No kosher restaurants?

Posted: Mon, May 03 2010, 5:35 pm Post subject: No kosher restaurants?

For those of you who live in an out of town community that has no kosher restaurants, how do you manage during stressful times? We're moving to one and among other things, this has me freaking out. When I'm sick or have a lot on my plate, it's so easy where we are now to pick up some takeout for dinner. I guess you just rely on a lot of freezer food? It seems like such a drag/inconvenience to me. Maybe it's because I love food so much (and thank g-d I'm thin so I get to indulge a lot....) but this is on my mind a lot. And we only get takeout a couple times a month and eat out as a date night a few times a year. But I really love those times...dh doesn't cook and says very little when I tell him he's going to have to pitch in a bit when we move.

Please tell me it won't be so horrible...

Posted: Mon, May 03 2010, 5:41 pm Post subject: re: No kosher restaurants?

we have no kosher resturants, or reliable kosher delis or takeout. I don't miss it for that reason. If things are stressful I can make a super easy supper like pasta and cheese or veggie schnitzle. bh our supermarket stocks various frozen kosher foods, although I rarely buy them, I so much prefer the taste of homemade.

I do miss having somewhere to go with dh. We usually visit other larger cities several times a year so we eat out then. If we didn't eat only chalav yisrael we could go to starbucks or haagen dazs but since we do that is not an option.

Is there a deli where you are going? you might be able to get takeout food from there if there is one.

Diamond Member Joined: Nov 30 2009 Posts: 4943

I dont live there but I have relatives who do. and even tho I live in a city with resturants I never get from them.
and yup frozen food all the way. pizza comes in boxes (old style cafe is my favorite) and you can get onion rings and fries. schnitzel comes in freezer bags too.... there are lots of frozen suppers taht all you need to do is preheat the oven and throw everything in for 10 min. also this is alot cheaper....

lots of luck!!

Gold Member Joined: Apr 16 2005 Posts: 1943

Personally, I don't find it so bad. There actually are a couple kosher restaurants in my community, but they serve chalav stam, and we only eat chalav yisroel. So we never eat out or get regular takeout.

You have to check to see what kind of kosher food is available where you will be moving, but many places at least have a kosher deli or bakery. Here there are a couple regular supermarkets that have kosher deli/bakery counters. They have roasted chicken, prepared salads, baked goods, and even sushi that can fill in during stressful times. Then there are all the regular kosher prepared and prepackaged foods that can be used to make quick meals. Again, you will have to check to see what is available where you will be moving. Here we have frozen pizzas, burritos, borekas, Chinese style entrees, and so on. Of course, you can also cook ahead in your own kitchen so that you always have a meal that you can pull out during busy or stressful times.

None of this really helps with the dinner date issue. I guess you will just have to be more creative with coming up with date ideas. Dh and I don't go on dates very often, but when we have had the inclination to go out, we are at a loss about what to do. Most of the evening entertainment options are not really things we would do (movies, plays, concerts, etc.). If we still lived in NYC, we probably would go out to eat together. I am sure there are things to do, but we are a little boring, I guess. Laughing

Overall, for me, the benefits of not having restaurants outweighs the negatives. The advantage of no restaurants is that it saves money! I have no idea what your budget is like or how many children you have, but, for many people, once the family has grown, getting a meal for everyone is super expensive. What was manageable splurge for a small family can become a totally ridiculous expenditure when you add multiple entrees. Also, I've come the realization that most kosher restaurants aren't that great. I lived in NYC both before and after becoming frum and have eaten in many, many restaurants, both kosher and not. Generally speaking, for the type of food I enjoy, the kosher ones are a pale imitation of the non-kosher ones. I still enjoy eating out, but I can often make better food at home and it's healthier, too.
_________________
Binah

Diamond Member Joined: Feb 02 2006 Posts: 4783

I lived in 2 places with NO kosher restaurants or take out. Yes, it was very hard.
_________________
"G-d I trust will understand, I'm not so sure about the neighbors.." -Yentl

Platinum Member Joined: Sep 10 2006 Posts: 6570

Basically, buy premade salads/dips (like the manufactured brands) and/or frozen stuff. ie. pizza, fish, dr. praegger's, etc.

Also, my freezer is essential so that I can have those types of things (the frozen kind) waiting for those days or also stock up in advance by making extra batches of "stuff" for a rainy day.
_________________

Posted: Mon, May 03 2010, 7:05 pm Post subject: re: No kosher restaurants?

I've lived in both communities with lots of kosher restaurants and no restaurants (and not even proper kosher stores). As others said, if you're under weather, it's either simple things or raid the freezer, unless you have kind neighbours for things like meals for new mothers. As for occasional treats/dates, how far are you from the closest kosher restaurant? it's not that bad if you're a good cook/won't mind cooking. As a matter of fact, my preference is to eat what I make, as I cook as good as (if not better than) restaurants for less costs, and we never have problems with shoddy service at Chez Nous.

Diamond Member Joined: Feb 02 2006 Posts: 4783

Yes, I agree that you do save money when you don't have the temptation of getting takeout when you are tired.

I think the hardest time for me was just after giving birth when I was really too tired to cook. We survived and ate simply. We also found ways to order kosher meat and special products by mail. The closest kosher store was an hour away, so it wasnt thaaaat hard to get kosher food.

Posted: Mon, May 03 2010, 7:12 pm Post subject:

On one hand, you might not have those 'quick fixes', but on the other hand, you can turn it into a positive.

1) saves money
2) not as tempted to go out for high calorie meals
3) if you are a couple of hours away from a city with them (like I am) it can become a 'special treat' which heightens the anticipation and appreciation for eating out.

But for while you are at home, have some frozen meals pre-made, dont be afraid to use pasta, and check around. A local school or shul may have pizza day (our shul makes pizza every thurs for bingo) There will be other options

Good luck
_________________
~Rebecca
NYM 6/11/2004 Music

LTR 6/25/2009 Lady

"Knowledge works best when shared"

Posted: Mon, May 03 2010, 8:23 pm Post subject: re: No kosher restaurants?

frozen pizza
fishsticks and oven fries
mac and cheese (no fancy sauce - just cheese melted right in the pot with drained macaroni)
grilled cheese in sandwich grill
scrambled eggs
hot dogs, baked beans, and oven fries
sloppy joes made with manwich sauce (u need to remember to defrost the meat for this one)

Platinum Member Joined: Jan 01 2006 Posts: 48223

I live in NYC and never take advantage of the take out places; just erev Pesach. I'm not crazy about them even then.

The best thing is frozen foods - either yours or prepackaged ones, or simple meals.

Moderator Joined: Dec 26 2005 Age: 33 Posts: 11430

Growing up, I never felt like I was missing out by not having restaurants in my city. Now, when I go back and visit my family, the only reason I miss having restaurants is for the social "going out" aspect.

In general, when I need a quick meal, I don't go out, because that's not very quick! I usually go out because it's something to do.

Posted: Tue, May 04 2010, 5:07 am Post subject: re: No kosher restaurants?

keep individual sized portions of steak, salmon, chicken breast, lambchops in the freezer. All these can be taken out and defosted quickly in the microwave or water and grilled. With a salad or some frozen veggies there is a delicious quick supper. You can make rice or couscous in 10 minutes. It's quicker then takeout.

if there are other things you enjoy going out to do with dh then you won't miss it that much.

Beginner Joined: Apr 19 2010 Age: 28 Posts: 12

When we move to New York this summer, it will be the first time we'll be in easy access of kosher restaurants pretty much since we started keeping kosher, except for our year in Jerusalem.

We survive a lot through meal planning. I.e., we think about our lives for the next week, and plan meals based on what we'll have time to cook, and then buy groceries based on that. The planning saves stress (I.e. it's Thursday, what to do for dinner?!?) and saves money because there's less wasted food. We work late on Wednesdays, so we plan something simple for that day.

Plus, we keep some staples around for those emergencies (I.e. eggs and fake bacon for a breakfast for dinner, or tofu for a quick tofu stirfry) so that it's not impossible. In terms of helping your husband cook, perhaps try to cook with him for a little bit. I.E. maybe prep for him (chop vegetables or something) and then have him follow the recipe with you nearby to answer questions. Whether he's willing to help is another question, but maybe try to explain that the restaurants were helping you and now you need his help to make up for the lack of restaurants. Or think about ways that he will respond. You know him best.

Also, it means that we go out to dinner for special occassions and it feels very special. I.E. we visit New York and we have a really nice dinner, maybe nicer than what we would have if we went out all the time.

Best of luck to you!

Gold Member Joined: May 05 2009 Posts: 1227

I also live in an ott community with very little food options.

like others are saying, frozen is always good. You can usually buy frozen pizza, even soups come frozen, if you dont keep chalav yisroel, and you have a ben and jerrys or a baskin and robbins they have plenty of kosher items, and I know many frum people who get ice cream there.

and of course, there is always starbucks! even if you just get a plane coffee with no milk, its still nice to just get out and go... also, almost all of their syrups are OU. you can see the bottels, and the soy milk is usually star K or OU. I always get a coffee with a shot of a different syrup each time.... its a nice treat Laughing

there are many perks about being in an oot community! this is just one small set back