On Forest Avenue, right next to a gas station, there is an unassuming little halal store called the Mecca Market. I walked in with my family looking for a good rack of Lamb for Easter, I thought the “Happy Easter! We have your Easter lamb!” poster on the door was a good sign. The sour and salty smells of cheeses, yogurts and an assortment of other dairy products I couldn’t distinguish (damn, I wish I could read Arabic) met me right at the door. I like a store that isn’t afraid to assault my sense as soon as I walk in.
We walked past the 3000 types of phyllo dough and feta cheeses to get to the butcher. He was busy helping a young lady who was getting a whole chicken, some kafta kebab and some makanek. While we waited for our turn, I perused the isles to see all the different spices, nuts, dried fruits and so much tahini! Finally it’s our turn and I noticed the butcher was sporting a black eye at about 50 years old – I like these guys! Through lots of hand gestures we get our point across a small language barrier that we would like a rack of lamb (or “lamb chops together”). It turned out the ol’ butcher didn’t have any lamb chops already cut and prepared. We were bummed out until he pointed to his meat locker and waved us around the counter. Oooooh man, we are so going into the meat locker!! It’s a small, yet fully stocked little room with about four lamb and a few cow carcasses hanging about. He pointed at the lambs, we pointed at one we wanted and he measured with both his hands at how big the lamb racks would be.
He gave us the whole damn torso!!! I mean, I have, in my freezer right now, almost and entire lamb torso. The sage butcher didn’t tire of me as I asked him five or six times to cut the ribs this was and that way. The array of colorful and sparkling hookahs behind the register caught my eye (as all sparkling things do). They also have hookah coals and all sorts of flavored tobacco. Omar, one of the co-owners, assured us it is “really good meat” while he was ringing us up and with a very warm “salaam” farewell he wished us a good Easter. I’m so going back and asking Omar and tough-guy butcher for some good makanek recipes.
MECCA MART HALAL FOOD
(718) 981-8200
2111 Forest Ave, Staten Island, NY 10303
