An international city with over 200 vernaculars, award winning cosmopolis centre, London has everything to offer to its International guests. London is a notorious food heaven and through its diverse culinary magic has broken down language and cultural barriers between its dissidents and visitors. This is a city that is blessed with a decadence of delightful Halal cuisine from all across the Muslim world. The significance of words such as Halal (meat that is slaughtered according to Muslims customs) and Kosher (Jewish meat) have become synonymous of many London restaurant menus.

With its large Muslim population, the restaurants serving Halal food in London have multiplied over the years. London’s Halal restaurants have been preparing for months for the arrival of Olympics 2012 and the holy month of Ramadan where Muslims fast for 30 days from dusk till dawn. The two mega events will provide a platform for these restaurateurs to market to its Muslim and non-Muslim visitors their services and exquisite culinary delights.

The Olympics and Ramadan is a testing time for Muslims operating in food industry to observe the fast, act as hospitable hosts to their city’s guests, and manage an influx of guests at evening all wanting to be served at the same time (9 pm when fast opens). Toonari post went across the diverse hub of London to discover how restaurant owners and their workers will deal with these challenges of balancing Ramadan with Olympics in coming weeks.

Maison Touareg is a signature brand in the heart of London, specializing in Lebanese and exotic Moroccan cuisine, the notorious restaurant is famed for its quality of food, decor and its service. “Here at Maison Touareg we are gearing up for London 2012 Olympic Games.

Considering the restaurant’s location, in centre of Soho, at the heart of London and due to massive increase in number of tourists, management have decided to limit the number of bookings in order to have more availability for tourists and walk-ins.” Naz Amirshahi, Reservations and Events Manager said. “We offer Ramadan set menu to all the Muslim tourists who will be fasting in the holy month of Ramadan.”

Toonari Post asked why tourists should go to Maison Touareg? Amirshahi said “Maison Touareg is the gateway to the beautiful mixture of Moroccan and Lebanese culture and offers a truly unique dining experience throughout the Ramadan and Olympic period. Whether it was a day of sightseeing and activities in the city or the excitement of watching live games, Maison Touareg is the perfect spot to go and eat, drink and relax.”

Another popular restaurant in Bayswater, London is Khans. Famed for its grand exterior and ability to seat 300 people at any given notice, their name is a mark of quality for native Londoners. Their backup staff will be on hands to accommodate evening influx of diners.

Despite all the challenges, London is home to world class Halal dinning from continental to Mediterranean, to Arabic to Asian and has some of the best Halal restaurants in Europe. This summer, why not taste a world of flavours in all that London has to offer your palette from Iran to Morocco to Bali to Caribbean to India to America. If you are nostalgic for some Persian magic, then step over to Alounak in Paddington or visit Simurgh in Covent Gardens. Persians are famed for their artistic exotic cuisine, and London provides you with this culinary experience at a price that suites your pocket.

If you want something poetic, then cross over to the world of Rumi in many of city’s popular Turkish restaurants ranging from an average price to exclusive five star dinning. Middle East and North Africa is right at your threshold from lascivious Lebanese dining in Mayfair’s Fakherldine to exquisite North African dining in South Kensington’s Pasha to signature brands from casual to themed eateries from Morocco, Egypt, Algeria and Lebanon lining the Edgware road area.

For fast food enthusiasts, tempting arrays of Halal McDonalds, KFC, and subway are scattered all across the city. Now if you are American and missing your double whoppers, exotic milkshakes then visit Tinsletown in Bayswater. For bagel lovers, there is Bagel bite serving Halal English breakfast, light breakfast and variety of bagels with delightful fillings at Bayswater.

For steak lovers there is Steak Out in Tooting, Sahara Grill in Leyton or initially you can go and divulge in some retail therapy at Westfield shopping centre, where world famous chain steakhouse offers premium signature style Halal steak. For Halal Italian, visit Coffee Max in Tooting, where the extensive menu offers everything and anything Italian.

For people with exotic taste buds, there are many Indonesian and Malay restaurants known for their fine resplendent dining. Halal Chinese, Cantonese, Peking and Thai restaurants are also all over the city, especially in China town. You will also get a flavour of Halal Carribean food at Guanbana in Camden town. And those with fiery taste, South Asian restaurants specializing in Indian, Bangladeshi Afghani and Pakistani food are plentiful.

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Harmondsworth, England – One of British Airways’ fleet of 747s is now featuring a very special emblem to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The celebratory aircraft will be flying its message of congratulations around the world.

Designed by 11-year-old Blue Peter winner, Katherine Dewar from Chester, the official logo has been emblazoned on the side of the British Airways aircraft alongside the words, “Congratulations, Celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee”.

Katherine Dewar said: “Since winning the competition, it’s been like a dream come true to see my design in so many different places around the UK but I never expected to see it on a huge jumbo plane.

“I love going on holiday to Florida and hope the next time I do I’ll be lucky enough to fly on this plane so I can look out the window at my design.”

British Airways’ Captain Mark Mannering-Smith said: “As the national flag carrier I can’t think of anything more fitting than British Airways carrying a message of congratulations to Her Majesty around the world.”

Customers travelling on flights arriving into London over the Jubilee weekend (June 2-5, 2012) will hear British Airways captains making congratulatory announcements to mark the occasion.

In British Airways’ Heathrow lounges, customers will be offered a regal afternoon tea, including a selection of traditional British sandwiches, sweet treats and a special Jubilee blend of tea from Twinings.

Premium customers in the Business and Concorde lounges will be invited to raise a glass to toast Her Majesty with a champagne cocktail, ‘Pimms Royale’, or the award-winning English sparkling wine, Balfour Brut.

For those looking for some pre-flight pampering, there’s also a selection of Jubilee treatments at the Terminal 5 Elemis Spa exclusively for British Airways’ First, Club World and Gold Executive Club members. These customers will be able to choose from four ‘Royal Therapies’ and massage treatments, including Royal Rose facials, hand treatments and musclease foot and body workouts.

British Airways offer holidays in London with a range of hotels to choose from including great value budget hotels to luxurious five star hotels and apartments in central London.

Image Courtesy of  Christopher Parypa / Shutterstock.com

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Over 1,000 boats took to the Thames for a grand pageant to mark the second day of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

An estimated 1.2 million people thronged the banks to get a glimpse of the 86-year-old monarch and her family as they progressed down the river.

The event began when the Queen and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, arrived at Chelsea Pier, where they were met by the Prince of Wales in his capacity as Patron of the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, along with his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall. After reviewing a Guard of Honor of Chelsea Pensioners, the royal party boarded a tender from HMY Britannia, which took them to the royal barge.

The craft that would carry the royal family was the MV Spirit of Chartwell, a 210-foot hotel barge usually used for luxury cruises along the Thames. The Spirit of Chartwell was heavily modified for the occasion so that she might resemble historic royal barges from the 16th and 17th centuries. The barge’s sides were adorned with red drapes, and the bow was decorated with a crown and the royal cypher. Also on board were extensive horticultural arrangements featuring flowers from the Queen’s gardens. Designed by Rachel de Thame, star of BBC Two’s Gardeners World, they followed a red, gold, and purple color scheme.

The Queen and her husband took in the day’s events from two lavish thrones placed under a canopy on the barge’s top deck. She was accompanied by other senior members of the royal family, including the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince Harry.

Pageant participants were grouped by type, and the groups were separated by ‘herald barges’ carrying bands that played a diverse assortment of music. The bands ranged from the Academy of Ancient Music and the London Philharmonic Orchestra to the Shree Muktajeevan Pipe Band and Dhol Ensemble and Rhythm on the River. Among the pieces played was a new composition based on the original titles of Handel’s “Water Music.”

The boats taking part in the procession were equally diverse, and included rowboats, sailboats, steamboats, as well as an array of historic ships, including Dunkirk little ships and a Maori war canoe. One of the highlights was the Gloriana, an 94-foot vessel built specially for the occasion in the style of 18th century royal barges. Powered by 18 oarsmen, the Gloriana was the brainchild of Lord Sterling, who organized the Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2002.

“I became enamoured with the idea of building something timeless and got inspiration from Canaletto’s paintings that showed the great barges of the 18th Century and decided to build one,” he told the BBC.

The Gloriana was financed entirely through donations and will be given to the Queen as a present to mark the occasion.

Image Courtesy of dutourdumonde / Shutterstock.com

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Queen Elizabeth II kicked off her Diamond Jubilee celebrations by attending Epsom Derby with other members of the royal family.

The Queen received a rapturous welcome as the royal motorcade made its way onto the course, and she was greeted by Katherine Jenkins’ rendition of the National Anthem as she emerged from her car. In addition to her husband, she was also joined by several of her relatives, including the Duke of York, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, and Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

The Queen is a keen horsewoman, and the Epsom Derby is one of the highlights of her year. In past years, she has had a horse in the race, and it is said that winning the Derby is one of her fondest ambitions. She has already won the 1,000 Guineas, the 2,000 Guineas, the Oaks, and the St. Leger. Last year, her horse Carleton House came in third.

“She’s incredibly knowledgeable. Her knowledge of thoroughbreds and breeding goes way back,” said Anthony Cane, chairman of Epsom Downs Racecourse.

Epsom had a carnival atmosphere this year, with a dramatic parachute fall by the British Army’s Red Devils taking place shortly before she arrived. Spectators were treated to a performance by Ashleigh Butler and her dog, the winners of Britain’s Got Talent. There were also stiltwalkers dressed as guardsmen, complete with trademark red tunics and bearskin hats.

Today’s race is traditionally called the Coronation Cup, but it has been renamed the Diamond Jubilee Coronation Cup. After the race, the Queen presented the trophy to trainer Aiden O’Brien. His horse, St. Nicholas Abbey, also won last year.

Elsewhere in Britain, the start of the Jubilee was marked by a 41-gun salute in London, and 21-gun salutes in Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast. On Sunday, the Queen will take part in a pageant on the Thames that will see over 1,000 boats sailing down river. On Monday, there will be a picnic for 10,000 members of the public at Buckingham Palace, followed by a pop concert featuring such luminous names as Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Tom Jones, Sir Elton John, Robbie Williams, and Stevie Wonder. Come nightfall, 2,012 beacons will be lit across the country. The Jubilee celebrations will conclude on Tuesday with a Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral, after which the Queen will attend a reception in her honor hosted by the Lord Mayor of London at Mansion House. Meanwhile, millions of her subjects will take part in street parties and other local events.

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London, UK – A British Muslim community has set out plans to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with street parties, lighting up of mosques throughout the UK, feeding the homeless and a launch of 200 special Diamond Jubilee buses across London – a unique contribution to this historic event.

Ahmadiyya Muslims will play the national anthem in street parties across 30 towns and cities from London to Glasgow. In Birmingham for example the celebrations will feature the Royal Navy band playing the national anthem at the mosque and congratulatory messages being read out in 60 languages by local community representatives.

There will also be special prayers for The Queen at 100 mosques and prayer halls belonging to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community – one of the oldest Islamic groups in Britain.

The community has also launched a special edition of the book ‘A Gift for the Queen’ written by their founder, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, on the occasion of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897.

The National President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK, Mr Rafiq Hayat said:

“In the history of the British monarch there have only been two diamond Jubilees, and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community have been involved with both.

“We share in our country’s pride and joy at Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. It is our heartfelt prayer that may God continue to protect the Queen and we look forward to the festivities of the Jubilee weekend and to make them as inclusive as possible.

“As Muslims, we are duty bound to serve Queen and country and we regard this as an important part of our religion as we were taught by Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that loyalty to one’s country is a part of faith.”

In addition, Ahmadi Muslims will:

- Take part in the Big Lunch on 3rd June

- Light up all its mosques across the UK

- Say special prayers for the Queen on 1st June

- Feed the Homeless – 10,000 will benefit from this endeavour

- Hold charity walks to raise GBP400,000 for the Queen’s charities

- Fundraise through the community’s women’s network

- Organise blood donation sessions

- Hold interfaith symposia throughout the UK

A charity walk by thousands of community members around the Tower of London has already raised tens of thousands of pounds for the Queen’s Jubilee charities.

London buses with the special Diamond Jubilee poster also feature the peace campaign website for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

Image Courtsey of  Pacificnw.co.uk

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The tower that houses Big Ben at the Palace of Westminster is likely to be renamed in honor of Queen Elizabeth II after a majority of the Members of Parliament (MPs) gave their backing to the change.

The proposal was first made by Tobias Ellwood, a Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Foreign Office. He tabled an Early Day Motion requesting that the clock tower be renamed the Elizabeth Tower in honor of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

“Commemorating an iconic landmark as famous as Parliament is indeed a truly exceptional tribute and I am grateful that the majority of MPs believe the Queen deserves such an outstanding accolade,” he said.

“It therefore seems entirely appropriate for Parliament to pay tribute to Her Majesty with a similar honor, and in symmetry, to that bestowed upon Queen Victoria, by dedicating part of the iconic Parliamentary estate in her name,” he continued.

Forty MPs signed their names to the motion, and 331 MPs signed a formal letter of support, including the leaders of the three major parties. Prime Minister David Cameron said that “it is great news that so many MPs from across the House are backing what would be a fitting tribute to the Queen. I hope it will now move ahead.”

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said that “the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee is an occasion that the whole country is keen to celebrate, and Members of Parliament are no exception. I hope the House applies [to Buckingham Palace] to name this historic tower after Her Majesty.”

Echoing the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Labour Party leader Ed Miliband said that “Queen Elizabeth has dedicated herself tirelessly and constantly to the people of Britain and the entire Commonwealth. Parliament has agreed that this is a fitting tribute to her life of service and I hope it can be confirmed as soon as possible.”

In addition to the party leaders, the proposal has received the backing of Theresa May, the Home Secretary; William Hague, the Foreign Secretary; Iain Duncan Smith, the Work and Pensions Secretary; and Danny Alexander, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. They are joined by other prominent MPs, including former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, former Home Secretary David Blunkett, and Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls.

The honor mirrors that given to Queen Victoria when she celebrated her Diamond Jubilee in 1897. The King’s Tower which stood at the southwest end of the Palace of Westminster was renamed the Victoria Tower.

The House of Commons Commission, which is responsible for Parliament’s administrative affairs, will meet in a few weeks’ time, at which point it is likely to approve the proposal in light of the strength of cross-party support. Once the commission has given its stamp of approval, the proposal will be formally presented to Buckingham Palace. If the Queen agrees, a renaming ceremony would be held, which she would likely attend.

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Less than a year ago Kate Middleton, known as Catherine to the royal family, became a part of a royal fairy tale when she married her prince charming, heir to the throne of England, Prince William. Prince William and Prince Edward have been extremely protective over Kate as she adapts to life in the public eye. But it’s now apparent that Kate can hold her own, and has proven herself by living up to the royal family’s expectations.

William, who arrived home last week after spending seven weeks in the Falkland Islands serving his duties in the Air Force, was greeted by Kate at the airbase where she welcomed her husband home. It was the longest time the royal couple has been apart since their nuptials on April 29, 2011. With much concern of how Kate would fare on her own, it has been shown that Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, was meant for royalty.

While William was gone, Kate proved herself time and time again that she was born for the role she is playing. She engaged in several royal engagements, as well as charity events. And during those seven weeks, Kate even made her first solo royal speech. With grace and poise she gave a public speech at the opening of the East Anglia Children’s Hospice, located just outside of London. Before giving her speech, Kate was greeted by 600 fans.

Kate, who even wrote the speech herself, admitted she had a “pre-conceived idea as to what to expect,” and by adding that “it was far from being a clinical depressing place for sick children, it was a home. Most importantly, it was a family home, a happy place of stability, support and care. It was a place of fun.”

During her speech Kate also recognized her husband by stating, “I’m only sorry that my husband couldn’t be here today. He would love it here.” And with William gone for almost two months, it gave Kate a chance to get close to the one she is bound to impress the most, the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth.

The queen has invited Kate to several official public engagements recently, something that she never invited Princess Diana to do in her first year of marriage to Prince Edward. Of the appearances, Kate joined the Queen and Prince Philip as they kicked off the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Tour. Kate has also recently been by the queen’s side for royal appearances in London at both Fortnum and Mason.

Prince Edward gave a statement to the press regarding his high opinion of Kate and her accomplishments. He stated, “Catherine is doing very well. She has taken to royal life like a duck to water. She’s very gracious and the family is very proud of her.”

Currently Kate and William are spending a lot of quality time together catching up and spending time with the newest addition to their family, a four-month-old cocker spaniel named Lupo.

William is only on short leave from duty right now, and he will soon resume his search and rescue duties at the Royal Air Force Valley. Looks like this time around, William will be less worried about Kate, as she gets another opportunity to charm the world with her compassion and care, by showing the public her dreams and plans for the betterment of society, and for the future England.

Image Courtesy of   Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

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On March 20, Britain’s Parliament presented Queen Elizabeth II with ‘humble addresses’ to mark the 60th anniversary of her accession to the throne.

Humble addresses are the traditional means by which Parliament communicates with the Sovereign. In most cases, these are mundane affairs that take place without much ceremony. But since this was a special occasion, both Houses assembled in their entirety to hear their respective Speakers present their addresses.

Upon arriving at the Palace of Westminster, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were met by a host of dignitaries, including the Lord Great Chamberlain, the Lord Speaker, and the Speaker of the House of Commons. Both Speakers wore elaborate black silk robes adorned with gold lace and decorations.

But while the Lord Speaker, Baroness D’Souza, opted to wear traditional court dress (including knee breeches and tights) underneath it all, the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow chose to wear morning dress with a green House of Commons tie.

In addition to her husband, the Queen was accompanied by a number of courtiers, including the Countess of Airlie (one of her Ladies-in-Waiting), Colonel Dan Rex (her Equerry-in-Waiting), and Sir Christopher Geidt (her Private Secretary). Led by the Lord Great Chamberlain and his white wand of office, the royal party made its way into Westminster Hall, which is the oldest portion of the Palace of Westminster.

Because the House of Lords is technically the senior house, the Lord Speaker addressed the Queen first. “You have personified continuity and stability while ensuring that Your role has evolved imperceptibly, with the result that the Monarchy is as integral a part of our national life today as it was 60 years ago,” she said.

“We rejoice in this Jubilee and we give thanks for all that it represents,” she continued.

The Speaker of the House of Commons spoke next. “If, as Gandhi asserted, ‘the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others,’ then Your Majesty must have found Yourself countless times over the past six decades.”

“You have dedicated Your life to others.  The daily example that You set, mirrored by our courageous armed forces of which You are Commander-in-Chief, is extraordinary,” he said.

Bercow, who has long been an avid supporter of gay rights, spoke of how Britain was “a land where men and women today are equal under the law and where Your people are respected, regardless of how they live, how they look or how they love.”

He went on to call Her Majesty “a kaleidoscope Queen of a kaleidoscope country in a kaleidoscope Commonwealth,” much to the apparent annoyance of Prime Minister David Cameron, who scowled at the Speaker.

When Bercow had finished speaking, the Queen thanked her Parliament for their addresses. In doing so, she paid tribute to her husband’s tireless support, saying “Prince Philip is, I believe, well-known for declining compliments of any kind. But throughout he has been a constant strength and guide.”

Referring to the elaborate stained-glass window that had been commissioned to mark her Diamond Jubilee, she mentioned that “the happy relationship I have enjoyed with Parliament has extended well beyond the more than three and a half thousand Bills I have signed into law. I am therefore very touched by the magnificent gift before me, generously subscribed by many of you. Should this beautiful window cause just a little extra color to shine down upon this ancient place, I should gladly settle for that.”

“We are reminded here of our past, of the continuity of our national story and the virtues of resilience, ingenuity and tolerance which created it. I have been privileged to witness some of that history and, with the support of my family, rededicate myself to the service of our great country and its people now and in the years to come,” she concluded.

Image Courtesy of  Zoran Karapancev / Shutterstock.com

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