njkosher's Profile
Flying to Singapore
The food on the way home should be better as I believe most airlines use Hermolis, which is the maker of the best airline meals in the world in all classes.
The Coffee Bean on the corner of the street that the shul and community center is located (Waterloo & Bras Basah) is also under the hashgacha of the local Rabbi. They have sandwiches and I think pasta.
Awafi is basic food and service.
If you are there for Shabbat, you can book meals at the community center which are served after services.
So what are you making for Shavout?
Thanks for this. Now we're invited out for 3 of the 6 meals which will all be meat (2 are the Shabbat meals).
I think my wife is doing dairy for the other three, so all is now good in the world as the sacrilegious meat eater is only having one meat meal on Shavuot. That will be the memorial day BBQ, so there is probably a heter for that.
So what are you making for Shavout?
Come on down!!
I just find dairy never fills me up unless I eat a huge amount. Also, if you plan on staying up all night learning, you need meat to keep you going. And before you ask, I only keep three hours so the dairy food during the learning breaks is still available,
After meat, great pizza with anchovies is the next best thing.
My wife is already hinting at some dairy, which I can handle. My guess is we might make our own pizza, and there are a couple of other things that are pretty good.
Would you eat baconaise? (It is OU certified)
Dont see this as any different to the kosher "bacon bits" that are sold. Agree that if you're that close to temptation, its not going to matter.
We use the bacons bits regularly in salads, omelletes, etc.
So what are you making for Shavout?
It's not a joke, but I guess if you include breakfast there will be at least three dairy meals over the three days.
Best kosher lox in New York?
Growing up in London, Lox was an orange colour. It was way thinner than what I have seen in North America. The really good place could cut it so thin it was almost see through. Used to smuggle it back 20 years ago when it was not as strict. Have never seen this type of lox around.
So what are you making for Shavout?
Way too early for this, but hopefully it will be meat all the way. I am sure after discussion with my wife I will concede to at least one dairy meal.
Will try and do charcoal BBQ for at least one day.
Hong Kong - Kowloon or mid-level (Ohel Leah)?
I have been several times, and always to Kowloon, but it's been probably five years since I was there last. I have never been on one of their packed Shabbatot, but have heard than even though it's crowded, tables are set up all over the place and there is always plenty of food for everyone. I have never been to Ohel Leah, so cannot comment. Rabbi Meoded is great and I have always enjoyed the davening and the food just never stops.
Mul Hayam as I recall is more of an Israeli type food which is not gourmet or anything fancy, but solid good food, and after a few days in China, very welcoming. I think they have the usual Israeli fare as well as steaks, grilled chicken, burgers, etc.
I found the JCC restaurant better for a business meal with work colleages, but Mul Yam would also work. A lot depends on where you are in HK.
If you are there on a Sunday night, they used to have a BBQ at the JCC which I heard is great, but I always happened to be leaving on a SUnday, so I never experienced it.
HK is one of the best places to be if you're in Asia for Shabbat from a food perspective.
Pesach HOTELS 2012
Just my humble opinion, but there seems to be a large range in terms of costs, which makes it hard to evaluate the programs. I know the programming is important, but you also need good food, and yes it is different for everyone.
However, If one program has good food and is $2,000, and another program has outstanding food but costs twice as much, is it worth it. Not sure what I would do, and would depend on the differential and probably location.
Did anyone say HOME for Pesach this year? Highlights of your meals?
We stay home, but really dont buy anything. My wife likes to try new recipes, and I prefer to stick to the tried and true. I'm not a fan of the pesach pasta, rolls, pizza, etc. I rather prefer the matza pizza from scratch, meat matza lasagna, etc. I look forward to eating food that I only get once a year. Aside from all the other great things my wife makes, the one real highlight is a wine (grape juice) spice cake that we all go nuts for. 9/10 eggs, 3 bowls and it is the fluffiest sponge cake you will find.
Also kashered my BBQ this year (took a while), so had BBQ the 3 nights of chol hamoed which was nice.
Passover cocktails?
Take any frozen KP vodka, add 1 or 2 hot peppers, couple of ice cubes and drink. Eat the peppers afterwards.
Carmel used to make a sweet vermouth years ago, but have not seen it in a while. Also had a Grappa several years back, but never saw it again either.
What are you buying from Israel for Pesach?
Absolutely not. Psagot is a great winery with excellent wines. Pesach is the best time to buy wine, with RH the next best due to price competition. If you have somewhere to store the wine, its a great time to load up.
The reason for my question is that given we sort of chug the first two cups on an empty stomach, the Psagot would be a waste. I generally go for something lighter for the first two cups, even though I would never drink the stuff the rest of the year. From the meal onwards I go with better stuff.
Unfortunately, prices of the good stuff keep rising, which is one reason why the KFWE gives me a chance to taste much higher end wines than I can afford.
What are you buying from Israel for Pesach?
Yehuda Matzot, Israeli pickles. 778 Jam was always great but did not see it this year.
Adina - Are you really starting your 4 cups with Psagot?
Visiting vineyards in Israel
The bigger wineries will have tours and more to see - Yarden, Carmel, Galil and Dalton are not far from each other. The only one of those I have not been to is Dalton.
The smaller wineries will not have much to see.
Best bet is to figure out where you will be and call in advance. Also, if this is for Pesach not all are open and those that are may be very busy.
Tel Aviv
Brunos in the Azrieli Towers
Meatos at the corner of Weizmann & Shaul Hamelech, near the Museum of Arts
If you want to venture north to Herzeliyah, try Meat & Wine
Take a look at www.eluna.com for restaurants, reviews, and coupons
Lakewood...
Dont know about Lakewood, but I was in Queens dropping off my daughter and hit Seasons and Arons. Got all my meat and chicken between both. Check out www.watsonsale.com for current prices.
Went to the Kollel store and Goldbergs fro pretty much everything else.
Soft matzah - the matzah Rashi ate
When I was in Israel 2 years ago with my brother in the Golan, we davened Mincha erev pesach at 1 pm. Then we went into a building where they were set up to make shmura matza. We all cleaned up and the frenzy began as soon as the water was poured, with guys with stop watches and everyone yelling. An unbelievable religious experience, and we only made a few matzas, which were ok on the first night, but the few little pieces that were left, were rock hard by the next day. Way harder than any shmura matza I have ever bought, so clearly there is an art to this.
Nevertheless, I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Soft matzah - the matzah Rashi ate
I tried the soft matza several years ago, thinking I would be getting something similar to a Laffa. It was not, although the pictures on the website look more like Laffa than what I received. I don't remember where I got it, but it was frozen and I kept it in the freezer until we used it. It was thick and really not as pliable as I was hoping for.
If I could get a Laffa type matza, I would definitely get it. I remember having it as a kid when I visited my grandparents in Israel.
The Seder Plate
I use pomegranate juice in my Charoset. I have never seen it kosher for pesach, so I usually put a couple of fresh pomegranate in my freezer at Rosh Hashanah, and then defrost in a bowl, and squeeze all the juice.
How else can I cook sausage?
Try doing them on indirect heat. If you have more than one burner, don't turn them all on, and place the sausages above the burner that is not on. Once they are cooked, you can put them above the burner that is on, to finish them and give them a grilled look.
Passover 2012- What's new?
Only thing that caught my eye was Nutella from Israel. I don't think I have ever seen that in the US. Only problem is, and this is consistent with the stuff from Israel which only has Hebrew is for Kitniot eaters only.
Kitniot is not a problem for me as I am Sephardic, but I really have not found anything that is Kitniot that I really need during Pesach. If single malt scotch was Kitniot, that would be something............
Kosher Food and Wine Experience 2012
I agree with Kosher Wine Musings. Last year I was there at 6.10 and there already 40 or so people ahead of us. They let you in, in groups so you still lost time getting in.
If you can print the guide from the website to see what wine and food they have. Decide in advance what you want on both. Some of the better wines will not be poured all night and may be gone in the first hour. As an example, got to the Castel stand after one hour, and managed to get the last drop of the Grand Vin.
Same for the food, the better restaurants were done with their food earlier, while even at 9.30 Pomegranate still had plenty of sausage.
Kosher Food and Wine Experience 2012
Adina,
Hope you have a ticket as its sold out and they do not sell tickets at the door.
Not sure how many tickets they sell, but it is very crowded. My understanding is the one change this year is that the trade can come in the afternoon for free, so it may be less crowded if all those folks go home.
Passover 2012- What's new?
Not only in the US. I just came back from London and In Tesco, one of the major supermarkets, they have a whole section of Pesach products with full shelves, and its already been there for almost two weeks.
Canned Tuna without Soy
Anyone know of any brands that do not have soy in them?
I know that one of the 8 packs that Costco sells has no soy, and I usually try to load up at Pesach with the shoprite brand, but I am looking for alternatives. Can be white or chunk.
Thanks,
Bringing food into Mexico
I'm going on the 18th and have spoken to a number of folks. One had two boxes of prepacked Noah's Ark food confiscated. I was told prepacked chicken/turkey deli (Costco Meal Mart packets) is OK, and you may be able to get away with the prepacked pastrami and corned beef.
I think you can get away with it - my daughter last year took a couple of London broils and was OK, but don't invest a huge amount of money, otherwise you run the risk of getting it confiscated.
I traded e mails on the weekend with the Chabad Rabbi who is still not sure if he is providing Shabbat meals the weekend of the 20th or not as his wife is due imminently, and told me to check next week. They are having services at the Avalon Grand Hotel which is on the strip. It's a schlep as I am at the Westin down the other end of the strip, but if they have meals, I may consider staying there for one night.
If you check the link that ferret provides above you can see what food you find at Walmart and Costco. My plan is to bring some Turkey, Cheese, Bread, Tuna, and then wing it from there with what I can find at the Walmart. Will also bring a Sandwich maker.
Business Lunch - Midtown Manhattan
Went to Le Carne Grill. Very quiet, primarily because it was relatively empty. Food was very good, but pricey, which did not matter since the customer was paying.
Jerusalem report so far...
I grew up drinking sachleb and loved it. It was never made with rose water. Used to even have cookies made from it. Have not had it in 25 years.
Sufganiyot
I had 1 day old donuts from Yochie's last week - Jelly and caramel and both were very good.
My wife just came back 10 minutes ago from there, and I had a fresh Jelly donut which was very good. However, I'm not being allowed to have a caramel one as I have to leave some for my family tonight. I think Yochie's may be the donut for me.
