Kosher style

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Schwartz's in Montreal, Quebec Schwartzs Montreal Hebrew Deli 2010.jpg
Schwartz's in Montreal, Quebec

Kosher style refers to foods commonly associated with Jewish cuisine but which may or may not actually be kosher. It is a stylistic designation rather than one based on the laws of kashrut . In some U.S. states, the use of this term in advertising is illegal as a misleading term under consumer protection laws.

Contents

Jews who do not keep kosher, but wish to restrict themselves to eating "traditional style" foods while not eating forbidden animals nor mixing meat and dairy, may consider themselves to be keeping "kosher style".

History

The concept can be traced back to fressfroemigkeit, a term that was used in Germany to denote a type of eating style or food identity that revolved around religious practice. [1] The actual term "kosher style" was invented by Nathan Handwerker, co-founder of Nathan's Famous. Because Nathan's lacked rabbinic supervision and the meat was not kosher, Handwerker advertised his all-beef hot dogs as "kosher style" because they were not made from pork or horse meat, both of which are considered treif. [2] [3] During the 1920s, the practice became popular amongst Jews who were assimilating into American society, allowing them to preserve the connection to their heritage without fully observing the dietary laws. [1]

Over time, the meaning of "kosher style" has evolved and expanded, reflecting changes within Jewish communities and broader society. In contemporary practice, "kosher style" is often encountered at social events and gatherings, where meals might exclude certain non-kosher items but not adhere strictly to kashrut .

Relationship to kashrut law

Generally speaking, "kosher style" food will not include meat from forbidden animals, such as pork and shellfish, nor will it contain both meat and dairy in the same dish, which is forbidden according to traditional halakhic (Jewish law) standards of kashrut. [4] However "kosher style" meat might not be kosher slaughtered. The term is broad and encompasses foods that could be kosher, such as chicken noodle soup or pareve meals (neither meat nor dairy), even if they do not meet halakhic standards.

Almost always when a restaurant calls itself "kosher style", the food itself is not actually kosher. For example the Reuben sandwich, which contains meat and cheese, is not kosher. Dairy-based desserts such as cheesecake may be offered as complements to a meat dish. In the case of fish however, which is considered pareve, lox on a bagel spread with cream cheese may still be considered kosher if the lox, cheese, bagel and all other ingredients meet the requirements of kashrut. [5]

Jews who adhere strictly to the laws of kashrut will not eat at "kosher style" establishments. Furthermore, the fact that such establishments appear to be kosher can be deceptive to Jews who are visiting an unfamiliar city and looking for kosher food. Some of these establishments are also open for business on the Jewish Sabbath, when this is forbidden by halakha. Yet others may choose to eat at such restaurants without consuming meat or cheese.

Differentiations in practice

At the same time, "kosher style" allows for variation in adherence to kashrut, reflecting different practices within the Jewish community. For some, "kosher style" implies abstinence from non-kosher animals, like pork and shellfish, and the avoidance of mixing meat and dairy in meals. These individuals may consume meat from animals that are kosher but not necessarily slaughtered according to kashrut standards. [6]

The notion of "kosher style" serves individuals and communities navigating between strict religious observance and cultural identification with Jewish culinary traditions. According to Hasia Diner, "kosher style" represents a balancing act between tradition and assimilation, providing a sense of Jewish identity through food without strict adherence to kashrut. [1]

Examples of menu items

Some dining establishments, notably delicatessens, serve "kosher style" food. This usually means that they serve traditional Ashkenazic Jewish foods, such as chopped liver, bagels with cream cheese and lox, smoked sable, whitefish salad, gefilte fish, knishes, latkes, blintzes, cabbage rolls, egg cream, matzo ball soup, borscht, kasha varnishkes, stuffed derma, p'tcha, cholent, kugel, pickles, sauerkraut, and cold cut sandwiches, especially pastrami, corned beef, brisket and beef tongue. Some kosher-style delis also serve Sephardi and Mizrahi foods such as shawarma, falafel, hummus, Israeli salad, malawach, and shakshouka.

Criticism

Critics of "kosher style" point out that the term itself is an oxymoron, since it creates an illusion of kashrut where the true emphasis is on a style of cuisine, rather than compliance with religious dietary laws. [1] They argue that it dilutes the significance of kashrut, and misleads consumers regarding the food's compliance with Jewish dietary laws. The concern is that the term blurs the line between what is genuinely kosher and what merely reflects a style of Jewish cuisine, potentially causing confusion amongst both practicing Jews and the broader public. In some U.S. states, the use of this term in advertising is illegal as a misleading term under consumer protection laws. [7]

The exact definition of "kosher style" may vary between communities and individuals, reflecting diverse interpretations and practices related to Jewish dietary laws. The term also relates to products marketed as "kosher style", prompting some regions to establish legislation to clarify labeling practices and prevent consumer misunderstanding. For instance, "kosher style" pickles might be produced without kosher certification or supervision, even while being associated with Jewish culinary tradition. As the kosher food industry expands into new territory with diversified choices, some believe that the concept of "kosher style" has become outdated and less meaningful, as it does not accurately reflect that diversity, along with contemporary Jewish dietary practices and preferences. [1]

Eateries

Several notable restaurants in Lower Manhattan fit into the "kosher style" genre, including Katz's Delicatessen [8] and Russ & Daughters. [9] Canter's Deli in Los Angeles, Manny's Deli in Chicago, and Schwartz's in Montréal also fall into this category.

In Toronto, several "kosher style" restaurants (e.g., Meyers, Shopsy's) now serve pork products, such as bacon, ham, ribs, and sausage, in order to serve a larger number of customers. Some kosher-style hotdog restaurants, such as Max's Famous Hotdogs and The Windmill, use pork as well as beef hot dogs.

See also

Related Research Articles

Kashrut is a set of dietary laws dealing with the foods that Jewish people are permitted to eat and how those foods must be prepared according to Jewish law. Food that may be consumed is deemed kosher, from the Ashkenazi pronunciation of the term that in Sephardic or Modern Hebrew is pronounced kashér, meaning "fit". Food that may not be consumed, however, is deemed treif, also spelled treyf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reuben sandwich</span> Type of sandwich with meat and sauerkraut

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Kosher foods are foods that conform to the Jewish dietary regulations of kashrut. The laws of kashrut apply to food derived from living creatures and kosher foods are restricted to certain types of mammals, birds and fish meeting specific criteria; the flesh of any animals that do not meet these criteria is forbidden by the dietary laws. Furthermore, kosher mammals and birds must be slaughtered according to a process known as shechita and their blood may never be consumed and must be removed from the meat by a process of salting and soaking in water for the meat to be permissible for use. All plant-based products, including fruits, vegetables, grains, herbs and spices, are intrinsically kosher, although certain produce grown in the Land of Israel is subjected to other requirements, such as tithing, before it may be consumed.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pareve</span> Kashrut classification of foods free from dairy and meat

In kashrut, the dietary laws of Judaism, pareve is a classification of edible substances that contain neither dairy nor meat ingredients. Food in this category includes all items that grow from the ground, fish, eggs, and non-biological edible items.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Appetizing store</span> Type of retail establishment

An appetizing store, typically in reference to Jewish cuisine in New York City, particularly Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine, is a store that sells "food that generally goes with bagels", although appetizings can also be served with a variety of breads. Appetizings include smoked and pickled fish and fish spreads, pickled vegetables, cream cheese spreads and other cheeses.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breakfast sandwich</span> Sandwich with breakfast foods

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kosher restaurant</span> Restaurant serving food permissible in Jewish dietary law

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The mixture of meat and dairy is forbidden according to Jewish law. This dietary law, basic to kashrut, is based on two verses in the Book of Exodus, which forbid "boiling a (goat) kid in its mother's milk" and a third repetition of this prohibition in Deuteronomy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montreal-style smoked meat</span> Style of smoked meat corned beef created by Jewish immigrants in Montreal, Quebec

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The Jewish-American patronage of Chinese restaurants became prominent in the 20th century, especially among Jewish New Yorkers. It has received attention as a paradoxical form of assimilation by embracing an unfamiliar cuisine that eased the consumption of non-kosher foods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bagel and cream cheese</span> Common food pairing in American cuisine

A bagel and cream cheese is a food pairing that consists, in its basic form, of a sliced bagel spread with cream cheese. Bagels with cream cheese are traditionally and most commonly served open-faced, sliced horizontally and spread with cream cheese and other toppings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Jewish cuisine</span> Food, cooking, and dining customs associated with American Jews

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine</span> Cooking traditions among Ashkenazi Jews

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jewish deli</span>

A Jewish deli, also known as a Jewish delicatessen, is a delicatessen establishment that serves various traditional dishes in Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine. They are typically known for their sandwiches such as pastrami on rye, as well as their soups such as matzo ball soup, among other dishes. Most of these establishments are traditionally considered Ashkenazi. Like much of the Jewish cuisine stemming from the period of the Jewish diaspora, the emergence of the Jewish deli developed in accordance with local culture. These days, Jewish delicatessens serve a variety of Jewish dishes. While some delis have full kosher-certification, others operate in a kosher-style, refraining from mixing meat and dairy in the same dish, despite potentially using non-certified ingredients. There are also delis that serve food without adhering to any traditional Jewish dietary restrictions, offering non-Kosher dishes such as the Reuben sandwich.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kornblatt's Delicatessen</span> Jewish deli in Portland, Oregon, U.S.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Levin, Sala (July 25, 2019). "From Pickles to Salmon, the Joys of Kosher-Style". Moment . Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  2. "Hot Dogs, the Jewish American Fast Food". Tablet Magazine. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  3. "Hot dogs are the greatest American Jewish food. Here's why". Times of Israel . Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  4. "Waiting Periods Between Meat & Dairy", chabad.org. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  5. "May fish be consumed with dairy? - Is lox and cream cheese kosher?". www.chabad.org. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  6. "Is "kosher style" good enough, as long as I don't mix milk and meat?". askmoses.com.
  7. "General Laws". mass.gov.
  8. "FAQs — Katz's Delicatessen - Shipped, Catered & Delivered". katzsdelicatessen.com.
  9. Andrew F. Smith, Garrett Oliver (2015). Savoring Gotham: A Food Lover's Companion to New York City. Oxford University Press. ISBN   9780190263645. Some Jewish delicatessen served only kosher meat, but many were kosher style, meaning that they served meat not certified as kosher but did not serve dairy (to avoid mixing with meat) or any pork and shellfish products. With Jewish acculturation to the mainstream, however, the concept of "kosher-style" delicatessens broadened to include smoked meat sandwiches with slices of cheese or luscious New York-style cheesecakes for dessert - if not the occasional ham sandwich.