Restaurant Seders: Are They Kosher?

Passover will be here within a week's time.Many households,whether they be Orthodox, Conservative or just holiday observant only will be getting ready for these week of special eating and prayers. However there is growing minority that are nixing the holiday at home and eating out. Instead of celebrating at home, they will be turning to their favorite restaurants to provide them with tradition and good food. Restaurant seders was the big topic in Joan's Nathan;article in yesterday's New York Times Dining section. She wrote about different Manhattan restaurants that will provide everything a traditional first night of passover at home has. The entry way is open for the coming of Elijah, and the prayers books are on the tables. Food is a spin on the traditional. Charoset, which represents the slavery the Jews had known under the pharaohs, is taken to gourmet heights by replacing the traditional almonds with hazelnuts.. Also Manischewitz wine, another tradition in recipes has been replaced with Italian Moscato wine. A Passover favorite such as braised short ribs has a gourmet flair with the addition of of shiitaki and crimini mushrooms along with port wine and ginger. However not all the practices are strictly Kosher. Matzoh is fried instead of baked to give it a crispier , more palatable taste. It is also made with non Kosher or tref flours - a huge Passover taboo. However the chef who created it could not find any Kosher flour hence the discretion. While some very religious Jews may find this sacrilegious there are some who embrace the new spins. This updates the holiday and makes it fresh and exciting for younger generations. Eating out on Passover makes perfect sense. It allows for families to be together without the hassle of endless shopping, prepping and cooking. Dining out also provides delicious variations on holiday classics from forward thinking chefs who still respect the meaning of Passover. There is still tradition but with a new feel to it.