I occasionally enjoy a glass of wine at the end of the day. I used to skip this during Passover. Why? I’m not a fan of super-sweet red wines that used to be the only option for Passover. They made me thirsty and gave me headaches. I usually joined the kids at the Seder and…
Passover is less than a month away and I’m wondering if the cold will ever go away. This year’s spring has been a nightmare for many of us. Pipes, not June, are bustin’ out all over. It’s a cold plague. As kosher caterers, we’re very much affected by the weather. We use mobile kitchens, to…
We all know, nobody’s perfect. Everyone makes mistakes, often because they made a guess. But there are times when a guess should not even be entertained. Guessing on what’s kosher is one of them. Trying to determine if a food or meal is kosher can be tricky so the rule of thumb is: if in…
For me, the best part of a Seder is singing and Eliyahu is my favorite song. This makes sense since opening the door for the Prophet Elijah was my favorite part of the Seder when I was a kid. Truth be told, it still is! But why is Elijah even here? He wasn’t part of…
We’ve all seen the labels: this matzo, wine, gefilte fish, cake mix, and so on, is kosher for Passover. But what exactly does this mean? Kosher laws do become a bit more of a challenge during Passover, as Tori Avey, known as The Shiksa in the Kitchen, notes in her blog on this topic. In…
Do you have a vegetarian in your family? Don’t despair. Vegetarian Seders have become quite popular in the past 20 years or so. This year, instead of offering separate food for the veggie or vegan in our life, try doing a meat-free Seder! Kosher Jews Embrace Vegetarianism You can find several organizations for Jewish vegetarians…
Passover is a pretty amazing holiday. As we celebrate it well into a sixth millennia, it’s remarkable how little the main event has changed over time and throughout the world. Here at Mitzuyan Kosher Catering, we try to honor both Ashkenazic and Sephardic foods in our regular kosher menus and Passover specials, but even we…
Since you’re reading a food blog, you probably are aware of the debate around genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food. For those who aren’t invested in the food wars, GMOs are foods that have been altered to take away undesirable traits, like spoiling too soon or not being colorful enough. It’s also being done to…
Many  Jews in North America are Ashkenazic, descended from the Jews of Eastern Europe, France, and Germany. Notably absent from this European theater are the Sephardic Jews, who come from southern European countries, particularly Spain and Portugal. Historically, these Jews had strong cultural ties to Northern Africa and the Middle East. In fact, the word…
Passover is probably my favorite Jewish holiday. It has everything I love: guests who I want in my home (!), great food, and of course good wine. But even I have to admit it can be stressful to put together a Passover seder. I’ve witnessed the following: Last-minute problems finding a lamb shank Not enough…
I was distracted planning Passover catering (which we will blog about—watch this space!), I nearly forgot that Valentine’s Day falls on Shabbos this week. Personally, I believe Valentine’s Day should be for kids, but it’s very possible that your significant other feels otherwise. I believe in telling one’s beloved how much he or she is…
Marinades are a wonderful way to add flavor a main course. Kosher marinades are easy to make at home, using spices and approved ingredients. Marinades tenderize meats, make them juicier, and decrease cooking time. They can also prevent HCAs (heterocyclic amines) chemicals from forming when cooking meat. HCAs cause cancer in animals and possibly in humans, too,…
