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Kosher Food Review
Written by: Kim Helk
Kosher foods are perhaps the most overlooked industry, but perhaps also one of the largest.
As many Jewish holidays are about to begin, we here at TheCelebrityCafe.com thought it would be a nice idea to branch our horizons and try some ethnic foods. The following is a list of the Kosher foods we tried. We hope that this is helpful to our Jewish friends. Shalom!
Traditional Medicinals
Traditional Medicinals are organic teas that come in two lines -- Just for Kids and Herbal Dietary Supplement. Just for Kids are specially designed teas with doses for children. They come in varieties for Tummy Ache, Calming and Relaxing, Winter Season, and Support Throat Health. The Organic Herbal Dietary Supplement line includes Mother's Milk (helps promote healthy lactation), Nervous Stomach, Ginger Aid (for healthy digestion), and Nighty Night. All teas are caffeine free.
Empire
Empire Kosher sausages are made with chicken. They are juicy and healthy alternatives to regular sausage as well. They come fully cooked in gourmet flavors such as Sun Dried Tomato Basil, Sweet Apple Cinnamon (made with real chunks of apple for a sweet breakfast), and Wild Mushroom Garlic. They are versatile: great in either sandwhiches or as a main entrée.
For the busy Kosher household, Empire also makes fully prepared stuffed chicken breast in two varieties. The Chicken Breast with Broccoli is my personal favorite, but also enjoyable was the Mixed Vegetable Filling.
Beit Yizhak
Beit Yizhak all natural fruit spreads from Israel are deliciously homemade. With no suagr added, and no artificial flavors, these fat free fruit spreads are made with 100% fruit in varieties including plum and fig. Enjoy on top of toast or crackers.
Neshama
Made with chicken and turkey, Neshama Gourmet Kosher Foods sausages come in six flavors. Fully cooked and low in fat with all natural ingredients, they are delicious additions to any meal. With flavors Country Apple, Mild and Spicy Italian, Breakfast Delight, Southwest Style, and Smoked Andouille, they are easy to prepare and will delight any group who sits at your table.
Also available from Neshama are Gourmet Kosher Merguez Sausage. Traditional North African Sausage with all natural ingredients are low in fat. Easy to cook, the Tunisian Merguez is all beef, and the Moroccan Merguez is made from beef and lamb.
Rokeach
The legendary food of the Jewish tradition is Gefilte Fish. Rokeach makes two different varieties of Gefilte Fish: Old Vienna, and Gourmet Sweet. When taste tested, Old Vienna took first place, as it was not too fishy, and had a light after taste. The Gourmet Sweet was as the name stated sweet, and so will please people who prefer sweet to bitter. Rokeach Gefilte Fish is made with only the best parts of white fish and pike fish.
Duke's
Kosher mayonnaise by Duke's is prepared from a family recipe. The taste proves such as it is smooth and creamy, perfect for a sandwich or spread. It is all natural and sugar free, although it does contain egg whites.
Shabtai Gourmet
The Shabtai Gourmet company is parented by Cinderella Sweets, and is the producer of a line of premium Kosher for Passover cakes and cookies. TheCelebrityCafe.com tasted the Meltaway Crumbs which is Babka Crumbs in bite sizes. The chocolate and pecans were delicious and a perfect after dinner or tea time treat.
Sweet Williams
Gourmet Chocolate Bars are specially designed for those with dietary restrictions, whether it be medical or religious. Kosher and also healthy, Sweet Williams chocolate is a smooth European style chocolate. They are free from dairy, gluten, lactose, cholesterol, and peanuts. They come in four flavors: Original, Tangerine, Roasted Almond, and Rice Crackle. The Original and Tangerine are also available in No Sugar Added varieties.
Taku
Taku Lox is a great choice for a breakfast. It was one of my personal favorites to try, as it had a good flavor, not too salty or too fishy. The cold smoked sockeye salmon that Taku lox is made from is only from the best Wild Alaska seafood and is approved by the Marine Stewardship Council.
LaBruite Meals
LaBruite meals come in two different lines: Regular and Sizzling Cuisine. The regular LaBruite meals are shelf stable meals packaged with self heating units so they can be heated anywhere. A perfect idea for hikers, campers, or college students, they even come complete with a full cutlery kit, wet napkin, soup, and snack. The Sizzling Cuisine are also shelf stable entrées which are double wrapped for the Kosher consumer for easy heating in any microwave. They all have a 24 month shelf life and never need to be refrigerated or frozen. They were surprisingly tasty with good quality meats in both entrees.
Phillips
Phillips, known for its excellent restaurant quality seafood, now presents Kosher Fish in Tilapia, Mahi-Mahi, and Tuna. Each Kosher fish is individually wrapped and tamper proof to ensure quality. Each fish is left with a patch of skin and scales to ensure a Kosher product. Delicious and just as succulent as a restaurant entrée, my personal favorite was the Mahi-Mahi. All fish, except for the Tilapia, comes in both six and eight ounce packages (Tilapia only available in six ounce).
Wrap Ole`
Winner of the 2004 Kosherfest New Products Competition, it is easy to taste why with flavors such as Chocolate Orange, Whole Wheat with Honey, Southern-Sweet and Hot, Pesto, Spinach, and Marinara. Quality Kosher Tortilla are made from only the finest of ingredients and made through quality processes. My personal favorite was the Spinach Wrap.
MaccaBeans
Maccabeans legendary Jelly Beans are Kosher Pareve. They come in two popular sizes, an 8.5 oz and a 2.0 oz. With ten mighty flavors in rainbow colors, enjoy this sweet and gelatin free candy while reading the story of the Maccabeans on the back of the package. They are a particularly perfect idea for Hanukkah, as the Maccabeans are named in honor of the Biblical Maccabees.
Chocolate Renaissance
Delicious and rich in flavors, Chocolate Renaissance truffles are a must have addition to any holiday celebration. They are completely dairy free and Kosher under the Va'ad Ha Rabbonim of MA. Fresh and handmade, Chocolate Renaissance comes in an assortment of truffles, giandujias, handmade fondant crèmes, and nut & fruit assortments.
Mount of Olives Treasures
The Mount of Olives Treasures Tea Collection includes twelve flavors of Biblically inspired teas which all include the patented Herbal Biblical Complex of olive and grape leaves, pomegranate, hyssop, and lemongrass. Six of the twelve varieties are decaffeinated for those who enjoy tea without the caffeine. With many more health benefits to drinking tea than coffee or even water, the Mount of Olives Treasures tea collection comes in decorated hexagon boxes containing 30 tea bags. My personal favorites were the English Breakfast and Lemon Earl Grey.
Bigelow Teas
Naturally and artificially flavored, Bigelow teas contain no calories and come in individual fresh packs. Traditional teas with a new twist make for a delicious cup of steaming hot tea. Of the flavors tried (Green Tea, Vanilla Caramel, Earl Grey, "Constant Comment", Spiced Chai, and vanilla Chai), my personal favorites were the Spiced and Vanilla Chai. The teas were very aromatic and left a pleasant smell in the kitchen.
California Delight
California Delight is Northern Bluefin Tuna in filleted steaks. Packaged and stored in pure olive oil, they have a very nice flavor. Available also in a garlic flavor, they are perfect for a light snack or to make into tuna salad for a quick lunch.
My Family Farm
The My Family farm Company is a non profit family run producer of baked crackers and cookies. All profits go to children's foundations to help better the lives of children in impoverished situations. These good intentions are complimented by the tasty treats which they sell. Baked Cheese Crackers in sea creature shapes are delicious and healthy, as well as the Whole Wheat Baked Crackers. The cookie line includes Chocolate Dipped Vanilla Cookies, Vanilla Cookies in animal shapes that are 3 times the size of a normal animal cracker, and Lemon Iced Cookies, which were my personal favorite of the cookies. All crackers and cookies are all natural, with nothing artificial, no trans fat, and low in sodium for a healthy and delicious treat.
Harrington Trace
Harrington Trace Israeli Gold extra virgin olive oil comes in three different varieties that are good for cooking, dipping, or even for on top of salads. Manzanilla is a light olive oil that has a more fruity taste to it which somewhat overpowers the olive taste. Barnea, which is darker, has a grassy and fruity aroma. It is smoother and has a more fiery finish to it. The favorite of the three, Soury, had a peppery finish with the most olive flavor. It was the darkest and is suggested for use on top of hummus.
Dalton Shiraz
Dalton Shiraz Oak aged 2003 from Upper Galilee was tried at dinner. It has a very deep red, almost black color with a particularly bitter smell. The taste was very sharp and biting. Altogether, if one likes a sharp red wine, this is the wine to buy, with a 14.5% alcohol content.
Ricki's Cookies
With a homemade look and taste, Ricki's Cookies were definitely one of TheCelebrityCafe.com's top picks. Four varieties were available in a gold tin: Oatmeal Raisin, Sugar Cookie, Chocolate Chip Cookie, and Chocolate. The oatmeal raisin was crumbly and sweet. My personal favorite was the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough because it was sweet and had a cookie dough taste to it. Whether straight from the freezer (as we had them) or stored at room temperature, the Ricki's Cookies were a nice way to finish off a meal.
Nutrilicious Natural Bakery, Inc.
Donut Holes by Nutrilicious and delicious and all natural. With no egg or dairy, these Kosher donut holes are quite tempting and go great with milk They are also vegan, and come in three different varieties. My personal favorite was the Yogurt Glazed, but just as tasty were the Cinnamon and Chocolate.
Golden Fluff
Golden Fluff Dips Style Corn Chips are a crunchy and delicious snack for Kosher and nonKosher eaters. With three flavors, they are bound to be a crowd pleaser. Available in Enchilada, Original, and TheCelebrityCafe.com's personal favorite, Barbecue.
Chips can make you thirsty, so grab a bottle of Fruit Punch or Blue Raspberry Big Drinks. Delicious and all natural, these thirst quenchers are great for at home, on the go, and even in school lunches.
Kedem
Kedem Light Grape Juice Beverages have 2/3 less calories and carbs than regular grape juice. Made from Concord grapes, they have just as much flavor as regular grape juice, but are a healthier alternative. This was one of TheCelebrityCafe.com's favorites.
DeCecco
Made from 100% Italian tomatoes, DeCecco sauces contain no artificial flavors. Make for your favorite pasta dishes with three mouth watering flavors: Pasta Sauce Napoletana, Pasta Sauce Pomodoro e Basilico, and Pasta Sauce Arrabbata. My personal favorite was the Pasta Sauce Pomodoro e Basilico.
Royal George
Maker of fine imported cheeses, Royal George's Kosher cheeses were a TheCelebrityCafe.com's top pick. Even suitable for vegetarians, three varieties were sampled. The English Cheshire Cheese, made from pure British milk, was a good choice for sandwiches and crackers. The English Double Gloucester Cheese and Red Leeicester both had very good tastes and would be perfect for any meal or recipe.
SOL
Sliced cheeses from SOL will add flavor to any sandwich. My personal pick was the Sliced Havarti. It had a tempting mild flavor and only 27% fat. The SOL Sliced White Cheddar was also a good pick with a nice sharp cheddar taste and only 34% fat.
Barkanit
The Barkanit Tourquoise Israeli Sheep and Goat Cheese tasted delicious. The best description is like a creamy blue cheese, which was a crowd pleaser. The Gilboa Israeli Sheep Cheese also had nice flavor and was recommended for grating over a salad or veggie pasta dish.
Zuriel Dairy
Zuriel Dairy Feta Cheese was a TheCelebrityCafe.com top pick. Both varieties, the Sheep's Milk and 5% Cow's Milk were amazing in flavor and texture. The Sheep's Milk Feta was soft and creamy, perfect for spreading. The 5% Cow's Milk Feta is nice for those who aren't particularly fond of feta cheese; it is milder than regular feta, but still with the creamy texture.
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