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Kosher
Caterers |
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If It's a Jewish Celebration There Must Be Food
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Is
there a way to celebrate any of the Jewish Life Cycle
ceremonies without food? Of course not! Sitting around
the table, enjoying the spread, and schmoozing with your table
mates about all that's news and not... that's a Jewish
Celebration!
Planning
such events requires giving thought to Kashrut - the dietary
laws that govern how and what Jews eat. Even if you do not
observe Kosher laws as a rule, by observing kashrut at
your affair, you are avoiding discomfort and hunger for
observant friends and relatives.
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Kosher in a Nutshell
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The
Hebrew word "Kasheir," or "Kosher," means
fit or proper. When applied to food, the term indicates that an
item is fit for consumption according to Jewish law. The word
"Kashruth" refers to the general subject of Kosher
food.
There
are three categories of Kosher food - Meat, Dairy and Parve (or
Pareve).
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Meat
- For an animal to be Kosher, it must have split hooves and
chew its cud. (Examples: cow, goat, lamb.) Non-Kosher
animals include pig, horse, camel and rabbit. Kosher fowl
include chicken, turkey, goose, and certain duck. Animals
and fowl must be slaughtered by a specialist, called a
shochet.
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Dairy
- Milk and milk products (cheese, cream, butter, etc.) of a
Kosher animal are Kosher-Dairy. These may not be eaten in
combination with meat or fowl.
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Pareve
- Foods which contain neither meat nor dairy ingredients are
called "Pareve." All fruits, grains and vegetables
in their natural state are Kosher and Pareve. Fish which
have fins and scales are Kosher and Pareve. A Pareve item
can become either dairy or meat when it is cooked together
with food in either category. (Example: fish fried in butter
is considered dairy, not Parve.)
The
separation of meat and dairy products also applies to the
utensils used for storing, preparing and serving these foods.
Therefore, completely separate sets of pots, dishes, cutlery,
etc. must be used for meat and dairy foods. Kosher food prepared
in pots used previously for preparing non-Kosher food may become
not Kosher.
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Choosing Your Kosher Caterer
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Before
calling caterers, do your homework. Research online,
consult with friends, read review (if you can find any). Once
you find a caterer with whom you feel you can have a good,
respectful working relationship, verify the following:
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Have
a clear idea of what you want or do not want served at your
affair.
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Remember
your budget, and stick with it. Often times, caterers will
try and persuade you to go beyond your initial
desires. Remain firm.
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Get
a list of recent clients and contact numbers. Any
reputable caterer will be more than happy to supply you with
this information.
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Verify
if price includes china, linen, liquor, silverware,
glassware, wedding cake, waiters, and bartenders.
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Remember
to add to your list of "eating guests" the
photographers and musicians. You don't want them to go
hungry!
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To
avoid misunderstanding, your contract should DETAIL the
services are included
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Discuss
cost in detail, and verify if there any hidden or extra
charges, such as travel expenses.
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REVIEW
CANCELLATION POLICY.
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Have
everything documented in WRITING.
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