The first kosher restaurant in Almaty, 'Kosher', has opened its doors. The celebratory opening of the restaurant was attended by the Head Rabbi of Kazakhstan Eshaya Kogen and the Ambassador of Israel in Kazakhstan Ran Ishay.

The award of the kosher certificate to the director of the restaurant was the first important moment of the celebratory opening ceremony. The certificate confirms that all the dishes prepared in the restaurant 'Kosher' are prepared in such a way so as to allow the guests maintain their physical, psychological and moral health.

In his speech, Ran Ishay said, "I am overjoyed that a restaurant of such a calibre has been opened in Kazakhstan. I am sure that soon 'Kosher' will become the favourite place not only for Jews living on the territory of Kazakhstan, but also for the tourists visiting this country."

Kosher food is food, which conforms to all requirements of Kashrut (the Jewish laws, followed by all orthodox Jews in the world, on how to prepare and consume food). According to Kashrut, dishes may be prepared from the meat of four-legged grazing animals with cloven hooves. The animals for food purposes must be slaughtered by a specially trained butcher, Shohet. It is prohibited for the Jewish people to eat the meat of pigs, horses and camels. Thora, the main religious text, lists all the birds and fish suitable for consumption. For example, fish without scales may not be prepared for food. The meat of rabbit also cannot be consumed. It is also strictly prohibited to consume milk and eggs of non-kosher animals and birds.

The kosher restaurants would never find delicacies containing crayfish, prawn, oysters and crabs. The cooks working in these restaurants do not only carefully select ingredients, but also ensure that the food is prepared with due diligence. To remove blood from meat, it is necessary to thoroughly soak and salt it. Inexperienced people are not permitted to handle the food, as the produce can become non-kosher during any stage of preparation.

'Kosher' can truly be called the new gastronomic destination on the map of Almaty. Previously, visiting Jews had difficulty in finding appropriate food to satisfy their hunger without breaking the religious traditions. Now this problem has finally been solved. The new cosy , beautifully designed and reasonably priced restaurant now allows the natives and the guests of Almaty to treat themselves with delicious traditional Jewish cuisine.

The food at 'Kosher' is healthy, deliciously cooked by skilled cooks, will satisfy the most critical of gourmands, and is suitable for people of different religious backgrounds.

P.S. At the time of the opening of the restaurant, the photographer from "Express K" PaMir saw a sun spot through his camera lens. The sun spot jumped from Alexandr Baron, the General Director of 'Mitsva' to Ran Ishay, the Ambassador from Israel. The journalists saw this as a good sign.

Tatiana Aladyina
'Express K'