A MONTHLY DIGEST TO INFORM AND ENLIGHTEN MEETING AND EVENT PLANNERS October 2006 Edition
VOL. 4 ISSUE 8
Catering kosher events BY LEO GERVAIS
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ou’ve probably heard the word, eaten this type of food or even done something that wasn’t... Kosher. It’s a word that is commonly misused and misunderstood, and planners should know what it really means. It is from the Hebrew term kashér, meaning “fit.” Many languages, including English, have borrowed the word kosher. In its strictest meaning it means only “suitable according to Jewish law,” but as slang it generally means legitimate, acceptable, permissible, genuine or authentic in a broader sense. But if you’re a planner, you may be asked to have food prepared kosher, so it is a good idea to understand what that means from a gastronomical standpoint.
Kosher is common at supermarkets Kosher foods are very common in supermarkets now, as marketers capitalize on the impression that kosher food is healthier than other foods. In fact, kosher has more to do with spiritual health than physical health. Basically, Jews believe that food is kosher when it is prepared according to strict guidelines laid down in the Old Testament and elaborated upon by generations of scholars. The main points of these laws of kasruth are: • What can be eaten: Only animals that chew their cud and have a split hoof can be eaten. So cows and sheep are in, pigs and rabbits are out. Domesticated fowl like chickens and duck are okay, as are fish with fins and scales, but crustaceans and other shellfish are not, and insects are forbidden (no chocolatecovered ants if you’re going kosher). • Combining foods: Meat cannot be eaten with dairy products, but eggs, fruits and vegetables and grains can be consumed with either meat or dairy. In addition, utensils that have come into contact with meat must not be used for dairy and vice versa. • Preparation: Animals must be killed by hand with a very sharp knife, all blood must be drained and the carcass needs to be inspected for disease. Pigs are often the central part of the kosher debate. Some Jews claim that God, through Moses, forbade their consumption.
Kosher food is prepared according to strict guidelines. And there is no doubt that pigs do wallow in mud, sometimes eat excrement and can harbour parasites that cause trichinosis. But if you have read the news in the past few years, you’ve probably heard of mad cow disease communicated from E. coli bacteria and chickens are known to peck at excreta and often have salmonella.
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