Houston is a potluck of many different cultural traditions and backgrounds. Visitors and residents alike find this in the spectrum of restaurants the city has to offer. And while going to a restaurant for the first time can seem like a daunting task, for civil engineering junior Zain Mohammed it is just another day on the job.

As a child growing up in Saudi Arabia, Mohammed loved eating out. After moving to Houston in 2006, he ‘was inspired by television personalities Anthony Bourdain and Guy Fieri, who both became successful documenting their various adventures with food. Realizing a new fascination, Mohammed decided to start writing a food blog aptly named Zain’s Halal Reviews.

“The blog was created from a passion that I have had since I was a little boy,” Mohammed said. “My dad used to take me and my sister out to eat when I lived in Saudi Arabia. He would take me to the local restaurants because he knew I liked trying things that I [didn’t] usually get at home.”

Because of his Muslim background, Mohammed can only eat food which is prepared according to Islamic law, known as halal. For example, meat has to adhere to certain guidelines before being slaughtered. It must be a healthy, fully grown animal and the slaughterer must be a person of Muslim, Christian or Jewish faith, using only an instrument that is sharp and has a cutting edge.

“Many people regard halal food to be very unhygienic and cruel,” Mohammed said. “In reality, halal meat is regarded to be the most humane method of slaughtering meat.”

In addition to writing his blog, Mohammed is an active member of the Muslim Student Association, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the Society of Women Engineers, and Program for Mastery in Engineering Studies.  Originally, Mohammed started Zain’s Halal Reviews because he had nothing else to do when finished with schoolwork. He says that time and money are key factors in being able to juggle school activities and the blog.

“Whenever I have time after finishing schoolwork and when I have cash and no organization meetings, I go and try a place,” Mohammed said. “I usually keep a budget of about $20 unless I go for a special occasion with my family.”

Now, with a supportive network of family and friends, he is trying and make a name for himself with his restaurant reviews.

“My parents at first laughed at the idea of me writing a blog,” Mohammed said. “Now, they are proud of the work I do and hope that I succeed and become famous.”

Check out his food blog at zainshalalreviews.blogspot.com and on his Instagram, thehalalreviewer.

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“Student’s religion leads him to find blogging passion” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar