Paris: For French Muslims, keeping up with work and fasting during the holy month of Ramadan is not always simple.
Reem, a Frenchwoman of Egyptian descent who works as a shop assistant in Paris, said to Arab News that since she started working, "fasting has become a test of endurance."
She has little time to prepare a proper iftar meal, with a variety of dishes, by the time she gets home from work because France is a secular nation and there are few special provisions for fasting employees.
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Reem, like many other French Muslims who work full-time, has thus come to rely on food delivery services for iftar.
High school teacher Madjid, a Frenchman of Moroccan descent, claimed that "ordering iftar online allows him to experience different cuisines, such as Lebanese, Moroccan, Indonesian, Middle Eastern, and Indian, among others."
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During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, all kinds of home deliveries increased as countries around the world implemented lockdowns to stop the disease's spread.
However, despite the fact that most people's lives have largely returned to normal, many people in France have continued to order food and groceries online because they believe it to be a simpler, more practical option.
On websites and apps like parisgourmand.com, many restaurants this year added specially curated iftar options to their delivery menus. Customers can choose from a variety of iftar options, such as Algerian food from Mama Nissa, Indian food from Jaipur Cafe, Lebanese-Moroccan food from Rouna, and Indonesian food from Djakarta Bali, among many others.
Special iftar menus are also available for dine-in and takeaway customers at Mansouria, which many consider to be one of the best Moroccan restaurants in Paris, and Qasti, which is run by renowned Lebanese chef Alan Geaam.
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Of course, there is a price to pay for the convenience of ordering iftar every day online: Approximately $17 ($19) to $45 per person, or even more. Therefore, it is a privilege that many people with low incomes or those with large families do not typically enjoy.