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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.

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

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

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

Posts: 5771 | Registered: Nov 2000  |  IP: Logged | 

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

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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.

(edit: Blast you, Ela!)

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

Posts: 7877 | Registered: Feb 2003  |  IP: Logged | 

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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.

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Posts: 1681 | Registered: Jun 2004  |  IP: Logged | 

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

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Detroit.

Posts: 4953 | Registered: Jan 2004  |  IP: Logged | 

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Welcome to Hatrack, Minerva!

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Raia, take another look at her member number...

Posts: 4519 | Registered: Sep 2003  |  IP: Logged | 

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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!

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