Kashrut in the dominican republic

Asked by marcia masri · December 18, 2003 · Kashrut

Question

Hi, I'm going on vacation in a couple of days so please respond as soon as possible. I will be going to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. I will be staying at an all inclusive hotel that will be serving cereals milk eggs and other dairy products along with the regular meals. Can we drink the milk there? Can we eat the eggs? Can we read the ingredients on cereal boxes to decide if the cereal is kosher? can we eat yogurt? plain or flavored? and also if there is cut salad without dressing, can we check the lettuce and eat it-(does it matter wether or not it has onions)? And can we rely on the bread within 72 minutes rule if it is only made with flour, oil and water? Please let me know! Thank you so much :0) Marcia Masri

Answer

Answered by Aaron Abadi

Which hotel? I've been to most of them. The milk and butter is fine. cereals are fine. Try the "Mangu," it is cooked mashed plaintains, served each breakfast, topped with sauteed onions. Sometimes they might top it with bacon. Ask them if any animal derivatives in there. Almost always it is fine. The eggs are a problem. Ask the people in the kitchen to give you a clean frying pan, put it on the fire without anything in it for two minutes or so, until you know that if any food stuck there, you burned it off, otherwise known as Libun. Then have him prepare the eggs, and he can light the fire. You then take this pan and put it on the fire. They are very hospitable there and very accomodating. If you go to restaurants, try Sherezade. They'll bring you right back to the kitchen and we trained them well. You can get the most delicious Salmon & fried potatoes, lavish salads and pita with chumus. It's a Mediteranean style place. The great grandparents came from Syria. All the big shots go there. Also you can have their pumpkin soup. They have Morrocon carrots which are fine. Almost all the dessert pastries are fine. Ask them, "any animal fat, any cheese." They will be very honest. Yogurt is OK. You can check the lettuce and eat it. But have them put the lettuce separate. Onions are fine. Pickles & olives are fine. Enjoy! Email me if you need anything there. I have many connections out there. What do you mean the 72 minute rule? AA