Kosher food?

[bab]

So next week I'm hosting a small hor d'ourves party. It was originally going to be on Friday night, but I realized that not an insignificant portion of the guests are Jewish, one of which is very devout. I believe that he is actually a Rabbi, but that's not his profession. I don't ask questions. So, now it's going to be on Thursday. What type of foods can I serve that he would be able to eat? The other Jewish guests aren't very strict, but I would like to be considerate. I know NOTHING about what I can serve, so any advice would be helpful.

[Woggle]

Go to your nearest kosher grocery store and ask for hor d'ourves. They should be able to help you. Also hebrew national has those little hot dogs and I know they are kosher.

[Touche]

I don't know. I'm Jewish and I eat it all..pork, bacon, etc.

 

I think though that you'll be ok as long as you don't mix meat and dairy on the same plate/platter.

[Topper]

I would find a Kosher deli and ask them. I'm sure they could put together a plater for your Party.

[bab]

I would find a Kosher deli and ask them. I'm sure they could put together a plater for your Party.

 

That's a good idea. Thanks Woggle too. I know there is something in preparation as well, so having them prepare it is not a bad idea. This sounds like it's going to be costly though.

[bab]

I also just learned I need to have all plastic/paper cups and utensiles as mine are tainted because I regularly use them to eat both meat and dairy. This sounds complicated. But I was reassured that Vodka is Kosher.

[Topper]

Just ask at the Kosher Grocery store for the Kosher Ham , Lobster Bisque and Crab Puffs:rolleyes:

[Storyrider]

I'm Jewish. I don't keep Kosher but I can give you some basic info. Your best bet is to serve a vegetarian meal, as the meal isn't Kosher if you serve dairy and meat at the same time. Fish is OK with dairy but not shrimp (all shellfish is nonkosher).

 

So you could have cheeses, fruit, crackers, veggies for dipping, dips or spreads, salsa, tuna salad, any other appetizer with salmon, etc.

 

The problem with serving meat is that you then can't serve any dairy, including pastries or baked goods which contain butter.

 

(Watch out for things like jello, which contains animal products, and chips that might contain lard, etc.)

[burning 4 revenge]

I would serve grape leaves, pita w/ hummus, sliced farook, dates, olives, baba ghannouj and lamb and spinach meat pies

 

You also cant go wrong with German potato salad.

[whichwayisup]

Matzah ball soup, Gefilte Fish or Salmon, Cole Slaw, and when indoubt, bagels and cottage cheese or cream cheese. Just don't serve meat with it. Fish and chicken is OK...I think??

 

In the Jewish tradition you can't mix meat and dairy together.

[burning 4 revenge]

Whats up with Jews and salmon?

 

From my understanding tilapia is the most abundant fish in the landlocked seas of Israel.

[Fun2BMe]

Just because the food is vegetarian doesn't make it kosher. Make sure the products you purchase have the O-K or U (circle with the k or U in it) otherwise it is not kosher unless it is fresh fruits and vegetable items. Kosher cheeses have to be aged for a certain period of time and the factory it is made in must be supervised, so any cheese won't do, and so on for all the items.

 

Also, you can call your guests and ask if they have any dietary restrictions (diebetic, kosher etc). Then you can ask/tell them about your menu and get feedback. That way they will be more likely to eat the foods that they would otherwise think are of questionable status and will know it is kosher since you will tell them, and you can follow other rules they can explain to you. Don't play a guessing game especially if any are orthodox or stricly observant.

[serial muse]

Heh, I was about to say - wait! It's Passover!! And then I realized your party is next week. Whew.

 

I advise to stay away from meat altogether, because it gets tricky. It's a lot easier (and cheaper!) to go with dairy and pareve stuff. Pareve foods are considered neither dairy nor meat, and include fruits, veggies, fish and bread. Because they're "neutral," you can eat pareve things with either dairy or meat.

 

Besides, if any of your guests is particularly observant, such as the rabbi, he wouldn't eat meat (that includes any meat - beef, chicken, lamb, etc.) unless it was from a kosher butcher anyway. So really, I wouldn't bother.

 

Things like hummus, pita, baba ganoush, fruit, vegetables - really, you shouldn't have any trouble thinking of good stuff as long as you don't serve meat or shellfish. As you mentioned, disposable plates and cutlery are a good idea too. It shouldn't be that expensive.

[Storyrider]

I would serve grape leaves, pita w/ hummus, sliced farook, dates, olives, baba ghannouj and lamb and spinach meat pies

 

You also cant go wrong with German potato salad.

 

I realize you're being sarcastic, but many Jews love Middle Eastern food. We are neighbors, ya know.

 

 

Matzah ball soup, Gefilte Fish or Salmon, Cole Slaw, and when indoubt, bagels and cottage cheese or cream cheese. Just don't serve meat with it. Fish and chicken is OK...I think??

 

In the Jewish tradition you can't mix meat and dairy together.

 

Her party is at night though, and bagels are a brunch food. Gefilte fish is only served on Passover. They would think you are really strange for serving it on a regular night because many Jews don't even like it (ground up carp and pike formed into a flesh-colored ball?)

 

Chicken is not OK with dairy. Only fish.

[Fun2BMe]

Chicken is not OK with dairy. Only fish.

It used to be in talmudic times:p She could justify it in that way, that she wasn't aware the rules had changed...

[Storyrider]

It used to be in talmudic times:p She could justify it in that way, that she wasn't aware the rules had changed...

 

Yeah, I was just posting about this on another thread. It is kind of dumb since chickens don't lactate, but it is what it is.

[burning 4 revenge]

What about a bunch of pastrami sandwiches? That's Jewish I think

[Fun2BMe]

Or how bout a big platter of matzah? I'm sure that'll go over well especially after Passover!

[Fun2BMe]

Yeah, I was just posting about this on another thread. It is kind of dumb since chickens don't lactate, but it is what it is.

 

But with that argument, you coud say it's ok to have dairy from a cow with meat of another species since the milk of the dairy didn't come from that species of animal.

[Storyrider]

Or how bout a big platter of matzah? I'm sure that'll go over well especially after Passover!

 

Hey, the matzah and the gifilte fish will be 50% off in a couple of days. Add a can of macaroons and you're all set. Priced for quick sale.

[Fun2BMe]

Hey, the matzah and the gifilte fish will be 50% off in a couple of days. Add a can of macaroons and you're all set. Priced for quick sale.

 

Great idea! Just walk down the "kosher for passover" aisle in a few days and they should be deeply discounted and ultra-kosher for the menu, macaroons and all!

[bab]

Hey guys, thanks for all the great suggestions. I've decided it will probably just be easiest to go to a kosher deli and let them make trays. I do have one question though. Would it be okay to have a tray of meat and a separate tray of cheese, and just let the guests decide not to mix them, or would it be a problem to have them on the same table?

[Storyrider]

The meal is technically not kosher if you serve both dairy and meat. But some Jews who keep kosher are used to making do in situations like this and might be flexible enough to simply fix themselves a plate. It depends on how strict they are. Why don't you just ask them?

[Fun2BMe]

Hey guys, thanks for all the great suggestions. I've decided it will probably just be easiest to go to a kosher deli and let them make trays. I do have one question though. Would it be okay to have a tray of meat and a separate tray of cheese, and just let the guests decide not to mix them, or would it be a problem to have them on the same table?

 

I think there has to be a physical divider between the two trays, of a certain height. For example if a husband was eating meat and his wife dairy at the same table, they'd have to put a physical barrier between them so it doesn't make sense for both to be served otherwise you'd have to separate the guests into separate rooms. Otherwise all of the food will become "treif" meaning not in accord with Jewish law/non-kosher and can't be eaten.

 

This is if they are strictly observant which I'm guessing they're not otherwise they'd tell you and not leave it to you to figure out such things that are so important to a strict observer. Also I don't think those who keep kosher eat in the homes of those who do not keep kosher kitchens because there are so many rules that the non-kosher keeper would not know all of them and it would mean they're risking the liklihood of eating non-kosher food. If your stove, sink, dishwasher, pots, pans, utensils, sponges and countertops have not been koshered and kept kosher then any products that come in contact with it cannot be eaten.

 

The fact that they've agreed to eat in your home tells me they are not very observant especially since they haven't gone over any rules with you. For all they could know, they could think you'd serve a platter of mixed with non-kosher meats and cheeses. For all you know the rabbi could be a Reform one (vs. an Orthodox one) who is more liberal than you think and probably doesn't follow many of the religious rules and doesn't keep kosher.

[Moai]

Your deli idea is a good one. If you have trays of meat and cheese, he can stay kosher and not mix them but others can if they want.

 

I think that it would be cool to get some traditional kosher foods and have them out for others to try. Most people don't get the opportunity to try gefilte fish or matzoh ball soup and the like. Gefilte fish wigs me out, but a buddy of mine loves it. You never know.

 

If you stay away from shellfish and mollusks (oysters, clams, etc.) you should be just fine, too.

 

I think that it is cool that you are taking the time to make sure that he has something to eat at the party, too, and are using it as a learning experience.

 

Gotta get smoked salmon (lox) and bagels though! Too good to pass up!