jahason

I live in a predominantly Jewish area but I see very few Jewish Indian eating places.

I was just wondering whether this is due to a lack of demand (taste of curries/kebabs not favoured by Jewish community)? Or just never been thought of?

Could there be a demand for the Lahore nan-kebab (eg www.kebabishoriginal.co.uk)?

What are Jewish dietary laws regarding non-Jews working in a restaurant? Would food still be Kosher if non-Jews prepared it?

Just wondered.

mikebg

Your location is given as London.

I know of at least two Indian kosher restaurants in London, both of which are quite good. Matancherry in Golders Green Road has Kedassia kashrus, and Kavanna in Vivian Avenue. There is also Beit HaMadras in Brent Street which we found disappointing. I think there is another place also in Brent Street.

W9London

Moses-Tandoor is quite authentic. We get their bhajis and pakoras for kiddushim sometimes, and they're always the first item to dissapear. They can also make other Indian delicacies that are not on published menu, including some fried sweets and corriander chutney.

"another one on Brent St." I presume you're talking about Biryani Express, though I haven't tried them yet. (For some reason, I thought they're under the same ownership as Moses Tandoor?)

jahason

But there are two types of eating places. the posh 'tandoori' restaurants and the cafe type where the taxi drivers hang out, where the food is half the cost and twice and good and where they specialise in freshly grilled meats and nan. that's probably where the gap exists. Places like Kebabish Original or the slightly up market Tayyab in Whitechapel.

HONcircle

I think that the gap in the market is to be able to offer kosher food of high quality, and not sold at exorbitant prices.

Nisan is the month where food (kosher lepesach food) reaches peaks, while some of these products should not be more expensive than a percentage of it. (like sugar, salt, etc)

FF

Biryani Express never opened, and it's now being refurbished as a kitchen fittings shop, or something like that.

W9London

Just catching up on kosher indian restaurants in London... Does anyone know if there's a place to get Dosai? those filled crepe like the one you get at Madras Mahal in NY?

jahason

Please excuse my ignorance but does a purely vegetarian restaurant still require kosher certification? If not there are plenty of Indian vegetarian places serving dosas.

clubman

So first you say you know of at least two kosher Indian restaurants in London, and then go on to mention three...?

I (and most of our friends) think Beit Hamadras is the best of the lot, but I guess it's a matter of taste.

Kavanna has closed down by the way...

FF

Well, he does say "at least" two.... The other place in Brent Street never opened. And I agree that Bet HaMadras is the best place - but you need to wait for one of their Half Price or Two For One offers, otherwise it's a bit pricey. They'll give you a 241 voucher for your birthday if you register on their web site.

BTW, we've been to Yum Yum a couple of times since it was reincarnated and it was really good. Seven of us went there yesterday for lunch - food was excellent and plentiful and the kids loved it. Total bill with soft drinks was under £90 and we were all totally stuffed - luckily, 'cos my friends flew back to Washington in the afternoon (business class on United) and none of them got their kosher meals.

sds1493

Sounds like it's time to have a 'kosher restaurants in London' thread

2035

There is also a superb kosher Indian in Paris, called Darjeeling

http://www.darjeeling-ontable.com/restaurant/index.html

I think it's far better than either of the places in London...

travellerK

Strictly vegetarian still requires kosher certification. There are many potential kosher issues with vegetarian food.

A few are:

1. Grape derived ingredients that are non-kosher (but strictly vegetarian
2. Kosher requires a much stricter standard of checking for insect infestation than most vegetarian establishments
3. Ingredients processed oin equipment used for non-kosher products can be renedered non-kosher while remaining vegetariam
4. Some foods are only kosher when the Rabbi was directly involved in the processing (such as turning on the oven)
5. There may be other process aids that create kosher issues but not vegetarian issues

Sorry for the long reply, but this gets asked a lot, so I figured its worth reviewing some of the details.

TWA884

I never quite understood the requirement that a Jewish person turn on the stove? What's the rationale behind it?

HONcircle

Talking about food while pesach was just around the corner, are there any airlines (except maybe from LY) that serve kosher le'pesach KSML during chol hamo'ed? Are the lounges in TLV (DAN Lounge + LY King David Lounge) kosher le'pesach on chol hamo'ed?