Cart

All over New York are carts. You go to cart for some cheap and tasty Shawerma, Falafel or a Hot Dog. Many claim to be Halal drawing the Muslim crowd, mostly because the owners themselves are indeed Muslim.

You have to find the right cart, the one you like. There is usually one on every block in mid town and the smell of the cart will carry down the street with you, making your mouth water as you begin your approach.

I have my cart, manned by Ahmed, my Egyptian friend. For the most part Egyptians or Indians are the owners of these carts bringing with them their hard working ethic and hospitality, even though you are standing on the side of the street.

I walk past Ahmed every day. He knows that I have been to Egypt and we exchange formalities every morning as he sets up. I stopped last week to see how he was doing. What is it like working in a city that does not slow down for any religious holiday, much less for the month of Ramadan. He is fasting this month while he serves a few hundred people each day. Today his wife was with him and he gave me and Jill an extra falafel while we waited. When I asked him if he minds serving food all day, he said no, this was his job and he loved what he did. He meets interesting people every day from all walks of life and some repeat customers will walk a few blocks (past many other carts) just to get his platters.

He closes shop early this month to go home, pray and break his fast. I am not sure where he lives but we spoke of the Arab neighbourhood in Astoria as a great place to get some Egyptian food and shisha.

The cart workers all over the city have to be some of the most hard working people here. Rain, hail, snow or shine they are standing on their corners serving the city food. I know there are many more Ahmed's out there, who sincerely enjoy what they do and want to bring some Egyptian Halal food to the Big Apple.