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In Israel: Burger King > McDonald’s > Burger Ranch [Opinion]

Dani Klein — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:10:04 +0000

I know. Burger King hasn't been in Israel in nearly 2 years since the Israeli burger chain, Burger Ranch (pronounced Booger R'aanch by Israelis), bought out BK in 2010, which was sad because I LOVED Burger King on Ben Yehuda 10+ years ago when I studied in Israel. Last year on my visit to Israel, [...]

Breaking: Rosa’s Pizza in Empire State Building is No Longer Kosher

Dani Klein — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:51:47 +0000

The popular Kosher eatery in the lobby of the Empire State Building is no longer Kosher. The restaurant has reportedly been sold and will not be maintained as a Kosher pizzeria. H/T to @ElyRosenstock

New Soho Kosher Restaurant to Open: Jezebel

Dani Klein — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:40:34 +0000

An odd name, and an odd location (for a Kosher restaurant), Jezebel is seeking to create another unique kosher experience in NYC, along the likes of Pardes, Mike's Bistro, and Basil. According to this recent WSJ article, Jezebel may be the first kosher restaurant to serve nonmevushal wine (unpasterized kosher wine), which is a huge [...]

Keeping Kosher in Vilnius, Lithuania

Dani Klein — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:01:53 +0000

Contributed by Yoni Friedman | Last Date of Travel: February 2012 Kosher Info: There are two frum Indian vegetarian restaurants (not specifically kosher certified), where I ate most of the time. Both are in the old town. One is called Balti Drambliai at 41 Vilniaus Street. Very tasty, very cheap, diverse menu, great environment, my [...]

Pomegranate Bistro in Potomac, MD, Closes, Again

Dani Klein — Fri, 11 May 2012 01:14:52 +0000

For the 2nd time in under a year, Pomegranate Bistro closed it's doors, this time permanently after serving dinner on Sunday, April 29th. The restaurant reopened in January after being closed for 7 months. The owners of the restaurant claimed that the lack of financial success as well as some legal issues forced the restaurant's [...]

Review of “Basil” in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NY

Dani Klein — Thu, 03 May 2012 12:50:30 +0000

After many months pushing off dining at Basil, and after spending a Shabbat in Crown Heights, I was excited to finally try the restaurant Motzei Shabbat, only to find out they were temporarily closed due to a gas leak. Luckily, a week later we were invited by fellow foodie friends to join them at Basil [...]

The Perfect Coverup

Arlene Schulman — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:27:00 +0000

The most important lesson I’ve ever learned is to never answer the question, “So what is the most important lesson you’ve ever learned?”

My life is made up of many important lessons, just as I’m sure yours is, and what was so terribly significant two years ago is now relegated to the back of my closet. And what I consider important may be fodder for someone else’s mental paper shredder.

These lessons began in the third grade, thanks to my father who purchased a skeleton marionette at FAO Schwartz. By tilting the wooden handle, Harry’s ceramic bones separated onto the puppet strings, and he flew into pieces. My classmates loved it. You could have stuck an owl in their mouths as they watched this spectacle with awe.

But this wasn’t enough for me. I designed a red wig out of wool and led Harry in dance to Hair at the school’s talent show. Some kid’s piano concerto won first place, with second place awarded to my best friend who belted out a song from South Pacific. The lesson learned here is that people will laugh at anything.

My Greek grandmother from Janina taught me the value of a home cooked meal, accompanied by a cackling laugh. I learned to add feta cheese to everything but must have missed something because the last time I invited a friend over for dinner, he noted that he would be busy vacuuming.

“But I didn’t tell you when,” I said, puzzled.

“It doesn’t matter,” he replied, wearily. “If you’re cooking, I have other plans.”

My grandmother taught me to curse in two languages. This has been more useful.

When I was 20, my worldly lesson was “just be yourself,” which I embraced with all of the fervor and hysteria of youth but with no direction.

When I hit 30, a friend in the fashion business, Stephanie Arcel, taught me an important lesson, one that women of all sizes can benefit from, particularly those wearing too small stretch pants. I was a repeat offender, not of stretch pants because they prevent me from breathing, but of waist-length jackets. Stephanie ticketed me.

“Always - cover - your - ass,” she said.

“It presents a better line,” she explained. “No one needs to see what’s behind you.”

I took her advice and diligently follow it by wearing long sweaters and blouses covering my contentious but hopefully, not too large derrierre. Based on the shapes and sizes I’ve seen on others, she’s right. Some things are better left to the imagination.

Stephanie, the wife of the legendendary boxing trainer Ray Arcel, first met when I interviewed her husband and covered the boxing scene more than a decade or so ago. She always looks impeccable. In another time, I can picture her at the Alqonquin offering a one-two punch loaded with charm at Dorothy Parker, with constructive comments about her fashion ensemble and ways to improve her witticisms, just as she’s always contributed suggestions to me.

Ray, she recalls, advised her, like one of his champion prizefighters, “Don’t be a district attorney.” She passed it on to me but I haven’t learned that lesson. It must be the journalist in me: I must know how and why everything works. In all the years I’ve known her and as many times as I’ve asked her, Stephanie has never revealed her age or how many times she’s been married.

I kind of agree about the first one but would include hair color and weight. People will decide for themselves.

I taught myself an important lesson, shared here with you. It has taken eight years for me to earn my bachelor’s degree and I graduate, finally, this June. In reality, it has taken me a total of twelve years, five colleges, seven boyfriends (at some point, I stopped counting) and several careers over too many years, but this is another story. The lesson here is that time will pass, whether or not you decide to go back to school, embark on another adventure, or sit on the couch and watch television, and complain about life passing you by.

Another lesson here: You, too, will be fine without the television. But stick with the laughs and feta cheese. And always, always - cover - your - ass.

A special thanks to Manuel Guzman for the photograph at the end of the video.

A Review of “Basta Pasta” in Jerusalem, Israel

AmySpiro — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:31:02 +0000

Article and photos by @AmySpiro, Israel correspondent There are many restaurants that get their clientele from their locations on main thoroughfares. But it’s the ones hidden away from the public eye – and heard about by way of mouth – that often have the tastiest fare. Such is the case with Basta Pasta, a tiny hole-in-the-wall [...]

✈ Keeping Kosher in Oahu / Honolulu, Hawaii

CholentTheTraveler — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:15:01 +0000

Contributed by Alon Asefovitz | Last Date of Travel: January 2012 Kosher Information: In January my wife and I decided to take a trip to Hawaii for a week and just relax before she gives birth. We came with some food but we were aware of the various options out there for us. There are [...]

✈ Keeping Kosher in Anna Maria Island, FL (Outside of Tampa / St. Petersburg)

ima2seven — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:34:31 +0000

Contributed by Rachel Moore | Last Date of Travel: February 2012 Four women turning forty years old, middle school friends who have not seen each other since they were sixteen, rent a Florida beach house together for 5 days. Sounds like the beginning of a chick flick doesn’t it? We had all been close [...]