Need ideas for vacation/no kosher restaurants

Silver Member Joined: Nov 23 2007 Posts: 691

We're planning a week long trip with the kids. Staying in hotels and there will definately not be any restaurants. I'm planning on taking our electric griddle to heat things up instead of just having sandwiches and salads all week.

Any ideas other than grilled cheeses? It's much appreciated!

Senior Member Joined: Nov 09 2010 Posts: 126

I haven't used an electric griddle, but I'm guessing you can make eggs on it, and veggie sausages/hot dogs, etc.
How about taking along a crockpot? You could start the food before you head out for the day, and have a hot meal ready for when you get back. There may be halachic implications of leaving the food cooking if there are non-jews who will come into the room for room-service, etc. AYLOR, because I can't remember the details.

Gold Member Joined: Jul 02 2010 Posts: 1416

When I go away and will have access to some kitchen basics, I bring the following:

1 dairy pot
1 dairy frying pan
1 dairy spatula & serving spoon, knife
1 meat pot (or crock pot)
Meat Serving spoon or ladle
1 pareve cutting board & knife (for all veggies)

I buy paper goods at the destination. I bring breads, deli, cheese, and sometimes meat if I plan on cooking there.

Burners can be kashered easily. Can the griddle be used like a burner? Can you cook up some pasta? Pasta w. cheese is an easy meal.
Eggs and cereals for breakfast.
Big soup or stew for dinner.

Instead of hotels, DH and I look to stay in condos or efficiency apts/vacation rentals b/c there's a kitchen there. The kitchens are clean, and burners are easy to kasher, ovens can be either kashered or used w. double-wrapped foil. then you can make things like baked potatoes, or covered pans of things.

Platinum Member Joined: Aug 17 2011 Posts: 5984

There are these Meal Mart Amazing Meals. They self heat.
Also, the soups you just add water is convenient. The kids love it.

Silver Member Joined: Nov 23 2007 Posts: 691

Thanks thus far for the replies. Taking a crock pot is a good idea too. We're restricted to hotels. It is cheaper and availability of condo or house rentals is also an issue since we won't be staying in any one place for too long. Most require a committment for a week or over the weekend.

Gold Member Joined: Jan 03 2011 Posts: 1503

Gold Member Joined: Jul 02 2010 Posts: 1416

Platinum Member Joined: Aug 17 2011 Posts: 5984

Platinum Member Joined: Aug 17 2011 Posts: 5984

Also, for me another benefit is that it is a good hechsher that my Rabbi is ok with.

Silver Member Joined: Jan 09 2008 Posts: 724

we took one of those plug in hot water things so we could make oatmeal packets for breakfast, and tradition soups for lunch
I took along a george forman mini grill and brough chicken cutlets that were frozen marinaded, these could be grilled and either served in rolls, wraps, or cut in strips on top of a salad
I also brought burgers already formed in patties, and made those on the george formean
deli that's packaged lasts a long time so we made salads and sandwiches from those
I cooked pasta before we left, it keeps for a few days, and we put in cottage cheese and ketchup
I also hard boiled eggs before we left which last for a few days as well

if you have access to a microwave, and don't kasher microwaves, we bought chinese food in advance, froze it, and then double wrapped and reheated it in the microwave, soups, fried rice, sesame chicken, lo mein, they were all fine.
packaged cheeses also staygood

basically we ate lots of sandwiches and salads, but with different things, wraps, bread or rolls, with tuna, cold cuts, chicken cutlets, sliced egg,burgers or for those that didn't want carbs those same things on top of salads
breadfast was cereal and milk, or oatmeal, or rice cakes and cheese, hard boiled eggs, etc...

I kept the cooking on the actual vacation to a minimum, I didn't have a kitchenette, just a refrigerator so I didn't want to start with shlepping pots and stuff, but some peole take along a single burner and can cook on there

just curious question, those who put up crock pots in the room, I'm always nervous the staff will smel the food and come in, cuz you're not allowed to plug in these appliances...

Silver Member Joined: Mar 27 2012 Posts: 708

Make fun sandwiches: Buy bugettes/rolls/bagels, cream cheese, different types of cheese, turkey, salami, veggies, canned olives & pickles.
Snack: Buy fresh fruit and dry fruit, whatever snacks you & your family enjoy
Drink: juice boxes and tons of water bottles.

Enjoy!!

Reading this reminds me of why I love going camping on our vacations. With our own camp stove and camping cookware, we can do so much!

Sbs, you have some great ideas.

Senior Member Joined: Nov 09 2010 Posts: 126

Platinum Member Joined: Mar 24 2008 Posts: 6528

Can you get a hotel with a kitchentte. We try to do that and we kasher the microwave or heat food double wrapped and use the oven with our food double wrapped.
Sometimes they aren't even so much more money.