SOUTH BRUNSWICK — After watching thousands head to the Jersey Shore for the seafood festival in Belmar, the large Muslim community in Middlesex County said, “Why not here?”
And so the Halal Food Festival was born last year. The event this year gave foodies an opportunity to sample dishes from various food vendors that set up on the grounds of Rowland Park in South Brunswick from noon to 7 p.m. Aug. 17.
During the festival, people were able to enjoy boardwalk traditions of fried Oreos and funnel cakes, along with various ethnic foods such as kufta kabab, a traditional Syrian dish.
Nasreen and Khalid Rashid of South Brunswick video sat on a bench near the dessert com vendors, taking in the beautiful day.
“This is the first time we have come to the festival,” said Nasreen, who noted that they are a members of the mosque in South Brunswick. “We wanted to come out and support the committee.”
The Rashids started off the festival with dessert: kulfi, an Indian ice cream.
“It’s my husband’s favorite dessert,” Nasreen said.
Arif Patel, an organizing committee member of the Islamic Society of Central Jersey, said the organization partnered with the Muslim Youth Community Center this year.
“Last year, we held the festival in North Brunswick at the New Brunswick Islamic Center. That was held indoors,” he said. “But this year we have bigger space, so we were able to have a bazaar selling clothing and jewelry, and a place for the kids to play.”
For more information, visit www.iscj.org.
Contact Kathy Chang at [email protected].