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Young, Single and Jewish
By Rachel Tepper
My adventures as a Jewish girl in the big city, and they're anything but cliche.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Dating Kosher
 Rachel Tepper
On a first date, there are a multitude of things about which to worry. How's my hair today? Do I risk eating a dish with garlic? Does this outfit say "I'm an intelligent, independent yet warm and loving woman with an understated yet intriguing sensuality?"
On top of the normal stresses which accompany dating, I've run into yet another issue: kashrut. I don't keep kosher, but I've found that many of my dates do. This can mean trouble in finding a restaurant which appeals to both of us and may bring discomfort to an already potentially uncomfortable situation.
After encountering the problem a few times, I began formulating an action plan should the situation arise in the future. Here are some helpful tips to help you date kosher:
Tip #1: Gauge your date's adherence to kosher laws before meeting up. This is helpful on several levels -- it not only helps you figure out a place at which you'll both be happy eating, but it also may give some insight into your compatibility farther down the line. If he refuses to eat meat on plates which have been used for dairy, and you're happy to chow down on a plate of pork ribs, you may run into problems at some point.
Tip #2: If he doesn't eat unkosher meat (beef or chicken that hasn't been slaughtered under the supervision of a mashkiach) in restaurants, but does eat dairy or parve foods, try looking into a place with good vegetarian fare. Ethiopian restaurants such as Dukem and Etete have a wide variety of vegetarian options that won't make you feel like you're missing out.
Tip #3: If he's not comfortable eating in a restaurant that isn't kosher, consider planning an al fresco picnic. Simply pick up some kosher fare and plop yourselves down in a park. This way, you won’t have to sacrifice atmosphere and it’ll be a novel change from a usual restaurant environment.
Tip #4: If you’re past the first date stage, ask if you and he can cook a meal at his place. I don’t keep a kosher kitchen, so a meal prepared in my apartment is unfortunately out of the question for some guys. However, if it’s something that’s important to him and you’ve expressed willingness to compromise, eating dinner at his place would eliminate most kosher concerns and still make for an enjoyable, romantic evening.
Tip #5: If all else fails, head to Eli’s in Dupont Circle. I may not be the biggest fan of their food, but then again, I always hope my date holds my attention more than the meal I’m eating.
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Etete
1942 9th St NW
Washington, DC 20001-4108
(202) 232-7600
www.eteterestaurant.com
Dukem Ethopian Market & Carry
1114 U St NW
Washington, DC 20009-4441
(202) 667-8735
www.dukemrestaurant.com
Eli's Restaurant
1253 20th St NW
Washington, DC 20036-2307
(202) 785-4314
www.elis-dc.com
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