Bagelman;
your suggestions sound great but I would first need to build a pool!

great suggestions. Thank you all.

I recently noticed that the OU no longer appears on the Safeway canned cream of mushroom soup. Does anyone know of another kosher brand of this soup?

As was mentioned, every butcher in every town has a different name for each cut of meat.
I also remember Brust Deckel but it was from near the neck and not from the Brisket. It is about 1 or 2 inches thick, very stringy and not a really good cut. many tie it up so it has a nice slice after cooking. The one from the rib is called Top rib. also flat and thin, stringy and very similar cut to a first cut brisket, but not as good a piece of meat. The second cut brisket is much thicker, fatter, very stringy and best for dishes such as Cholent. The fat adds a great taste to the cholent and keeps it moist and tender all night.
All very different cuts of beef.

I asked someone at the CRC in Chicago and I was told that they are "not recommended". I know that many feel it is all political, but the CRC is known to be pretty even-handed.

I asked someone at the CRC in Chicago and I was told that it is indeed the Manchester Bais Din. The Montreal Vaad has a different logo which is an MK in a circle, much different that this logo.

Any reviews on the KMR program in California?

you are 100% correct! I've even heard of it freezing on the trucks transporting it from NY to the various towns. Since it is in the middle of winter, it is not hard to see this happening.

I'm not sure about the menu but the food is different.
I ordered a Philly steak sandwich and it was excellent!!

They have a new menu which is now posted on the CRC website. http://www.crcweb.org/guide_chicago.p...

i'm pretty sure that the owner is the same for all four places.

It wipes right off. It is very easy to maintain year after year.

I use a water proof wide tape like a duct tape. It comes in all sorts of colors so you can use your imagination and creativity to give some extra color to the kitchen or identify the dairy and meat counters with blue and red tape. It peels right off after Pesach and I roll up the plastic runners for next year.

The Main Grill on Touhy in Chicago has reopened under new management. I hope that they stay open longer than the first owner!

Several months ago a grab and go place in the French Market in Downtown Chicago opened and closed. well, now there is another owner calling his place Bebe's Eatery. They are still selling grab and go foods all under the CRC, but the selection is much better. They now have foods from Srulie's, Sandwich Club and Emma's Bagels.
i wish them luck!

I use carpet runners. they are inexpensive, easy to clean, good with warm pots and can be reused from year to year.

Their menu is posted on the CRC website. Looks great!!
http://www.crcweb.org/guide_chicago.p...

There should be a law that everything needs to be kosher for Passover!! There just is not enough time to enjoy even a fraction of the foods sent and it eventually gets thrown out.

I hear that they are finally planning to open next week. Let's hope that they satisfy the pit appetites.

MAZEL TOV!!!
may you continue to have only nachas.

I had a few of their standard Sushi yesterday and I was not at all impressed. I hope it was only me since I really would like them to succeed.

They just officially opened this past weekend. So far I am hearing some good feedback. Have any of you gone yet?

Yet another kosher pizza shop is scheduled to open in Skokie very soon. It is called Soul Surfing Pizza and is located where Malibu used to be, next door to Ken's. It is under new ownership and management and I wish them well.

It's not open yet. It should be soon but there are a few details that still need to be worked out.

There is another pizza shop opening soon in Skokie. It is where Malibu used to be, next door to Ken's on Dempster.

I hear that they are still looking for a chef with pit experience. Your BBQ reputation is golden. For the sake of us here in Chicago, please try again!!

You are correct. They are not any where near opening yet. If they go thru with their plans, it will be the first crc certified restaurant to offer pre-paid shabbos meals. This should be a great boost for the community. I wish them well.

It all depends on your standards and the standards of the certifying agency. I know that the CRC is very strict with this issue. For example, the bishul issue is not as simple as you say. I don't see any reason to compromise on standards just for the sake of letting people eat at an Indian restaurant.
There was an Indian restaurant that recently tried to go kosher under a conservative certification, but very few that kept kosher, especially the orthodox, ate there.

yes, it would be nice, but it's not a simple as you make it sound. There are several differences between the Dunkin Donuts and the Indian restaurants on Devon. By them cooking, there is a need for a mashgiach to be present all of the time, even on Shabbos, to check for bugs, ingredients and there is also an issue of Bishul Akum. None of these issues apply to DD.
Since they are not able to hire a mashgiach to be there while they are open on Shabbos, it is basically a dead issue.

They have officially closed. That didn't take long.