Kosher Subway Opens Today

Baltimore's Kosher Subway is open today. A private preview gathering was held last Thursday night, Peninah and I were fortunate enough to attend along with mostly Star-K employees and friends of the owners, and I got a chance to sample some of Subway's sandwiches. I was very impressed, especially by the breads and the selection of toppings.

Many people have remarked to me that they think Subway will have a tough time competing with other local delis like Accents and The Knish Shop. While I agree that they will face competition, from what I've seen Subway does have some unique aspects to it that set it apart:

• parve cheeze


• a wide assortment of breads and toppings (the garlic bread is amazing)


• the Subway name (which doesn't matter much to frum Jews, but will bring non-frum business)


• a very nice and spacious location, with free wifi


• items not available at other locations, such as the meatball sub with cheeze

As such, I think there's plenty of room for a kosher Subway in the local market.

In the interests of full disclosure, I'd like to make it clear that I've received no compensation from Subway (other than the free samples I got last night). I like the food and I like the fact that mainstream American franchises are going kosher. I had kosher Cinnabon and Subway this week; I think it's a signal of where things are going, and I hope it continues.

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Kosher Bed and Breakfast Opens in Ocean City

Steffi's Place is a new kosher Bed and Breakfast located in Ocean City, MD. The B&B is owned and operated by Stephanie and Andy Becker of Baltimore, and is located one block from the Chabad of Ocean City, and is open year round. Service includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, certified by R. Y. Zvi Weiss of Baltimore. The menu looks quite diverse, and there is mention of scotch on Shabbos, which is always a plus.

A one-day stay at Steffi's Place is $109 per person; they also have a Thursday-Sunday Shabbos package which is $325 per person (keep in mind this includes all meals). For reservations, visit their website.

Exclusive Photos of Baltimore's Kosher Subway, Opening in April

I had the opportunity to talk with Harry Kozlovsky, owner and operator of the new kosher Subway opening soon in Baltimore. Harry gave me a tour of the new restaurant (pictures below) and gave me some more details on the restaurant

Baltimore's kosher Subway is hoping to open around the beginning of April (at the latest, after Pesach), with a Grand Opening, with Jared the Subway Guy, in May. The restaurant's opening has been delayed by a few months, mostly due to logisital issues relating to permits. The space has been completely remodeled with all new construction and furnishings, including seating inside for fifty, with additional seating available outside in warm weather. They plan to be open from 10AM to 9PM, as well as Saturday night's during the winter. The restaurant will also have wireless internet access available.

The Baltimore kosher Subway is certified by the Star-K; Harry told me that the Star-K is a pleasure to work with. I asked if the Star-K expressed any concern about certifying a franchise of a national brand such as Subway; he told me that they did not, and have been supportive in every way, and that they also had no issues with pareve cheese as a part of the menu. Harry also outlined the economic advantages available as a Subway franchise: many Subway items are already kosher, such as their breads and lettuce; purchasing them directly from Subway distribution results in a tremendous cost savings and insulates them from severe price fluctations (flour happens to be spiking right now, which is causing an increase in expenses for many of the area's kosher establishments). Meat suppliers are still being determined.

Harry also told me that they have plans to expand to Montgomery County in the near future. He didn't have a lot of information yet, it sounds like they are first scouting for the right location, somewhere in the Rockville/Bethesda/Silver Spring area.

Take a look at the pictures below, things are still under construction, but you get the general idea. Check back soon for more information on the opening of Baltimore's kosher Subway.

Upscale Kosher Dining Done Right: Potomac's Pomegranate Bistro

Peninah and I took a trip down to Potomac to try out the new kosher restaurant, The Pomegranate Bistro. It was a great experience. The restaurant was nice, clean, well-decorated; the staff was courteous and service was prompt. The portions were generous, the food was delicious and the prices were reasonable. Reservations can be made quickly and easily via their website. I don't really have anything bad to say.

I highly recommend you give The Pomegranate Bistro a try; it's appropriate both for special occasions and business meetings. As of now, it is, in my opinion, the finest kosher dining experience to be had in the Baltimore-Washington area.

A few pics (including shots of the menu) below.

Exterior of the restaurant.

Foyer/Entryway

Seating area

Menu - Appetizers (you can see the prices, click through and look for the All Sizes link to enlarge)

Menu - Entrees (you can see the prices, click through and look for the All Sizes link to enlarge)

Beef Satay Appetizer (forgot to take a picture before I ate)

Sicilian Eggplant

London Broil

Salmon - a very large piece of fish

Peninah had the Rib Eye Steak.

Amarreto Chocolate Cake - really good.

Washington Post Gets "Kosherized"

Today's Washington Post features an article entitled In Kosher Kitchens, More Than Taste Matters. Apart from giving a brief overview of the laws of kashrut, the article, ever so subtley, plugs the new Pomegranate Bistro in Potomac.

The article repeatedly makes use of the term "kosherize." I was unaware that this was a word. Welcome to the vernacular, "kosherize."

As an aside, the article metions a kosher Krispy Kreme in Alexandria, VA, of which I was unaware. The article also quotes R. Sanders of the Va'ad as saying, ""Now there is a guy who wants to open a Chinese place."

Dougie's On The Run - Closing

Email from the folks at Dougie's On The Run:

Dear Friends,

It is with sadness that we announce that Dougie's on the Run will be closing for business. A combination of unforeseen factors has forced us to make this difficult decision. Sunday night at Willowglen and Sanzo will likely be our last time to serve you. We will be open from 4:30-7:30 PM. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have supported us. This is a wonderful community and we hope you will continue to support local kosher dining establishments as much as possible.

~Caycee and Aaron Polun

According to my records, they opened for business at the end of October (Hat tip: AS).

Kosher Cinnabon

The good people of Passaic, NJ were kind enough to send down some kosher Cinnabon's from the Hackensack, NJ location.

Much obliged. Stay classy, Passaic.

Kosher Cinnabon in Hackensack, NJ

The Kof-K has certified a Cinnabon in Hackensack, NJ.

A Kosher McDonald's?

Menachem Lubinsky, editor of Kosher Today, wrote an essay in the latest Kosher Today email entitled "Why a Kosher McDonald's in the U.S. May Not be a Good Idea!"

With the number of glatt kosher Subway branches continuing to grow, there is a growing feeling by some in the kosher food industry that McDonald's may not be far behind. I have heard from reliable sources that to date, the mega fast food chain has resisted overtures by entrepreneurs to franchise a kosher McDonald's. The only glatt kosher McDonald's exists in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Many leading rabbis have voiced concern over the prospect of having both kosher and non-kosher branches of McDonald's. They are already concerned about the possible confusion of kosher and non-kosher stores for such brands as Crispy Crème, Baskin-Robbins, and Dunkin Donuts. Several rabbis have written me about stores that sell both kosher and non kosher products. One rabbi cited an ice cream store where only two of 9 toppings are kosher.

In discussing the potential for McDonald's in the glatt kosher market, I received an earful from many different sources. Here is some of what I heard: It is apparent that the big name brands may not exactly appreciate the nuances of the glatt kosher market beyond the kashrus. One example is that customers generally are not enamored by limited menus with specific numbers to identify the menu. They prefer extensive menus where they can mix and match what they wish to eat. To obtain a proper hechsher, the stores would have to be closed on Shabbat and open on Motzoei Shabbos and make accommodations for Jewish holidays as well. Finally, there already are good stores in most of the Jewish neighborhoods and there may not be enough business to go around.

A few of the points are highly debatable and after having a Big Mac in Buenos Aires, I am part of the cheering squad hoping that there would be a glatt kosher McDonald's in the U.S. one day. But keeping in mind what I heard from kosher and rabbinic sources, I am not so sure anymore.

New Potomac Kosher Restaurant: The Pomegranate Bistro

I heard rumor about this a while back, now the Washington Jewish Week has an article about a new kosher restaurant opening in the Cabin John Shopping Center in Potomac, called The Pomegranate Bistro:

Recently retired airline executive Jacob Schorr, an Orthodox Jew, often encountered turbulence of the culinary kind. That is, he had trouble finding kosher restaurants where he wouldn't feel embarrassed hosting business contacts.

So he has created one of his own ‹ the Pomegranate Bistro, which is scheduled to open in the next few weeks in the Cabin John Shopping Center in Potomac.

The 80-seat meat and pareve establishment, in a storefront that formerly housed the Chicken Out Rotisserie, will strive to fill any number of upscale market niches, according to Schorr and the restaurant's staffers.

The article also mentions that Mr. Schorr was involved with The Red Heifer, which many of you may remember from a few years back. While it was a fine dining experience, The Red Heifer closed after only about a year.

If anyone happens to drive by the location, send me some pictures.

The article also mentions that Mama Leah's in Rockville closed down, which I was not aware of.

I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means

The Washington Post seems to have a bit of a misunderstanding as to what cholov yisrael means; from an otherwise positive review of Siena's Pizza in Rockville:

And as some of the faux meats contain lactose, they are not entirely cholov Israel -- that is, they combine meat and dairy -- so purely kosher diners should check with the staff.

I wish that's what cholov yisrael really meant, you know, for all of us who don't keep cholov yisrael (I know, I know, there really isn't anything that's *not* cholov yisrael acoording to R. Moshe, etc....it's just a joke).

Two points if you get the reference from the title of this post.

And for the record, at press time, Siena's is 100% kosher and under the supervision of the Capitol-K.

Kosher Subway Update

Passed by the old Goldberg's today (on the way to the new Goldberg's) and saw this sign in front of the space next door:

Word from the owners is they are looking to open mid February to early March. More information is availabe at www.koshersubs.com.

Baltimore Kosher News: Rita's, Schmell's and Amanda's

• A new Rita's has opened in Reisterstown Road Plaza. This Rita's is actually indoors, so it's open all year round. Brain freeze in the summer is one thing; brain freeze when it's below freezing out is quite a rush.
• Schmell's Bakery is under new ownership (Don Tkatch, if the word on the street is to be believed). Plans are to renovate to include sit down for a bakery/coffe shop establishment.
• The folks at Amanda's Fine Dining (formerly The Brasserie) let me know that they have a new website, www.amandasfinedining.com, which has information including menus and hours of operation. They also have new specials in the $16-$25 range, and all fish and beef entrees now include a complimentary house salad (your welcome). They are also hiring a new chef from New York to compliment local chef Bryan Crystal.

Dougie's Listens and Responds

The owner of Dougie's On the Run has taken the time to read through the comments on our recent post announcing their opening. I've copied it here, as it contains lots of useful information, but also shows that the proprietors get blogs and see the value in this kind of open dialogue.

To all who have posted and expressed feelings both positive and negative we sincerely appreciate your patience and feedback. As we continue to develop this new business model we will try to improve operations and communicate as clearly as possible. I am the owner of Dougie's on the Run and did want to respond to a few items in the blog.

- We have heard the concerns regarding the safety at the Greenspring and Willowglen location. We also see the danger and have stopped using that location despite how busy it was. We hope to find a safer and more suitable location. Thank you to all who expressed their concerns.

- We absolutely have a masgiach on board at all times. The truck has a locking door between the cab and the kitchen that the mashgiach holds the key to. We have spent a lot of money on securing the truck with a state of the art alarm system that will notify us of a breach even if we are not within earshot of the truck at the time. We have worked closely with the Star-K to develop this concept. Our intentions have always been to provide quality kosher food for the community especially in places where none is currently available.

- Although we do not have New York rents we have many costs that are substantially higher than a traditional restaurant. Our insurance, fuel, and licensing costs are understandably higher than other establishments. Our food, labor, advertising, etc. are just as high as any other restaurant. We have tried to keep our prices competitive for the area.

- We did speak with the gentleman who runs the farmers market prior to setting up in that location. He was thrilled to have us and is saddened that we will no longer be using that location. According to him our presence increased his sales.

- Finally, I would like to once again thank all of those who have expressed feelings both good and bad about our venture. I think the debate is healthy and can only make us better. I would however like to mention that our desire is to be good neighbors, good Jews, and good and honest businessmen. I am happy to address any genuine concerns that do not attack our character, integrity, or level of observance which quite frankly have no basis. Our email address is dougiesontherun@yahoo.com.

Dougie's On The Run Schedule

Just received an email from Dougie's on the Run with schedule information:

Dougie's On the Run will be at the following locations...
this week, beginning November 4, 2007:
*********************************************************************************************************
Sunday - Greenspring & Willowglen Ave. for dinner, 4:30 - 7:30pm
Monday - Social Security on Security Blvd. near Gwenoak for lunch at 11 - 2pm
Tuesday - Greenspring & Willowglen Ave. for dinner, 5 - 8pm
Wednesday - Owings Mills at Red Run Blvd. & Mill Run Circle for lunch, 11 - 2pm
Thursday - Woodholm Elem on Mt. Wilson Lane for dinner at 5 - 7:30pm
Fridays we'll be closed on a regular basis
Sunday - Etz Chaim on Fords Lane for dinner at 4:30 - 7:30 pm
*********************************************************************************************************

We hope to be adding more times & locations soon...including a downtown location, so stay tuned! Thanks for patience and your support as Dougie's gets up and running in Baltimore!

If you know anyone who wants Dougie's updates, have them email us & we'll be happy to add them.

As excited as many of you undoubtedly are, let's try to keep the comments somewhat civilized.

Goldberg's Has Left the Building

Word on the street is that Goldberg's has officially relocated and opened up shop in their new location.

Dougie's Express Open for Business

Dougie's On the Run is open for business. The Dougie's truck is serving customers right now, on the corner of Greenspring and Willow Glen (no word yet on their full schedule).

I stopped by and picked up an order of Fire Slammers, which were delicious. All the food is prepared fresh on the spot. The menu looks to be comparable to the menu at the full-service Dougie's; they have burgers (pastrami, chili and portabello mushroom), hot dogs, wraps, deli sandwiches, chicken, salads, bloomin' onions, all the Dougie's favorites. Prices were a little on the high side (a half order of Fire Slammers is $7.49, burgers range from $4.95 to $10.50), but I guess kosher food isn't less expensive even if you sell it out of a truck. There were about four people inside the truck, taking orders and cooking food. There were about six or seven folks ordering or waiting for their orders.

Here's a few shots I snapped with my phone:

Order here

Washing station

Logo

Where the magic happens.

Thanks to Penny for the tip.

2007 Baltimore Kosher Community Survey Results

The results of the 2007 Baltimore Kosher Community Survey are in.

The Brasserie Reborn: Amanda's

A few months back, the owners of The Brasserie sold their establishment to the Shalom Kosher Group, owners of Shalom Strictly Kosher Market and Max's Kosher Cafe in Silver Spring. The restaurant was closed for remodeling just before Rosh HaShannah, and reopened this past Wednesday as Amanda's. Penny and I stopped by last night to check things out.

When news came out that the new owners were also the proprietors of Max's, which is known for it's schwarma but not for it's ambiance, there were worries that Amanda's would devolve into nothing more than a glorified Kosher Bite. Thankfully, that is not the case. There is little difference between the old Brasserie and the new Amanda's. In remodeling, the coat room was removed, and some updates were made to the decor, but overall the place looks pretty much the same. Most of the staff from The Brasserie are back as well.

The menu is also not much different; appetizers all looked familiar, as well as main courses (for a refreshed, check out the old Brasserie menu). There were a few new items, such as a stuffed chicken entre, as well as a few old favorites that finally came off the specials list and onto the menu (Chilean Sea Bass, anyone?). The prices were on average about the same, leaning towards a bit more affordable. The current menu was not very comprehensive, with a focus on chicken, steak and pasta dishes; no sign of the Mexican fare previously offered by The Brasserie. Sushi is now presented as a separate menu, and it appears that the selections have increased.

The food took a long time to arrive, at least thirty minutes. In the old Brasserie days, I don't recall it taking this long; perhaps the wait was mitigated by the fact that a complimentary house salad was provided with each entre ordered. Amanda's has done away with the free salad, so the wait for the food was that much more frustrating. When the food finally did arrive, I was pleasantly surprised that, although the menu was at first glance the same, the food was much improved. I thoroughly enjoyed my steak, which came with a very tasty honey/peper sauce; and I actually ate all my green beans, which rarely happens. Penny had the stuffed chicken which she also enjoyed (according to the waiter, her old staple, flounder stuffed with imitation crab meat, will be added back on the menu in the coming weeks).

Overall, I was pleased with the new Amanda's. The lack of a salad irked me a bit, and the wait time was frustrating, but the food was good and the ambiance acceptable. I'm happy to say that there is still a nice place to go for special occasions in Baltimore; our fears of a fast food joint were unfounded.

Amanda's is located in Pomona Square, in the location previously occupied by The Brasserie. They are currently taking reservations for dinner only, with plans to open for lunch in the next few weeks.

Photos of the new Goldberg's Bagels

I happened to be over near Goldberg's new location in downtown Pikesville, and snapped this picture on my phone. Their new location is near the corner of Old Court and Reisterstown Rd., where Joan and Gary's used to be located, nearby where Blockbuster used to be located.

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Baltimore Kosher News Update

A few quick updates:

• Someone posted to the following to the Luach.com Baltimore page: "Would you support a dairy restaurant in the MT Washington Area? Would you support a dairy restaurant in the MT Washington Area. I'm looking to see if the Kosher world would support a full service fun, funky dairy concept restaurant in the Mout Washington area of Baltimore. Your input would be greatly appricated." I think this would be great; strangely enough, I find myself missing 921. They'd have to compete with Cocoaccino's, which still does not have free wifi.


• I've received several emails about the Dougie's Express (thanks!). I've contacted "Dougie" and gotten confirmation, and had a brief conversation with Aaron Pulon, who's running the the Baltimore Dougie's Express. It's going to be a van that stops in various locations (downtown, Social Security, Joey Pollak's office, etc.) at specific times. They've got a MySpace page, with no real information. I'm hoping to have a more detailed conversation with Mr. Pulon now that the holidays are over to get more details.


• I had a brief chat with someone at Amanda's, formerly The Brasserie. They were closed down (apart from sushi) from Yom Kippur through Sukkos, should be reopening soon. I'm going to try to talk to them this week also.

That's all the news that's fit to print, please let me know if you hear anything, and thanks to everyone who wrote in.

Dougie's (Express) Coming to Baltimore

Just so's you don't think I've lost my game: yes, I've heard the murmurings that a Dougie's (or Dougie's Express) is coming to Baltimore; that the deal is signed and will be announced soon. I'm working on getting in touch with those involved to see about getting some more concrete information. Meanwhile, all you hat-tip fiends, you know where to find me.

Hat tip to T, Esq. and YS, amongst others.

Liebes Closing

Tomorrow is the last day to shop at Liebes Kosher Deli, a long-time Baltimore kosher establishment. Liebe's recently sold to new owners, who are apparently closing down the shop to pursue other business ventures. If anyone would like to write up a history of Liebe's, I'd be happy to publish it.

The Brasserie Sold to Max's

Word on the street is that The Brasserie has been sold. The new owners are, reportedly, The Shalom Group, who also own Max's Cafe in Silver Spring (they also own Shalom's Kosher Market next door). Word is that Max's will be revamping the space over the next few weeks to make Max's a more affordable eatery.

Interesting news, to say the least. Max's in Silver Springs is good food (much better than Kosher Bite) in a somewhat nice environment (again, nicer than Kosher Bite...why is that the standard?). One thing that Max's does and does well is schwarma; Max's has a dedicated schwarma chef (a Palestinian, actually) who is passionate about his craft. It is probably the best schwarma in the Baltimore/DC area, so hopefully it will make it's way to Baltimore.

Hat tip to AS and IG.

Press Release: Baltimore Soon To Offer a Kosher Subway Restaurant

Just received this press release:

More Information on Kosher Subway in Baltimore

Rumors of a kosher Subway coming to Baltimore have been circulating for some time. Through a bit of research and journalistic finesse, Presence has managed to uncover and confirm most of the details. I spoke with Harry Kozlovsky, one of the partners in the new venture, and he has confirmed that a kosher Subway will be opening in Baltimore in the fall of 2007. The restaurant will be located in the same strip mall that Goldberg's Bagels is currently located (if you notice, the two spaces next to Goldberg's across the small alley are closed or closing, my guess is this it where the kosher Subway will be).

That's all the information I have to report now, but you can be assured that the kosher Subway is happening. A press release will be going out early next week (either Sunday or Monday); we'll have the details here, which will include information on the restaurant, the restaurant's website (which is not yet live, so I'm not yet linking to it), along with additional information on some of the people involved and time frame for opening. Make sure to check back here over the weekend to get the scoop!

No, seriously, this time, we're closed

Word on the street is that the Brasserie is really closed now. Last night was purportedly the last night of full menu service. Sushi may or may not be available (as a non-sushi issue, I'm not terribly concerned).

In other Baltimore kosher restaurant news, I finally found something at Accents I am going to order again (the teriyaki fired beef wrap). I went to David Chu's right before the nine days, and it was very good. Rumors of a Dougie's Express opening up in Baltimore (some kind of mobile thing). No new news on the Kosher Subway, although I've heard from various folks that it's going to be moving into the spot next to Goldberg's current location.

Kosher Subway Rumors

A while back there were rumors of a kosher Subway opening in the Baltimore. This week, I received a number of anonymous email from someone identifying himself only as "koshersubwayfresh." This individual claims that the kosher Subway is happening in Baltimore, sometime around the end of the summer. I really don't have any other information, so take it with a grain of salt. But, if it's true, you heard it here first, check back for updates, I'll post as I get more information.

Krispy Kreme still Kosher

I've been hearing lots of talk that Krispy Kreme in Owings Mills was no longer kosher; indeed, they are no longer certified by the Star-D. I called the Vaad today to double-check, as the Star-K's website, as of this morning, still listed Krispy Kreme as under the Star-D. Turns out it is true that Krispy Kreme in Owings Mills is no longer under the Star-D, but someone from the Vaad does go in and check it on a regular basis and it is, according to the woman I spoke with, OK. So there you go, feel free to make your own inquires.

This applies only to the Krispy Kreme at 10021 Reisterstown Road in Owings Mills.

[Update: I forgot that Diana posted about this a while back. Consider me enforced.]

Chicken Plucking Around the World

From The Kosher Blog: FAQ: Why does kosher poultry have so many feathers?

Kashrus at Communal Events

The Washington Jewish Week has a very interesting article about kashrus at communal events (where communal inidcates the entire Jewish community, not just the Orthodox). For the first time, the DCJCC's annual dinner will be "kosher-style," meaning those who adhere to traditional standards of kashrut will likely be enjoying the airplane meal experience. Towards the end of the article, there are quotes from a broad array of rabbis from all denominations; most support traditional kashrus standards at communal events.

Only somewhat ironic, as the function of kashrus is, if not explictly then at least implicitly, to encourage, define and reinforce Jewish community. I once again refer you to R. Meir Soloveitchik's article The Meaning of Kashrut.

[Hat tip: The Jew and the Carrot]

Brasserie Open After Pesach

The Brasserie answered their phone this morning and said they are open from 5 to 9 today. Hurray!

And, about that other thing, more coming soon.

Brasserie Not Re-opening after Pesach

Word is that the Brasserie, Baltimore's only high-end kosher eating establishment, will not be re-opening after Passover. More details as they emerge.

The Brasserie is regularly closed on Fridays, but will be open on Sunday, Erev Pesach, from 4-9PM.

The "D" is for "Disgusting"

YUTopia posts about Kosher Delight's health code woes, and links to a listing of their code violations. A quick rundown:

1. Accurate thermometer not provided in refrigerated or hot holding equipment.
2. Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to vermin exist.
3. Evidence of flying insects or live flying insects present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
4. Evidence of roaches or live roaches present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
5. Evidence of rats or live rats present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
6. Cold food held above 41°F (smoked fish above 38°F) except during necessary preparation.
7. Hot food that has been cooked and refrigerated is being held for service without first being reheated to 165°F or above within 2 hours.

On the one hand, that's just disgusting (and a shame, as I like KD). Not to excuse this kind of thing, but it does appear that kosher establishments in NY get shut down quite often due to health code violations (such as Cafe K, another of my favorite establishments).

Just out of curiosity, does the state of Maryland publish this kind of information? That would be quite interesting. The closest I found was a page from the Baltimore City Health Department of recent food establishment closures.

Dunkin Donuts Outside of DC Remain Kosher, for now

The Forward has an article entitled 'No Donuts, No Peace,' Cry Kosher Protesters, which details the DC area Dunkin Donuts loss of kosher certification and the subsequent fury of the kosher-donut-consuming populace. In the article, it is noted that the decision to force the DC franchise to adhere to the standard Dunkin Donuts corporate menu only applied to the DC area for demographic reasons, and would not become standard corporate policy. In other words, Baltimore, New York, Boston and others, can breath easy and continue inhaling donuts.

The article also contains what I thought to be poigniant psychological insight into just why Dunkin Donuts is so gosh-darned important to the kosher community:

For observant Jews, though, Dunkin’ Donuts and a few other coffee chains are among the only points of access to mainstream, chain-restaurant America.

“The sad fact of life is that we are in the kosher community. We don’t get access to the other world very often,” said Rabbi Binyamin Sanders, director of field operations for the Washington rabbinical authority, or Vaad, that provides kosher certification for local Dunkin’ Donuts branches.

“The other world is the world where you can have a Dunkin’ Donuts product,” Sanders added. “It’s not like those regular kosher stores. It’s a national thing. It’s something you can feel like part of the rest of the world. You’re not so isolated.”

Ironic, as it's more than likely that the function of kashrus is to isolate its adherents from outside cultures. For more, read R. Meir Soloveitchik's excellent article on the meaning of Kashrut.

OIB of the Day: Goldberg's Bagels

Goldberg's Bagels has a nifty online order form, you can fill it out and supposedly, your order will be ready in 20 minutes. I used it this morning to place an order for a baker's dozen of bagels for a small family gathering. Five minutes after I placed my order, the phone rings. It's Goldberg's Bagels telling me that Sunday morning is walk-in orders only!

OIB. In the time it took for them to call me, they could have filled my order and had it waiting.

DC Dunkin Donuts Lose Kosher Certification

Via Kosherblog.net and SaraK, the Washington Jewish Week reports:

Dunkin' Donuts drops kashrut at two stores; third to follow;

The doughnuts will still be made with kosher ingredients, but, as of next week, the Washington area will have fewer Dunkin' Donut franchises certified as kosher.

With the corporation's push to expand its menu offerings, Jim Willard, who owns five franchises in the area, says he has received a letter from the corporation saying he could no longer make menu modifications in his stores. That, in effect, means he must sell nonkosher food products.

As of Wednesday, the Cabin John location in Potomac and the Rockville Metro Pike Plaza store near White Flint will no longer be certified by the Vaad Harabanim of Greater Washington kosher supervising agency.

SaraK has a link to a petition to sign to reverse the decision, while a commentor on KosherBlog.net says that they contacted Dunkin Donuts corporate and were told that the decision to go treif was made by the franchise owners.

Assorted Baltimore Kosher Tidbits

• David Chu's is not as good as it used to be. Ever since the ownership change late last year, the food hasn't been the same. I'd heard reports of this, but finally got to try it for myself. I was very disappointed. Hopefully they can get their groove back, as it's still one of the nicest places to eat in town. Rumor is that the original David Chu's chef left and is now at Kosher Bite, so perhaps KB's Chinese food is now better.
• The world-famous Kosher Bite french fry is dead. Kosher Bite recently changed the type of french fry they use in making their fries. The new fry is the same as the fries used by Accents. Kosher Bite: WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?!? Just because Accents does it, doesn't mean you have to. We want our fries back. Next time you're at KB, remember to tell them to bring back the old fries.
• The latest unconfirmed word-on-the-street is that the Kosher Subway is not happening in Baltimore. More on this as it develops.
• I had a Cocoaccino's hot chocolate yesterday. It was really, really good. Still no wifi.

Lunch at Cocoaccino's

Peninah and I lunched at Cocoaccino's yesterday, they've launched their food menu, which includes soup (looks like one flavor a day, yesterday was French Onion), a salad bar reminiscent of 921, bagels ($1.50 for a bagel with cream cheese), sandwiches (ranging from $4 to $9) and eggs/omelettes. We both got salads, which were very generously apportioned, and split a three-cheese (cheddar, feta and mozzarella) grilled cheese sandwich on 12-grain bread. Quite good. The other side of The Atrium is now set up with tables for Cocoaccino's patrons, with a little isle in the middle for those getting their nails done to pass through (rumors have been heard that the owners of The Atrium would like to develop a kosher food court).

I asked the owner about free wifi, and he told me that they are thinking about it, but are concerned that some folks will come and buy one cup of coffee and sit for three hours. I told him I thought that would be a good thing. Wouldn't you like to have someone come everyday and sit for three hours, and buy a cup of coffee every day, rather than coming only when they drive by or feel like it? How many people are going to be there between the hours of 9 and 12 anyhow? If I could get free wifi, I'd go every morning, buy a hot chocolate and bagel with cream cheese and work for 1-2 hours. That's about $60 over the course of a month from one person; even if I go half that, if you have two people who do that, you've covered your Internet costs and then some. I'd probably also have meetings there now and again, which would be a fully-expensed meal (meaning I won't be skimping on salad toppings). Without wifi, I'll go there for lunch occasionally, order the cheapest salad with no extra toppings, and split a sandwich with my wife (or better yet, not tell her I'm going).

The Hulk Goes Kosher

Simply hilarious. It reminds me of the age-old quesiton, once posed by the well-known philosopher and professional wrestling commentator Gorilla Monsoon: "What happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object?" only this time, the Hulk is the immovable object, and the irresistible force is the kosher food. If only Andre were here.

[Hat tip: RDE does it again]

Cocoaccino's is Open

Cocoaccino's, from the proprietors of Accents Grill, opens today for coffee and ice cream; other menu items will be available in February. Cocoaccino is located in the Greenspring Shopping Center, right next to Accents, where Baskin and Robbin's used to be.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: get free wifi, and I'll be there every day (maybe some space heaters for the Atrium in the winter).

A Kosher Subway Grows In Brooklyn. And LA. And Baltimore...

Life-of-Rubin spots a Kosher Subway in Brooklyn.

Look! Another one, this time in LA (coming April 2007).

The Brooklyn establishment opened around the beginning of the year. Word is they don't serve parve (read: fake) cheese at the NY establishment; Cleveland does, no word if LA or Baltimore will follow suit.

Does anyone have information on who owns these restaurants? I know that the folks in Cleveland (Ghazi Faddoul, Charles Zuchowski and Avi Cohen, per the original Cleveland Jewish News article) have right of first refusal for any kosher Subway franchise. The website for the LA branch is registered to one "Jonathan Sedaghat" of Beverly Hills, CA. I don't know who is involved with the Baltimore branch, but I have learned that there might possibly be two locations opening.

If anyone can provide significant information for a scoop, I'll buy you a sandwich at the new Subway.

eBagels

Not sure how new this is, but you can place an order with Goldeberg's Bagels online. Awe-some.

Note to Goldberg's: your website does not list your hours of operation, as far as I could find.

Ain't That the Truth

Frum Satire: Good Kosher Salsa is Hard to Come By.

Kosher Subway Coming to Baltimore?

The latest rumor is that a Kosher Subway will be opening in the location vacated by Goldberg's Bagels when they move a few blocks north to where Ace and Gary's Bagels used to be.

Kosher Bed and Breakfast in Newport, RI

The Associated Press:

A practicing Catholic who attends church each Sunday, Mary Ellen Newbury hardly seems a sure bet to know the ins and outs of keeping a kosher diet.

But as innkeeper of the Admiral Weaver Inn, the only kosher bed-and-breakfast in Rhode Island, Newbury's job is to ensure her guest's religious needs are satisfied -- whether by making sure that meat and dairy meals are kept separate or by keeping bacon and sausage far away from the house.

The Admiral Weaver Inn's website doesn't provide any information about their kashrus. A quick search turned up another site, the aptly-titled KosherBedAndBreakfast.com, which makes no reference to "The Admiral Weaver Inn", but lists the same street address. I wonder why they advertise them separately; the above article does mention that some non-kosher clientèle are upset by the lack of a hot meal on Saturday mornings. If you're going to book a stay, it looks like the rates are cheaper on the kosher site.

OIB of the Day: Tov Pizza

Hopefully you're familiar with the term OIB (if not, read Peninah's seminal post on OIB). Last night at Tov Pizza, I attempted to order two slices with broccoli for my wife, but was told that there is a four-slice minimum for slices with toppings on Thursday night. So instead I ordered two plain slices. So I guess this is a two part OIB: OIB on the four-slice minimum, and OIB on me for being too cheap.

There's added irony to this if you know who originated the term OIB...or perhaps it explains it.

Woldholme Coldstone: No Hechsher

A anonymous source today sent in word about the new Coldstone Creamery in the Woodholme shopping center that we had previously reported would be obtaining kosher certification:

The Coldstone in the Woodholme shopping center has decided to abandon its pursuit of kosher certification. They were working with Ra