Thursday, September 21, 2017

Happy New Year : What's Kosher In A London Supermarket?

 Problem
What to buy to entertain Jewish guests who keep kosher? By the time we set off after work on Wednesday September 21st the Jewish style restaurant, B & K had shut. We went to the big supermarket on a mission to buy apples and honey - and to see what else a large general supermarket could supply.

First, where was the kosher section? Everything had moved around with a large area for clothes, especially back to school and children's clothes.  The signs direct you to Kosher foods, Asian foods and all kinds of special sections.

Answer
Let's take a look at Morrisons supermarket in England. Our aim was to buy apples and honey.

The first thing we recognized was Rakusen's Matzos. Rakusen's were also offering chocolate bears. Something to amuse children, we thought. We were in the dried good section.

Honey for sweet new year. We saw nougat. We had the bright idea of checking for different kinds. Cranberry and almond, or dark chaolate, three kinds of nougat. We had to hunt right at the back of the shelf and found a third variety.


The apple crumble cake was more expensive than the marble cake, we presumed because having fruit meant more ingredients and perhaps a shorter shelf life.


Finally wines, kosher wines.


Quite a choice. What about the drivers? Two sorts of grape juice.

Then off to the fish section for smoked salmon. We did some price comparisons of different packs.

Next the meat section. We found Gilbert's and other brands. Falafel. Vegetarian. Suits everybody.

Then to the honey section.
Solid honey or liquid honey? Liquid honey so you can dip apple slices in it. My companion bought three types of honey. I sigh. Surely one would do. We are three times over budget, a trolley full of food, apparently to entertain one person.

One Or Three?
I recall how my husband used to tell me I should take only one of something and I always took three. Now I see somebody else doing the same, three types of honey, three types of nougat. I recall my husband's complaint, 'You are spending my money!'

Decisions
It is not only the money. It is the time the clutter, the waste of leftover food. The incessant search for something better. I can now see both sides. It's also about not being able to make a decision.

Fruit
Then to fruit. We did not see pomegranates, whose seeds symbolise life. However, having gone over our budget, we were delighted with Gala apples which at £1 for six were the bargain of the day.

Shana Tova - Happy New Year!

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

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