Keeping Kosher for Passover

By Michael Sarko
- The Capitol Hill Times -

The Hebrew National Kosher difference. http://www.hebrewnational.com/kosher-difference.jsp

As anyone who keeps a low-carb diet can tell you, avoiding bread when dining out can be a real pain in the neck. This week it’s not just dieters who are skipping out on grains. The Jewish observance of Passover is upon us and that means bread is off the menu for the Chosen People who still want to indulge in Capitol Hill’s stellar restaurant scene. Tough as it may be to keep kosher for the holiday at Seattle’s epicenter for Italian pasta, Asian rice dishes and all manner of deluxe hamburgers, it is still possible to enjoy some excellent eats during Passover on the Hill.

Kiki Tap and Eatery on Pine is a great place to start. Ashkenazim will have to skip the tempura and the noodles (rice and flour are off limits in the Eastern European tradition) but Kiki has an extensive menu of small plates that make cobbling together a large and varied meal with dietary restrictions simple.

That no-rice rule makes enjoying Asian food during Passover that much more difficult, but remember sushi is just sashimi that’s riding on rice for volume. Momiji, on 12th Avenue, is a sushi favorite and one of the highest-rated raw fish destinations in all of Seattle. Ten dollars gets you two pieces each of tuna, salmon and yellowtail sans the traditional bed of white.

Of course, you may hail from the Sephardic tradition instead, which means rice is back on the menu. In that case, pursue the filling power of noodles. Boom Noodle on Pike should do the trick, just keep an eye out for sneaky shellfish.

Happy Passover and Bon Appetit.