Restaurant

Answer

Answered by Aaron Abadi

Good question. Everyone else just goes and eats fish & vegetables without really asking, because they're too frum (ultra-religious) to be asking such a question. Get a bread like rye, or a bagel, or a pita. Ask if they have smoked salmon, even if it isn't on the menu. They can make a nice plate with smoked salmon, tuna salad, tomatoes, cucumbers, pickles, olives, capers, peppers, and celery. I've had this many times. If you know which restaurant it is, call beforehand and ask them what is available. If there is vegetable soup with no meat or cheese, or like a ministrone. They can grill vegetables for you, but tell them not to do it where they just grilled meat, fish, or cheese. The only way you can eat the fish is if you turn on the fire, which they'll let, if you ask. Remember to wash on the bread & say Birkat Hamazon. I went to a place recently that had veggie burgers that they served in a pita with tomatoes and cucumbers. Don't be afraid to ask the waiter a lot of questions. Your client will not be annoyed, but rather will be very curious about the whole thing, giving you an opportunity to explain, and even making a stronger imprint into his memory. I was once in a meeting at a major corporation and at lunchtime they wheeled in a large platter of sandwiches. I told them that I can't eat the ham, but I'll have a Tuna sandwich. Then they saw me trying to get the lettuce and what was with it off my sandwich. They asked me what I was doing, and I explained about the bugs. They couldn't believe it. They immediately began removing the lettuce from their ham sandwiches. It would take a lot more than that to get such a reaction from our society. Don't order Sushi, because there is eel all over the place. Onion soup without cheese or meat is OK. Watch out for the bug vegetables in the salads. Ask for a salad with specific vegetables. If the restaurant is owned by a Jew, or the chef is Jewish, then you don't have Bishul Akum problems. They can cook kosher fish in a clean pot without anything but olive oil, garlic, spices, and lemon juice. Kosher fish have fins & scales. At an italian restaurant you can order cheeseless Pizza, but tell the waiter that you're allergic to meat & cheese, so he'll keep them far away from your Pizza. All the drinks are OK, except the ones that might contain wine. Again, just ask. Roasted peppers for salads are good. The desserts are usually fine, just ask them. Your biggest problem there would be cheese, like cheesecake, and just cheese added to the mix. Of course double check that they don't use lard. They'll look at you strangely when you ask, almost as if you asked them if they killed a man. Some places have Chumous. If you find out which restaurant, post it, or email me, & we'll have fun trying to pick Kosher items. AA