Kosher and 'almost' Kosher

The primary rules of "kashrut" are that an animal has cloven hooves and chews its cud. (Sheep and cattle yes, pigs and dogs no). Fish must have scales and fins, so kosher gourmets will never taste calamari, prawns, yabbies, crayfish or even the humble shark. Turkeys and domestic geese, ducks and chickens are generally acceptable. But that is where the complexity begins, starting with the properly authorised slaughterer (shokhet) who must use a specific knife to kill the animal in a single blow. Once thought a humane way of killing, it may no longer be as painless as modern methods.

Not only is the method of killing important, so is the preparation, including soaking salting and rinsing. One of the difficulties for vegetarian restaurants like the White Lotus in North Melbourne is that it can be difficult for the supervising authorities to check the individual ingredients in imported sauces and spices. The other problem is that pots and pans cannot have been used with non-kosher food, and separate pots pans and crockery are required for milk and meat. General restaurants that occasionally handle kosher meals - such as Crown Casino's Palladium function room - have a locked storeroom with the key kept by the supervising authority. And while kosher is a unique event - it either is or isn't - some of the finest Jewish and Israeli foods, like Scheherezade, can only be described as "almost kosher".

My cousins Aaron and Betty Fridman ran one of the best "almost kosher" restaurants in an office block on the corner of Bourke and Russell Streets. Betty's kishke and chulent is a legendary mix of stewed meat, beans and potatoes served with a very heavy dry sausage. Along with gefilte fish, chopped liver, chicken soup, borscht, schnitzels, chicken and latkes it was a step into Central Europe at the top of the stairs above Darrell Lea. But they never had a rabbinical blessing.

Listed below are, firstly, those restaurants classified as strictly kosher by the several competing recognised Jewish authorites and under "almost kosher" a listing of Jewish and Middle Eastern restaurants that come close enough for some. Mietta's is proud to provide Melbourne's first comprehensive list of kosher - and almost kosher - restaurants.

Strictly Kosher

1. Kimberley Gardens Motel (old Stanmark) (Melbourne Kashrut)
441 Inkerman East St Kilda 3183 Sabbath meals (Fri, Sat) by arrangement. ph: +61 3 9526 3888

2. Kosher Express (Melbourne Kashrut)
263-5 Carlisle Street, Balaclava 3183. ph: +61 3 9527 9911
(Good hot dog)

3. Lamzinis (Melbourne Kashrut) 95271283
219 Carlisle St, St Kilda 3182. ph: +61 3 9525 9939

4. Rutti's Place (Melbourne Kashrut)
223 Carlisle St, Balaclava 3183. ph: +61 3 9527 4398

5. Sheli's Coffee Shop (Melbourne Kashrut)
306 Hawthorn Road, Caulfield 3062. ph: +61 3 9272 5607

6. Burger Shack (Rabbi Barber)
1/320 Carlisle Street, Balaclava 3183. ph: +61 3 9527 4992

7. Big K Cakes and Ice Cream (Adass Israel)
2/320 Carlisle Street Balaclava 3183. ph: +61 3 9527 4582

8. Kosher Delight Bakery (Adass Israel)
75 Glen Eira Rd, Elsternwick 3185.ph: +61 3 95329994

9. Menchino's Pizzeria (Adass Israel)
223 Carlisle St Balaclava 3183. ph: +61 3 9525 9939

10. Crown Casino - all restaurants with 48 hours notice. (Melbourne Kashrut)

Kosher Takeaway

1. Eshel (Adass Israel) 95328309
59 Glen Eira Road, Ripponlea 3185. ph: +61 3 9532 8309

2. ES Deli (Melbourne Kashrut)
74 Kooyong Road, Caulfield Nth 3161. ph: +61 3 9576 0804

3. The Pie Factory (NSW Kashrut)
324 Carlisle Street, Balaclava 3183. ph: +61 3 9525 9743

4. Naomi's Bake (Melbourne Kashrut)
ph: +61 3 9525 9190

5. Glicks Cakes and Bagels (Melbourne Kashrut)
330a Carlisle Street, Balaclava 3183. ph: +61 3 9527 2198

Almost Kosher

1. White Lotus
185 Victoria St, West Melbourne. ph: +61 3 9326 6040

2. Arcadia Cakes & Boiled Bagels
Carlisle St, Balaclava 3183. ph: +61 3 9525 6449
(3 tables Jewish not Kosher)

3. Polus Deli
237 Carlisle Street, Balaclava 3183. ph: +61 3 9527 5193

4. Felafel Kitchen
139 Acland St, St Kilda 3182. ph: +61 3 9525 4877
227 Chapel St, Prahran 3181. ph: +61 3 9521 2485
603 Glen Huntly Rd, Elsternwick 3185. ph: +61 3 9528 6166
(modern Israeli)

5. Deverolis's Deli
129 Acland St, St Kilda 3182. ph: +61 3 9534 8946

6. I'm Pekish
95 Acland St, St Kilda 3182. ph: +61 3 9534 1180

7. Monarch Cakes
103 Acland St, St Kilda 3182. ph: +61 3 9534 2972

8. Pit Stop
96 Acland St, St Kilda 3182. ph: +61 3 9525 5335

9. Russia European Restaurant
105 Hawthorn Rd Caulfield
(Mainly Russian)

10. Ziuta's Little Marrakech
154 Hawthorn Rd, Caulfield 3162. ph: +61 3 9530 0090

11 Haymarket Hotel

12. Cafe Chagall (ex Hungry Rosh)
326 Glen Eira Rd, Elsterwick 3185. ph: +61 3 9528 1692

David Langsam