Hatrack River Forum: Jewish resteraunts... do they exist??

This is topic Jewish resteraunts... do they exist?? in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :

Question!
Is there such a thing as Jewish resteraunts that serve traditional jewish meals?

A previous thread was talking about the interesting things to eat and since I don't know any Judeo cooks ... well there we go.

[Smile]

Also.. is there such a thing as kosher alchohol?

Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :

Yes. There are Jewish restaurants. [Smile]

There's kosher alcohol here, I don't know if you can find it outside of Israel, though. Probably in major cities.

Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :

Is there a Jewish chain that I can look up? Or are they all mom&pop shops?

Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :

Hmmm... good question. I'm not sure.

I usually avoid Jewish restaurants, because if I go out to eat, I generally aim for something that I can't easily get at home. [Razz]

But I'll try to look into that for you!

Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :

Thanks!

Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :

[Smile]

Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :

I know that there was a service who dropped off meals for guests in our hotel who needed Kosher food. We had guests who stayed with us who worked at the Milwaukee Institute for Torah Studies (I think I have the name right) who used the service frequently. They also pestered our breakfast person about how the food was prepared [Razz]

Posted by Minerva (Member # 2991) on :

There's no chain that I know of. But if you Google for kosher and a city name, you'll probably come up with one or two. Of course, at many deli's, you can get some things that are close to traditional Jewish recipes.

Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :

Welcome to Hatrack, Minerva! [Wave]

I love your nick!

Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :

We have a "deli" in town that's really more like a diner serving greasy Jewish food. Knishes, latkes, blintzes, matzo ball soup, you name it. It's the kind of place where, if you order your food to go, the paper bag is see-through by the time you get home. [Smile]

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

I was going to say the same thing as Zeugma. Look for a good Jewish deli, as they often serve dishes for taking home.

Posted by narrativium (Member # 3230) on :

How you define traditional Jewish food depends on what part of the world you're from. [Razz]

Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :

The Jewish Mother in Virginia Beach. More like a NY Jewish Deli, and definitely not only kosher (I don't even know if they serve kosher meals).

So it's probably not at all what you're looking for, but it's a good restaurant and you made me think of it, so there you go. [Smile]

Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :

Bah, Matzo Ball soup rules, Adam.

-Bok

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

"How you define traditional Jewish food depends on what part of the world you're from."

This reminds me of a Friends episode when Ross was going to China.

"Cool, you will get to eat lots of Chinese food"

"Um, I bet in China, they just call it food."

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

adam means Pico Kosher Deli (commonly referred to as PKD).

I see you're in the Detroit area, Telp, yes?
This is a kosher café (which may of may not have much in the way of distinctly "Jewish" food); three other kosher restaurants in the area; places in Detroit calling themselves "delis" -- this one looks particularly likely.

Enjoy! [Big Grin]

[ March 17, 2005, 10:21 AM: Message edited by: rivka ]

Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :

I was lucky enough to go to my first Seder with a staunch vegetarian, who warned me away from the gefilte fish. [Evil]

I did, however, eat all of the other crazy stuff.

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

Gefilte fish is YUMMY! And unlike adam, I rather like Passover food. Some of it -- matzo ball soup, matzo brei, flourless almond cookies, macaroons -- I even eat the rest of the year.

[ March 17, 2005, 10:24 AM: Message edited by: rivka ]

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

How efficient of you.

This must be why they pay you the big bucks.

Posted by Constant Reader (Member # 7282) on :

Come to South Florida for a visit. I've got a Jewish deli on every corner! Yum!
And you can get Kosher wine at Publix!
[Smile]

Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :

Isn't wine Kosher by definition? What's in their that might make it non-Kosher?

Posted by The Pixiest (Member # 1863) on :

mmm.... gefilte...

It's a little slimy but it's sooooo good....

Posted by Constant Reader (Member # 7282) on :

[ROFL]

I have no idea, I just know it says "Kosher" on it. I think it's blessed by a Rabbi or heavily salted or something. [Wink]

I make a very bad Jew.

Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :

quote:
Israeli food could also be considered Jewish. Israeli food is pretty similar to other Middle-Eastern food, except that Israeli restaurants don't serve anything dairy.

Um...unless it's a dairy middle-eastern restaurant. [Wink]

And of course, there are also dairy restaurants featuring food of eastern European Jews. [Smile]

Constant Reader, where in South Florida are you? You must be in shootin' distance of where I live.

Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :

quote:
Israeli food is pretty similar to other Middle-Eastern food, except that Israeli restaurants don't serve anything dairy.

Um, that's not true... Jewish restaurants that keep kosher will be either a meat or a dairy menu. There are, however, several restaurants in Israel that are not kosher, and serve both. Those are usually the same ones that are open on friday nights, because the ones that keep kosher are usually closed on the sabbath.

It's true that Israeli food is similar to other Middle Eastern food, though, except for if it's kosher. But I've gone to kosher restaurants countless times, and ordered dairy dishes, like Greek salads. Just ask rivka, I had one both times we went to restaurants together. [Smile]

(edit: Blast you, Ela!)

[ March 17, 2005, 11:14 AM: Message edited by: Raia ]

Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :

quote:
For a wine to be kosher, strict regulations must be followed. It really all begins in the fields. Grapes from new vines may not be used for making wine, until after the fourth year. Every seventh year the fields must be left fallow and there is a prohibition on growing other fruits and vegetables between the vines.

All the equipment, tools and winemaking storage facilities must be kosher. During the harvest, only Sabbath observant male Jews are allowed to work on the production of the wines. Since most of the experienced winemakers in Israel are not observant, this means that they can’t touch the wine or the equipment, during the winemaking process.

During the production of kosher wine, no animal products may be used. Gelatin or egg whites are sometimes used by non-kosher wine makers, to clarify the wine, while kosher wine makers use a clay material, called bentonite, which pulls suspended particles to the bottom of the barrel.

For wine to be kosher one percent of the wine must be discarded, a symbolic remnant of the 10% tithe, paid to the Temple in Jerusalem in days gone by. Additionally, barrels must be cleaned three times.

There are really two levels of kosher wine. The first includes the restrictions outlined above, while the second, known as “mevushal” utilizes an additional process. This is important since Kashrut law stipulates that in order for a wine to retain its ‘kosherness’ once opened and poured by a non-Jew, (such as a waiter, for instance) the wine must be "mevushal."

Bringing the liquid to a boiling point makes this type of wine, causing air bubbles to be brought to the surface and the loss of some wine, due to evaporation. A wine that is produced in this manner retains its religious purity, regardless of who opens or pours it. A study at the University of California at Davis, has proven that it is not possible to consistently taste the difference between non- mevushal and mevushal wine.

To ensure wine’s purity, the codification of koshering wine began in the days of Maimonides. Today, a quick glance at the bottle’s label will clearly indicate whether the wine is kosher or not. Some truly wonderful kosher wine is being produced in Israel.

http://www.gemsinisrael.com/e_article000033155.htm

Neat! I had no idea it was so complicated!

[ March 17, 2005, 11:16 AM: Message edited by: Zeugma ]

Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :

There used to be dairy restaurants on the Lower East Side that were there for generations.

Unfortunately, they are all gone now, as far as I know. [Frown]

Posted by Constant Reader (Member # 7282) on :

Ela-
I'm in Sunrise. (near Ft. Lauderdale)
Where are you?

Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :

quote:
What metropolitan area are you in? I can ask around for recommendations.

Detroit.

Posted by Corwin (Member # 5705) on :

quote:
Welcome to Hatrack, Minerva!

Raia, take another look at her member number... [Razz]

Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :

Heh... oops...

That's quite a lurker we have there! [Wink]

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

*gloats in L.A. superiority*

WE have many kosher dairy restaurants -- really good ones! Milky Way (owned and managed by Steven Spielberg's mom), Milk 'n' Honey, Pat's (well, it was, it switched to meat a few years back, but it was dairy for over 10 years), Bibi's (only about 3 years old), Café Blue (best French onion soup ever! -- this one has been 2 years under that name, and was Maison Gourmet for 5 years), a couple bagel places, several fish places (including a great place I have gone with Hatrackers, that has a (parve) sushi kitchen and a (dairy) pasta kitchen) . . .

The benefit of lots of kosher-granola types. [Wink]

It's a lot easier to get vegetarian stuff (especially if you're not vegan, but even if you are) at a dairy restaurant than a meat one.

*gloats some more, and enjoys her Greek salad* [Big Grin]

Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :

HOORAY for Greek salad! [Big Grin]

Posted by narrativium (Member # 3230) on :

There's a good kosher dairy restaurant in South Florida: My Favorite Cafe, in Hollywood.

Posted by Papa Moose (Member # 1992) on :

<Is a Hatracker who has gone to that restaurant with rivka.>

Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :

Constant Reader:

I am in Miami Beach.

And I know where Sunrise is. [Smile]

Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :

quote:
adam means Pico Kosher Deli (commonly referred to as PKD).

I see you're in the Detroit area, Telp, yes?
This is a kosher café (which may of may not have much in the way of distinctly "Jewish" food); three other kosher restaurants in the area; places in Detroit calling themselves "delis" -- this one looks particularly likely.

Enjoy!

Thanks darlin!

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

Anytime. [Smile]

Let me know which one(s) you try, and how they are.