERE, AND WHAT I WAS REALLY CURIOUS ABOUT WAS THE SOY SAUCE.

HUELL: SOY SAUCE.

>> YES.

HUELL: NOW IS SOY SAUCE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE IN THE MUSLIM DIET?

>> WELL, BECAUSE THERE ARE MUSLIMS ALL OVER THE WORLD, SO THERE ARE ASIAN MUSLIMS, AS WELL, SO IF IT'S A NATURAL PRODUCT OF THEIR CULTURE OR OF THEIR FOOD CUSTOMS, THEN OF COURSE.

HUELL: CHECK IT OUT.

>> THIS IS ACTUALLY FISH SAUCE.

HUELL: OH, OK. >> HERE WE GO.

HUELL: HERE'S SOY SAUCE!

BUT WHAT ABOUT FISH SAUCE?

>> WELL, FISH SAUCE, ACTUALLY IS ANOTHER PRODUCT WHICH DURING THE PROCESSING OF IT MAY USE ALCOHOL IN THE PROCESS.

HOWEVER, THIS ONE DOESN'T.

HUELL: BOY, I THINK I'M LEARNING MORE THAT THERE'S ALCOHOL IN EVERYTHING THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

HOW DOES THAT ONE STACK UP?

>> I DON'T SEEN ANYTHING LISTED THAT INDICATES ANY ALCOHOL.

HUELL: WHAT ABOUT MUSTARD?

THAT'S A STAPLE.

>> SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY DIJON MUSTARD HAD ALCOHOL--ALCOHOL DERIVATIVES OR BYPRODUCTS IN IT, AND SO, YEAH, SOME PEOPLE WOULD STAY AWAY FROM MUSTARD SAUCE... HUELL: MAYONNAISE.

>> BUT AGAIN ON--UH, MAYONNAISE?

HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT MAYONNAISE.

UM, YEAH, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING THAT WOULD MAKE IT UNACCEPTABLE.

HUELL: BARBEQUE SAUCE.

>> DOESN'T IT JUST OPEN UP THE WORLD IN DIFFERENT WAYS WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THINGS THIS WAY?

HUELL: YEAH.

TABASCO.

>> THE INTERESTING THING TO NOTE IS THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION WHEN IT COMES TO THIS STUFF, SO, YES, PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW HALAL AND DHABIHA, WHICH IS THE TECHNICAL TERM FOR THE WAY THAT AN ANIMAL IS SLAUGHTERED INVOKING THE NAME OF GOD.

THERE ARE STRICT INTERPRETATIONS, AND THEN THERE ARE ALSO OTHER INTERPRETATIONS THAT WOULD SAY THAT IF ALCOHOL IS COOKED THAT THE QUALITY THAT INTOXIFYING--OR INTOXICATING WOULD THEN BE BURNED OFF.

HUELL: TAKEN OUT.

>> EXACTLY, AND SO THERE ARE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION WHEN IT COMES TO THE APPROACH THAT YOU TAKE WITH SOME OF THESE BYPRODUCTS, BUT THIS IS PRECISELY THE SORT OF--THE BLACK-AND-WHITE WAY OF LOOKING AT IT, BUT THERE ARE ALWAYS SHADES OF GRAY, AS WE ALL KNOW.

HUELL: ISN'T THAT THE WAY IT IS IN RELIGION, ALL RELIGIONS?

BLACK AND WHITE AND SHADES OF GRAY.

>> EXACTLY.

ISN'T THAT REALITY?

HUELL: AND TABASCO PROBABLY IS ONE OF THOSE GRAY AREAS.

>> ACTUALLY, THERE IS A TERM FOR THE GRAY AREA, EDINA.

IT'S MUBAH.

IS THAT HOW YOU PRONOUNCE IT?

>> EXACTLY.

HUELL: MUBAH?

>> MM-HMM.

HUELL: MEANS THE GRAY AREA.

>> WELL, YEAH, AND THERE IS SORT OF VARIATION WITHIN THE GRAY AREA, AND THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, MORE GRAY OR LESS GRAY, SO YOU GOT TO LOOK AT THEM THAT WAY.

THERE'S EVEN GRAY AREA IN THE GRAY.

HUELL: WHAT ABOUT TORTILLAS?

WHAT ABOUT--YOU KNOW, WHAT ABOUT BREAD LIKE THIS?

WHAT IS THIS?

THIS IS THE WHOLE WHEAT-- >> THESE ARE PITA BREAD.

HUELL: PITA BREADS.

>> YEAH.

HUELL: IS THAT OK?

>> YEAH.

THERE SHOULD BE NO PROBLEMS HERE.

>> WELL, THIS FALLS UNDER KIND OF THE CATEGORY OF UNLEAVENED BREAD.

LEAVENED BREAD BECAUSE OF THE YEAST IS FROWNED UPON, AND SO YOU HAVE SOMETHING LIKE UNLEAVENED BREAD, FLAT BREAD ESSENTIALLY, AND THAT'S FINE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THERE ISN'T THAT PROCESS, THAT RISING PROCESS WITH THE YEAST AND ALL THAT.

HUELL: WE'RE PROBABLY MAKING A BIGGER DEAL OUT OF IT THAN YOU GO THROUGH WHEN YOU DO YOUR SHOPPING.

YOU PROBABLY DO IT BY ROTE ALMOST.

YOU KIND OF KNOW WHAT TO GO TO AND WHAT TO STAY AWAY FROM.

>> YEAH, EXACTLY.

WHEN YOU'RE RAISED IN AN ISLAMIC CULTURE AND A MUSLIM HOME, YOU KNOW, THIS BECOMES PART OF SORT OF YOUR DAILY PRACTICE AND HOW YOU GO ABOUT BUYING YOUR GROCERIES.

IT DOESN'T FEEL ODD, AND IN SOME WAYS, YOU KNOW, WE LOOK AT IT LIKE SOMEBODY WHO WOULD FOLLOW KOSHER.

IT BECOMES SORT OF, YOU KNOW, SECOND NATURE AND THE WAY THAT YOU OPERATE, AND IN THE SAME WAY, THE KORAN, WHICH IS OUR HOLY BOOK, ALLOWS US TO EAT FROM THE HANDS OR FROM THE MEAT OF THE PEOPLE OF THE BOOK, SO ANYTHING THAT IS TREATED ACCORDING TO CHRISTIAN OR JEWISH DIETARY LAW IS ALSO PERMISSIBLE FOR MUSLIMS.

SO AGAIN, THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF FLEXIBILITY.

HUELL: I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT.

SO IT'S VERY ECUMENICAL IN A WAY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

HUELL: WE'RE COMING INTO THE FRUIT AND VEGETABLE SECTION OF THE GROCERY STORE, AND WHY ARE WE HERE?

>> WELL, WE'RE HERE BECAUSE WHEN I WAS LEARNING ABOUT HALAL I WASN'T SURE ABOUT FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

YOU KNOW, I WAS ALWAYS WONDERING, "WELL, WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT FRUITS AND VEGETABLES?"

WELL, THE FACT IS, FRUITS AND VEGETABLES ARE ATOMICALLY HALAL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

HUELL: AUTOMATICALLY HALAL?

WHY IS THAT?

>> WELL, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT LIVING, BREATHING CREATURES, AND THE HALAL FOOD AND DIETARY LAWS HAVE TO DO WITH THE WAYS THAT ANIMALS ARE TREATED AND SLAUGHTERED SO THAT IT'S DONE IN A HUMANE WAY THAT REMEMBERS GOD IN THE PROCESS, AND SO VEGETABLES ARE IN CLEAR BLACK-AND-WHITE TERRITORY.

HUELL: SO IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE WHETHER THEY'RE ORGANIC OR NOT ORGANIC, WHETHER THERE ARE FERTILIZERS?

IT'S NONE OF THAT?

>> NO.

HUELL: THAT DOESN'T ENTER INTO IT?

>> NO, IT DOESN'T.

HUELL: IT'S JUST A FACT THAT THESE--YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO WAY THAT THIS COULD BE, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING-- >> YEAH.

THERE ARE NO FRUITS OR VEGETABLES THAT ARE OFF LIMITS.

HUELL: SO YOU CAN GO CRAZY OVER HERE.

>> EXACTLY.

DOESN'T THAT PROMOTE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE?

HUELL: YEAH!

HERE'S THE OWNER OF THE STORE.

GOOD MORNING.

>> GOOD MORNING.

HUELL: I'M HUELL HOWSER.

>> YEAH.

I KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

I LIKE YOUR SHOW, TOO.

HUELL: YOU KNEW WE WERE GONNA BE HERE TODAY.

>> RIGHT.

HUELL: AND WE WERE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT HALAL.

>> EXACTLY.

HUELL: NOW IS THIS FELLA BUYING HALAL?

>> I BELIEVE SO, YEAH.

HUELL: YOU'RE BUYING HALAL?

>> OF COURSE.

YEAH.

HUELL: NOW WHY DO YOU SAY OF COURSE?

YOU ALWAYS BUY HALAL?

>> I USUALLY BUY HERE.

I LIKE THIS STORE.

HUELL: MM-HMM.

>> BECAUSE I FIND EVERYTHING HERE.

I LIKE IT.

HUELL: OK. >> HE'S MUSLIM FROM TURKEY.

HUELL: SO HE'S MUSLIM FROM TURKEY, SO YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING HERE SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THE FOOD THEY FIND IN THIS STORE MEETS THE HALAL REQUIREMENT.

>> EXACTLY.

THAT'S WHY--WE HAVE A GOOD ISLAMIC COMMUNITY AROUND HERE.

WE HAVE, LIKE, 2 OR 3 MOSQUES AROUND HERE, AND WE CATER TO THEM BECAUSE THEY NEED THIS KIND OF STORE.

HUELL: NOW SOME MUSLIMS ARE MORE STRICT THAN OTHERS ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN EAT, WHAT THEY WILL EAT, AND ALL OF THAT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THERE IS SOME WHO REALLY FOLLOW THE RELIGION PRECISELY.

HUELL: GOOD-BYE.

NICE TO MEET YOU, SIR.

>> AND SOME A LITTLE BIT MODERATE, YOU KNOW.

HUELL: UH-HUH.

SO THEY COME IN ALL DEGREES OF STRICTNESS.

>> STRICTNESS, BUT MOST MUSLIMS WILL NOT EAT ANY PORK PRODUCTS OR BYPRODUCTS.

THEY EAT JUST ANYTHING WITHOUT PORK.

HUELL: SO REALLY IT'S YOUR MEAT DEPARTMENT THAT IS REALLY THE BIG DRAW FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE INTO HALAL BECAUSE THERE'S NO DEVIATION FROM THE FACT THAT HALAL MEAT HAS TO BE SLAUGHTERED IN THE RIGHT WAY.

>> YOU ARE CORRECT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S SAID IN KORAN, AND WE FOLLOW--AS MUSLIMS--WE FOLLOW EVERY PUNCTUATION OF THE KORAN, SO IT IS FORBIDDEN, AND IT'S A BIG NO-NO FOR THE MUSLIMS AND THE JEWS, ALSO.

HUELL: AND THAT BRINGS US OVER TO THE--IT SAYS IT RIGHT UP HERE ON THE TILE--TO THE HALAL MEAT DELI.

THIS IS--THIS IS REALLY THE VERY IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT HALAL IS ALL ABOUT.

THE OWNER OF THE STORE WAS JUST TELLING ME THAT THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS OVER HERE IN THE MEAT DEPARTMENT.

>> YEAH.

ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, FOR PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW HALAL STRICTLY, THIS IS PRIMARILY WHERE IT TAKES PLACE.

IT'S ALL ABOUT HOW MEAT IS PRIMARILY HANDLED.

HUELL: ALL RIGHT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.

LET'S STAND RIGHT OVER HERE IN FRONT OF THE MEAT DEPARTMENT BECAUSE ALL OF THIS MEAT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS PREPARED--IS SLAUGHTERED THE SAME WAY, AND HOW IS THAT DONE, EDDIE?

BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT REALLY GETS INTERESTING.

>> WELL, AGAIN, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT GRAY AREAS BEFORE, AND, YOU KNOW, THE SLAUGHTERING PROCESS IS THE SAME WAY.

THERE'S THE GOLD STANDARD, WHICH IS DHABIHA HALAL, AND WHILE YOU'RE INVOKING THE NAME OF GOD, "IN THE NAME OF GOD MOST GRACIOUS"--UH-- >> "MOST MERCIFUL."

>> "MOST MERCIFUL," YOU USE A VERY SHARP KNIFE, AND YOU BASICALLY CUT THE JUGULAR... >> MM-HMM.

>> AND ANOTHER MAIN ARTERY, AND THIS BASICALLY IS THE MOST HUMANE WAY TO SLAUGHTER THE ANIMAL, THE QUICKEST DEATH, AND THIS ALSO ENSURES THAT THE BLOOD IS DRAINED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

HUELL: I HEARD THE ANIMAL IS HUNG UP, AND ALL THE BLOOD IS DRAINED OUT OF THE ANIMAL.

>> EXACTLY.

YEAH.

BECAUSE ONE OF THE PROHIBITIONS IS THE BLOOD OF ANIMALS OR ANIMALS THAT ARE NOT SLAUGHTERED IN A WAY THAT IS SORT OF, YOU KNOW, AS CLOSE TO A QUICK AND PAINLESS DEATH AS POSSIBLE, AND SO, YEAH, THEY HANG THE CARCASS, IF YOU WILL, AND ALLOW THE BLOOD TO DRAIN OUT SO THAT IT'S, AGAIN, AS CLEAN AS POSSIBLE.

HUELL: SO ALL OF THIS--I MEAN, WE'RE LOOKING AT SHORT RIBS, BEEF, LAMB-- >> YOU HAVE GOAT STEW.

HUELL: GOAT STEW, ALL OF THIS.

>> WHAT'S INTERESTING IS YOU HAVE LAMB SAUSAGE AND CHICKEN SAUSAGE, SO WHERE PORK SAUSAGE IS PROHIBITED BECAUSE IT'S PORK MEAT, THEY CREATE ALTERNATIVES.

SO YOU HAVE LAMB AND CHICKEN SAUSAGE, AND THERE ARE EVEN SUCH THINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE LIKE HALAL PEPPERONI, WHICH IS ACTUALLY BEEF PEPPERONI RATHER THAN PORK PEPPERONI.

HUELL: SO ALL OF THIS, ANY TIME YOU WENT INTO A PLACE LIKE THIS UNDER THIS SIGN, "HALAL MEAT DELI," YOU WOULD BE ASSURED THAT EVERYTHING YOU GOT IN HERE WAS HALAL?

>> EXACTLY, AND WHAT YOU WOULD LOOK FOR IS--AS EDDIE AND I WERE JUST LOOKING--IS FOR A CERTIFICATION, AND SO HERE IN THIS STORE, THEY HAVE-- HUELL: WELL, LOOK.

HERE IT IS.

>> THEY HAVE THEIR CERTIFICATION UP THAT SAYS WHERE THE MEAT WAS SLAUGHTERED AND PROVIDES CONTACT INFORMATION, ALSO.

HUELL: IT SAYS, "ALL THE MEAT IS SLAUGHTERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ISLAMIC RITES AND MEETS ALL HALAL MEATS STANDARDS."

>> RIGHT, AND SO THIS MEAT WAS SLAUGHTERED HERE LOCALLY ACTUALLY IN POMONA.

HUELL: WOW!

>> MM-HMM.

HUELL: SEE.

IF I WALKED IN HERE, I WOULDN'T EVEN NOTICE THAT.

>> WELL, EXACTLY, AND THAT'S THE THING IS IT'S NOT JUST MUSLIMS THAT WOULD COME AND SHOT IN A HALAL MEAT DELI.

YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, THE MEAT DOESN'T LOOK OR TASTE ANY DIFFERENT PROBABLY THAN ANY OTHER MEAT OR ANY NONHALAL MEAT.

HUELL: IT WAS SLAUGHTERED IN A SPECIFIC WAY.

>> EXACTLY.

IT HAS THAT EXTRA ASSURANCE.

HUELL: AND THAT GOES BACK HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF YEARS?

>> WELL, IT GOES BACK ABOUT 14 CENTURIES SINCE THE KORAN WAS REVEALED IN THE 7th CENTURY, AND SO THE PRACTICE HAS EXISTED SINCE THEN BECAUSE IT'S DESCRIBED WITHIN THE TEXT OF THE KORAN ITSELF.

HUELL: WE FOUND A LADY WHO'S HERE BUYING HALAL.

>> YEAH.

HUELL: SO YOU COME HERE JUST BECAUSE IT HAS HALAL FOOD?

>> YEAH.

YEAH, ACTUALLY.

HUELL: AND WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR, WHAT DO YOU BUY WHEN YOU'RE HERE?

>> YOU KNOW, THE EASTERN BREAD AND SOME OF THE VEGETABLES WE ARE USED TO HAVE IN OUR COUNTRY AND THE HALAL MEAT AND CHICKEN.

HUELL: WHAT COUNTRY ARE YOU FROM?

>> EGYPT.

HUELL: ARE YOU HERE TO BUY HALAL?

>> YEAH.

I BUY IN HERE FOOD TWICE A WEEK.

HUELL: WHAT COUNTRY ARE YOU ORIGINALLY FROM?

>> I GREW UP IN MEXICO AND--I WAS BORN IN MEXICO, AND I GROW UP IN HERE.

HUELL: ARE YOU MUSLIM?

>> NO.

I'M SPANISH.

HUELL: SO YOU'RE-- >> MY WIFE IS ARABIC.

>> HIS WIFE IS ARABIC.

HUELL: YOUR WIFE IS ARABIC, SO SHE GIVES YOU THE SHOPPING LIST.

>> YEAH.

MY WIFE COMES HERE LIKE ALMOST 3 OR 4 TIMES A WEEK.

MY DAY OFF, I COME HERE EVERY WEEK.

HUELL: BECAUSE OF THE HALAL, BECAUSE OF THE MEAT?

>> NO.

I LIKE THE--I USUALLY BUY THE PITA BREAD.

WE DON'T EAT THE MEXICAN FOOD IN OUR HOUSE.

I'M HISPANIC, BUT NO.

I EAT ARABIC FOOD.

WE DON'T EAT NO BEANS OR NOTHING.

ALL ARABIC FOOD.

HUELL: WOW!

>> WHEN I BUY SOME SPANISH FOOD-- >> INTERCULTURAL HOUSEHOLD.

>> WHEN I BUY SOME SPANISH FOOD, THEY SPOIL BECAUSE NOBODY EATS, AND I WORK FOR A JEWISH RESTAURANT.

I WORK IN BEVERLY HILLS.

I'M A CHEF IN BEVERLY HILLS.

HUELL: HE'S CONFUSED.

HE'S WORKING FOR A JEWISH RESTAURANT, HE'S MARRIED TO AN ARABIC, AND YOU'RE FROM MEXICO.

>> EXACTLY.

ISN'T THAT A TYPICAL--ISN'T THAT A TYPICAL AMERICAN FAMILY?

HUELL: ONLY IN L.A. WELL, WE'VE HAD A GREAT TIME HERE AT THE PAYLESS PRODUCE MARKET ON VENICE BOULEVARD IN WEST L.A.

THANK YOU, SIR, VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, HUELL HOWSER.

THANK YOU FOR PUTTING AN INTEREST IN HALAL MEAT AND OUR STORE, TOO.

HUELL: WELL, YOU GET A LOT OF CUSTOMERS ALREADY, BUT WE'RE GONNA SEND EVERYBODY OVER HERE TO CHECK THIS PLACE OUT.

>> APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

HUELL: AND THANK YOU.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO GO WITH US FOR LUNCH.

>> NO.

UNFORTUNATELY I WON'T, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO A GREAT PLACE, SO YOU SHOULD ENJOY YOUR MEAL.

HUELL: YOU'VE BEEN THERE.

>> CHINA ISLAMIC?

OF COURSE.

HUELL: WOW!

>> IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITES.

HUELL: SO IN THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY, EVEN THOUGH IT'S VERY LARGE HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, THE WORD'S OUT ON PLACES TO GO TO BUY FOOD AND PLACES TO GO TO EAT FOOD.

>> ABSOLUTELY, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE CAUGHT UP WITH THE AGE OF INFORMATION, SO THERE YOU CAN LOOK ONLINE TO FIND HALAL FOOD SHOPS AND HALAL RESTAURANTS, SO FOR PEOPLE WHO, AGAIN, WHO FOLLOW HALAL, THERE ARE RESOURCES THAT WILL GIVE THEM TIPS AND IDEAS ABOUT WHERE THEY CAN GO OUT TO EAT OR WHERE THEY CAN GET HALAL MEAT.

HUELL: BUT YOU'RE NOT AT ALL SURPRISED THAT SOMEBODY LIKE ME AND SOMEBODY LIKE PROBABLY 85%, 90% OF OUR VIEWERS THIS WAS TOTALLY OFF OUR RADARS?

>> NO, THAT'S NOT A SURPRISE AT ALL, BUT I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT PEOPLE LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT THEIR NEIGHBORS ARE ALL ABOUT BECAUSE, IN THE END, WE FIND THAT WE'RE NOT SO DIFFERENT, AND ISN'T THAT THE INTERESTING THING, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT?

HUELL: YEAH.

WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

HUELL: SORRY YOU'RE NOT WITH US.

JUST GONNA LEAVE MORE FOOD FOR US.

>> YOU'LL HAVE TO EAT MY PORTION.

HUELL: BECAUSE WE'RE NOW LEAVING THE MARKET AND GOING FOR LUNCH IN A HALAL RESTAURANT.

OK. AS OUR ADVENTURE CONTINUES, WE HAVE NOW COME TO ROSEMEAD, AND EXACTLY WHERE ARE WE RIGHT NOW, EDDIE?

>> WE'RE AT THE CHINA ISLAMIC RESTAURANT.

HUELL: THE CHINA ISLAMIC RESTAURANT.

WHAT AN INTERESTING COMBINATION THERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY, AND THIS PLACE SERVES HALAL CHINESE FOOD.

HUELL: ALL RIGHT, AND I KNOW IT'S GOT TO BE GOOD BECAUSE EDINA SAID SHE COMES HERE A LOT AND LOVES THE FOOD HERE.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW IT HAS TO BE GOOD.

HUELL: ALL RIGHT.

SO WE'RE GONNA TASTE SOME HALAL FOOD, AND RIGHT HERE RIGHT INSIDE THE FRONT DOOR, WE'VE MET THESE TWO GENTLEMEN RIGHT HERE.

YOU TOLD ME YOU WERE FROM IRAN.

>> CORRECT.

HUELL: BUT YOU'RE CHRISTIAN.

>> I'M ARMENIAN FROM IRAN.

HUELL: SO THAT LETS YOU OFF THE HOOK.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HALAL, RIGHT?

>> THANK YOU.

HUELL: ALL RIGHT.

NOW THIS GUY OVER HERE, THOUGH, YOUR NAME IS?

>> I'M RASHEV KARIM.

HUELL: YOU ARE FROM?

>> I'M ORIGINALLY FROM PAKISTAN.

HUELL: AND YOU ARE EATING HALAL.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

I OFTEN COME OUT HERE WITH THE FAMILY, AND I'M HAVING A LUNCH WITH A CUSTOMER.

HUELL: DO YOU TRY TO STICK TO THE HALAL REGIMEN WHEN YOU EAT YOUR MEALS, WHEN YOU EAT OUT AT A RESTAURANT.

>> YEAH.

MOST TIMES, YOU KNOW, IF I CAN FIND A PLACE THAT HAS HALAL, THEN I'LL EAT HALAL THERE, BUT FROM THE MUSLIM PERSPECTIVE, IF YOU EAT MEAT AT A CHRISTIAN OR A JEWISH PLACE, THEN IT'S CONSIDERED HALAL AS LONG IT'S SLAUGHTERED IN A SPECIFIC WAY.

OF COURSE, OUR PROPHET MUHAMMAD DID EAT AT A JEWISH WOMAN'S HOME WITHOUT NECESSARILY INVESTIGATING HOW SHE SLAUGHTERED THE MEAT AND THIS AND THAT.

HUELL: UH-HUH.

>> SO IT'S ALLOWED TO EAT, BUT IF I GET A CHANCE, I'LL GO OUT AND EAT HALAL FOOD.

HUELL: WELL, YOU KNOW YOU'RE GETTING HALAL HERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY, YEAH.

HUELL: WHAT HAVE WE GOT RIGHT HERE?

>> I THINK THIS IS SHRIMP CHOW MEIN, AND THEN WE HAVE BEEF WITH GREEN ONIONS.

HUELL: NO PORK.

>> NO PORK OF COURSE.

THERE CAN BE NO PORK HALAL.

HUELL: WE GOT SOME REGULAR CUSTOMERS HERE.

YOU'VE BEEN COMING HERE FOR A LONG TIME.

>> SINCE THEY FIRST STARTED, WHICH MEANS BEFORE THESE OWNERS TOOK OVER.

HUELL: WOW!

SO IS THIS MUS--IS YOUR WHOLE FAMILY MUSLIM?

>> THEY ARE ALL MUSLIMS, YES.

HUELL: THIS IS YOUR MOM, YOUR DAD... >> UH-HUH.

SISTER.

HUELL: AND YOUR SISTER.

SO THE WHOLE FAMILY EATS HALAL.

>> YES, SIR.

HUELL: DO YOU CHECK BEFORE YOU GO TO A RESTAURANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS HALAL?

HOW STRICT ARE YOU?

>> WELL, WE ARE PRETTY STRICT WHEN IT COMES TO EATING HALAL FOOD, MEANING THAT WE DON'T CONSUME ANYTHING THAT'S MADE WITH PORK OR THE BYPRODUCTS OF PORK.

HUELL: MM-HMM.

LARD.

>> LARD, BACON, HAM, ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT THIS PLACE, IT HAS A REPUTATION OF SERVING HALAL FOOD, SO THERE'S NOTHING TO CHECK.

WE JUST COME IN AND EAT AUTOMATICALLY.

HUELL: SO THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PLACES THAT YOU KNOW WHEN YOU WALK IN THE DOOR EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE OK. >> EXACTLY.

HUELL: WHAT IF YOU CAME TO DINNER AT MY HOUSE?

>> WELL, I'LL ASK YOU IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT'S MADE OUT OF PORK.

THAT'S ABOUT IT.

IF YOU DON'T, THEN I'LL EAT YOUR FOOD.

HUELL: AND IF I DO?

>> IF YOU DO, THEN I WILL POLITELY EXCUSE MYSELF.

HA HA HA!

HUELL: NOW'S THE TIME I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR.

WE'RE GONNA CHOW DOWN OURSELVES, EDDIE.

>> I CAN'T WAIT.

HUELL: I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE ORDERED BECAUSE YOU ORDERED IT IN CHINESE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

I ACTUALLY USED CHINESE TO ORDER THIS.

HUELL: BUT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE ORDERED FOR SURE BECAUSE YOUR CHINESE IS A LITTLE RUSTY.

>> IT'S A LITTLE RUSTY.

HUELL: SO WE EITHER GOT DUCK OR CHICKEN HERE.

YOU'RE NOT SURE.

THIS IS--IT TURNED OUT BEING-- >> I THINK THAT IS DUCK.

HUELL: DUCK.

OK. NOW THIS IS--LOOK AT THIS.

THIS IS WHAT EDINA TOLD US TO BE SURE AND GET.

>> YES.

THAT'S THE SESAME ONION FLATBREAD.

HUELL: CAN WE TAKE A--HERE.

GRAB A PIECE OF THAT.

I WILL, TOO.

OH, BOY!

>> MM.

A LOT OF FLAVOR.

HUELL: THIS IS UNLEAVENED... >> UNLEAVENED.

RIGHT.

HUELL: BREAD.

>> MM-HMM.

HUELL: SO IT'S OK. NO YEAST IN THERE.

ALL RIGHT.

NOW THIS IS INTERESTING.

THIS IS... >> THAT IS MOO-SHU LAMB.

HUELL: MOO-SHU LAMB?

USUALLY, IT'S MOO-SHU... >> PORK, AND THAT'S A BIG NO-NO IN HALAL FOOD, SO THEY SUBSTITUTED THE PORK WITH THE LAMB.

HUELL: WOW!

OK. WE'RE GONNA BE EATING SOME OF THAT, AND THEN WE MOVE OVER HERE TO THE... >> THAT IS A FISH FILET WITH BAMBOO SHOOTS, MUSHROOMS, AND SNOW PEAS AND CARROTS, SO THIS DISH IS AUTOMATICALLY HALAL BECAUSE IT IS FISH AND VEGETABLES.

HUELL: AND THIS IS THE... >> THIS IS THE CRISPY DUCK.

HUELL: THE CRISPY DUCK.

>> YES.

HUELL: THIS IS SO INTERESTING, AND, EDDIE, THIS IS A SUBJECT-- UNTIL I HEARD YOU TALKING ABOUT IT ON THE RADIO, I HAD NEVER EVEN HEARD THE WORD "HALAL" BEFORE, WHICH JUST GOES TO PROVE HOW MUCH ALL OF US HAVE TO LEARN ABOUT EACH OTHER'S CUSTOMS AND RELIGIONS AND SOMETHING AS BASIC AS WHAT FOODS WE EAT AND WHY.

>> I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU.

I WAS THE SAME WAY, YOU KNOW, BEFORE I STARTED DOING MY RESEARCH.

HUELL: ABOUT HALAL?

>> ABOUT HALAL.

HUELL: AND AS A FOOD WRITER, YOU'RE PROBABLY ALWAYS FINDING OUT NEW THINGS ABOUT FOOD THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT.

>> OH, I'M CONSTANTLY SHOCKED AND SURPRISED ABOUT WHAT GOES ON OUT THERE IN THE CULINARY WORLD.

ABSOLUTELY.

HUELL: WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THIS HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL.

I HOPE YOU'VE LEARNED AS MUCH AS I HAVE TODAY.

I MEAN, THIS IS ONE OF THE POSITIVE ASPECTS OF LIVING IN A PLACE LIKE LOS ANGELES WITH ALL THIS MULTICULTURALISM AND ALL THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF FOODS AND RELIGIONS AND ALL OF THIS.

IT'S ALL KIND OF MIXED TOGETHER.

IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN A CHINESE MUSLIM RESTAURANT IN ROSEMEAD, BUT THAT'S WHERE WE ARE, AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GONNA HAVE LUNCH TODAY, AND WE'VE HAD A GREAT DAY LEARNING ABOUT SOMETHING.

HELLO, THERE.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> MY DADDY AND MOMMY.

HUELL: OH.

HER DADDY AND MOMMY.

GIVE US A WAVE.

THERE THEY ARE RIGHT OVER THERE.

HA HA HA!

NO.

WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF FUN HERE TODAY.

GONNA HAVE A NICE MEAL AFTERWARDS AND ENJOY OUR HALAL, AND WHAT MAKES THIS SO SPECIAL IS THAT YOU COULD COME IN HERE AND JUST EAT IT AND NOT EVEN KNOW WHAT IT WAS AND ENJOY IT.

IT'S JUST GOOD FOOD, BUT NOW THAT WE'VE LEARNED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HALAL, IT ADDS ANOTHER EXTRA, NICE LAYER... >> YES.

HUELL: TO WHAT EATING IS ALL ABOUT IN LOS ANGELES.

>> RIGHT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE MUSLIM TO ENJOY HALAL FOOD, AND HALAL FOOD DOESN'T AFFECT THE FLAVOR.

IT'S LIKE ANY OTHER CHINESE FOOD.

HUELL: YEAH, BUT IT'S NICE TO KNOW, ISN'T IT?

>> RIGHT, BUT IT'S A CONSCIENTIOUS KIND OF FOOD.

HUELL: YEAH.

VERY CONSCIENTIOUS, VERY GOOD, AND PART OF WHAT LOS ANGELES IS ALL ABOUT.

ENJOY.

GOOD-BYE EVERYBODY.

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--] >> THANK YOU.

HUELL: IT'S VERY GOOD FOOD.

>> YES.

>> WE'VE BEEN HERE 20 YEARS.

HUELL: OH, REALLY?

>> YES.

HUELL: YOU CAN EAT.

>> OH.

HUELL: WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS.

>> THAT IS NICE, THE FLATBREAD.

>> IT'S HEAVENLY BREAD.

HUELL: THIS IS FAMOUS BREAD RIGHT OVER HERE.

VERY GOOD.