Kosher for Kids

 

One of the things that make it so much fun to be a kosher caterer in a cosmopolitan place like Toronto is that you can be so creative with the menu. People want their catered occasion to feel special, and we fit the bill with menus that meet modern tastes and food interests. This is particularly gratifying after joyous occasions like Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, where we take extra care to make sure that we provide food that appeals to kids of all ages. It’s our kosher for kids approach.

Mitzuyan Kosher Catering is known, of course, for an upscale approach to catering. We go beyond gefilte fish and chicken soup (which, for the record, we make and love as much as anyone). Our chefs put together menus influenced by Asian, Italian, Mediterranean cuisines, all customized for your taste. We even offer sushi! Nowhere is this more important than for young guests of a Bar or Bat Mitzvah.

Taste Buds Change During Adolescence

One thing that always makes me smile when I attend a Bar Mitzvah is hearing the changes in the young man’s vocals. I remember trying to control the squawks that came out of my throat as I practiced chanting my Torah portion. Forget the aliya; I prayed my voice would hold out better than my friend Bobby’s, whose entire portion was completely off-key and elicited more winces than tears from his parents.

It’s not just their voices that are changing, or the girls’ for that matter, at 13. Studies in the United Kingdom find that taste preferences change over time. While young children like their food on the bland side or sweet, they begin showing preference for sweet, salty, and sour flavors at around age nine. As they get older, they lose their fondness for very sweet foods and sour flavors. They may even begin to like sprouts, Meg Carter writes on the website High50.

Kosher for Kids Catering

For many adolescents, the food preferences have migrated from chicken fingers and hot dogs to eggrolls, sliders, and kebobs. So we make sure that the food stations we recommend for Bar and Bat Mitzvah parties cater to these changing appetites, while offering healthy and of course, strictly kosher food choices.

Because 13-year old palates are still settling down, we offer 11 food stations that each feature a type of cuisine, plus a kids’ station suitable for just about any kid under 12. Most customers select three stations for a Bar/Bat Mitzvah party, which typically also includes a hors d’oeuvres station with eight foods. All tables are served with an artisan breadbasket, and we offer unlimited soft drinks and juices.

Here’s a sample of what we offer, and remember, we are happy to customize your meal:

• Mexican: soft or crispy tacos with chili con carne; chicken, beef, or veggie fajitas; five toppings (no cheese)
• Chinese: veggie egg rolls, fried rice Cantonese style; beef satay; sweet & sour chicken balls; bok choy and greens
• East Indian: veggie samosas; chana masala; chicken curry; aloo gobi, naan; rice pilau
• Kids: Caesar salad; penne pasta; fries; chicken fingers; chicken kebob; ballpark hotdogs; burger sliders

Each meal ends with a dessert table, and later, a late-night sweet table featuring small bites.

As you know, kids who grow up in kosher homes are more likely to keep kosher and not stray. Still, it’s difficult to keep everyone happy with a single meal. Try this parve fried rice meal for a side or main dish, from about.com’s kosher food expert.

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