Bruin Cafe to add kosher and halal meals
By Eric Duncan
May 14, 2006 9:00 p.m.
Bruin Cafe plans to offer kosher and halal sandwiches and salads
starting within the next week, providing more diet-specific dining
options for students on the Hill.
Associate Director of Dining Services Connie Foster and members
of the Jewish Student Union and the Muslim Student Association
agreed upon the inclusion of kosher Chinese chicken salads, turkey
onion roll sandwiches and turkey pastrami sandwiches on rye. The
foods will be available for a meal-plan swipe plus an additional
charge of $1 to $2, depending on the item.
The meals will come with a fountain drink and possibly fruit as
a side, though the side-dish details have not been decided.
Catering company Got Kosher? will be providing these options.
The company has also been providing kosher sandwiches at the
Cooperage and the Bombshelter, two on-campus eateries, for the past
two years.
Jewish and Muslim student groups expressed excitement about the
inclusion of these foods, calling it an initial victory toward
their longer-term goal.
“The Jewish and Muslim communities are thrilled at this
news,” said Ariel Hecht, JSU advocacy chairman, in a May 3
press release.
But Hecht also said “these sandwiches are … simply the
first stage in the ultimate goal of having kosher and halal meat in
every residential dining facility.”
MSA President Aliya Hussaini said she was also excited about
Bruin Cafe’s new kosher and halal food options.
“It is something that our community is in need of,”
Hussaini said.
Jewish kosher dietary laws and Muslim halal dietary laws are
similar in what kinds of meat can be eaten and how meat must be
prepared. Muslim law allows consumption of all kosher food, so all
the items provided by Got Kosher? will meet halal laws.
Hecht said Got Kosher? meats follow the most stringent kosher
laws.
“Therefore, almost all Jewish and Muslim students would be
able to eat the new food options,” Hecht said.
Bruin Cafe will be the only facility on the Hill to offer kosher
and halal options, though Foster said she hopes to expand the
program next year as necessary.
“By next year, we would like to get something at
Rendezvous,” Foster said, adding that the upcoming Rieber
Terrace restaurant will likely offer kosher burritos and
salads.
Foster, Hussaini, Hecht and other members from JSU and MSA met
last week for a taste test to determine which items should be
offered at Bruin Cafe.
“It all was very delicious,” said Hussaini, who also
said she enjoyed the variety the items provided. “I
don’t usually get to have things like that.”
