LOCAL PASSOVER SHOPPING IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY

TUE, MARCH 31, 2015
By : Avi Greif

As we celebrate 11 years since the founding of SKAC, we once again offer the local Fairfield County Kosher community a little insight to local (5) store Passover shopping to help make your Kosher food shopping experience a little easier.

SKAC has been working closely with the Costco location in Norwalk, CT for the past 8 years. Passover items are available again in the refrigerated Kosher aisle (adjacent to the produce cold box) – Meal Mart brand Chopped Chicken Liver, Matzo Ball Soup, Spare Ribs, Pot Roast, Kosher & Natural brand Assorted Cheeses. New York Deli brand Corned Beef & Turkey. Please ask Tom Daly (store manager) for assistance.

Once again our friends at Stop & Shop Ridgeway are featuring their quality Passover section, located in the center (#4 & #5) aisle. Frozen items will be found at the “endcap” frozen case across from the dairy / milk area, which should be labeled accordingly. Klein’s brand Ice cream variety will be available for the holidays in the frozen case. Refrigerated items will be found in the usual kosher dairy case, next to the regular refrigerated dairy / milk items. As always, please check packaging for Kosher for Passover use. Please ask Pat (store manager) for assistance

The Fairway Market will also be setting up their Passover Section, with a large variety of grocery, baked goods and of course, fresh butcher meats and poultry. Check the signage for Passover frozen and dairy items. Most Passover grocery items should be located in the rear of the store, running from the kosher butcher dept. leading into the bakery dept. Please ask Robert Reinisch (store manager) for assistance.

Shop Rite / Grade A at Newfield Green has set up a 20 foot Passover dry grocery section as you walk in to the store. Packaged Glatt Kosher Meats and Kosher Poultry will be available in the cold case at the rear of the store. Sodas will be available both in the Passover section and of course in the regular soda aisle. Feel free to pick up a Shop Rite Kosher for Passover book in rear of courtesy desk to check on other Passover store items. Please ask Michael Campos for assistance.

A & P on High Ridge road (adjacent to the Merritt Pkwy) has basic Passover grocery items at the front end caps at aisles 3, 5 & 6. Please check signage. Empire fresh chicken is available for the holidays at the rear of the store. Large frozen Empire turkeys are available as well. Please ask Tony Cuccaro (store manager) for assistance.

Please consult with Rabbi Fred Hyman, President of the ( VKFC ) Fairfield County Vaad, with any kosher supervision questions or concerns you may have. Rabbi Hyman can be reached at rebfred@hotmail.com

Eat & Enjoy. Chag Kasher V’ Sameach,

REMINDER – As the SKAC is NOT the “Kosher Police “ , we therefore suggest, as always, that you check with your Rabbinical leader / advisor, with any questions you may have with any kosher supervising organization.

As always, remember to check the kosher certificate at every kosher supervised store location, before your purchase, to ensure that your order meets the kosher guidelines for that establishment !

Avi Greif is the Chairman of the (SKAC) Stamford Kosher Activists Committee, you can reach him at avig1@optonline.net.

I’LL TAKE A NICE HOT PIZZA AND TOP IT OFF WITH WITH A COOL FROZEN YOGURT!

MON, SEPTEMBER 16, 2013
Mikes-Center-Cafe-at-the-Stamford-JCC

Over the last 8 months, Mike Klein & Kelly Adams have been welcoming both JCC members and members of the greater Stamford Jewish community to Mike’s Center Café & Bakery, located inside the Stamford JCC, serving a variety of pizza, calzones, sandwiches and salads.

For those who arrive in the morning, a variety of bagel breakfasts and assorted coffee and teas are waiting for you.

The Café serves kosher customers as far East as Westport to Westchester families West of Greenwich and Stamford.

Catering is also available, with a variety of platters, including sandwiches, wraps, smoked fish, sushi, cheese, egg & tuna salads, etc., plus pastries and custom cakes.

The Café which originally was based at the JCC in New Haven and delivering to the Stamford location, has since relocated their base of operations to Stamford and has installed a new pizza oven, ensuring a fresher product.

The Café & Bakery are certified kosher by the (VKFC) Vaad HaKashrut of Fairfield County

All dairy products are Cholov & Pas Yisroel and all baked goods are Parve.

Contact Info – Phone # 203-321-0051 Mike’s Cell # 203-528-7382

mikescentercafe@gmail.com

Find Them On facebook

Erik Mallon was born and bred here in Stamford, and along with his wife Lisa, opened 16 Handles over a year ago, providing customers with a variety of frozen yogurt and toppings. No sugar and Sorbet (no milk) varieties are also available.

In addition a unique line of Artisan flavors round out their selections.

Hosting of private parties and functions, including catering, is available upon request.

Other related products available are : cakes, yogurt sandwiches and during the winter months, enjoy hot chocolate and warmed desserts.

The store is located at 219 Bedford Street in downtown Stamford.

Their phone # is 203-817-0707 and email is : Stamford@16handles.com

The store is currently under kosher supervision by the Chof-K kosher organization.

Eat & Enjoy.

Avi Greif
Chairman
SKAC
avig1@optonline.net

Please consult with Rabbi Fred Hyman, President of the local Vaad, VKFC, with any kosher supervision questions or concerns you may have. Rabbi Hyman can be reached at rebfred@hotmail.com or calling 1- 203-389-9513. x23.

Visit the NEWLY UPDATED SKAC website – www.skaconline.com

REMINDER – As SKAC is NOT the “Kosher Police”, we therefore suggest, as always, that you check with your Rabbinical leader / advisor, with any questions you may have with any kosher supervising organization.

As always, remember to check the kosher certificate at every kosher supervised store location, before your purchase, to ensure that your order meets the kosher guidelines for that establishment !

FAIRWAY UPDATE

THU, JULY 28, 2011
FAIRWAY MARKET (Stamford, CT) –

In honor of everyone celebrating a birthday tomorrow, July 29th (tic) – Fairway is introducing Kosher rotisserie chickens, located directly across from the current Glatt Kosher Meat, Kosher chicken case, at the rear of the store.

Fairway will soon be carrying a line of “Cholov Yisroel” supervised dairy product brands, available in the near future.

Fairway management will also begin to reach out to all the schools, Jewish organizations and synagogues in the Fairfield County market, with a variety of programs that will assist these organizations with their events.

Please Stay Tuned –

You can check out the kosher updates on the news above by going to www.skaconline.com

Have A Great Summer –
Eat & Enjoy !
Shabbat Shalom,

Avi Greif
Chairman
SKAC

REMINDER – As the SKAC is NOT the “Kosher Police “ , we therefore suggest, as always, that you check with your Rabbinical leader / advisor, with any questions you may have with any kosher supervising organization.

As always, remember to check the kosher certificate at every kosher supervised store location, before your purchase, to ensure that your order meets the kosher guidelines for that establishment !

COSTCO UPDATE

THU, JULY 28, 2011
COSTCO (Norwalk, CT) –

Many of our local Kosher customers have been quite vocal regarding the removal of the fresh Kosher case at COSTCO (Norwalk, CT), that featured bothEmpire brand Kosher Poultry varieties and a selection of Solomon’s brand Glatt Kosher Beef products.

So much so, that it has been, by far, the largest response to SKAC for a local Kosher issue, in quite a long time.

SKAC, at the request of local store management, recently contacted COSTCO corp. HQ in Virginia and discussed the issue with their decision makers on this very topic.

As expected, it’s all a numbers game. If a product is introduced into the store and is moving according to expected sales levels, it stays. Should the product not sustain those expected sales numbers, it’s replaced with products with a better track record.

The concepts of niche marketing and seasonal sales, as it relates to the Kosher market was introduced by SKAC to corp. management, where upon, management agreed with the input SKAC provided.

The status has now has been revised from no more fresh meat & poultry Kosher product availability, to the possibility of renewing the fresh Kosher case, pending a review.

Ultimately – should COSTCO decide to reinstate the fresh kosher case, it can only be sustained by an increase in sales numbers.

Therefore – all those customers who were so vocal on losing the section, will hopefully be able to have an opportunity to “walk the walk”, and keep the fresh Kosher case for years to come.

SKAC will keep you posted on the outcome of COSTCO’s review.

LOCAL PASSOVER SHOPPING GUIDE, 2011

THU, MARCH 31, 2011
SKAC – Kosher Alert – Local Passover Shopping Guide

Thursday, March 31, 2011

For your Passover Shopping Convenience, SKAC has provided the local availability of food categories at the various local stores in the community.

As always – please check all labels for Kosher For Passover Use on all products purchased.

Bear in mind that certain dairy related products, such as cottage cheese or butter, may have their “Kosher for Passover” identification on the “date stamp” printed on the cover or side of the package.

Other Passover related symbols to look for is the letter “P” (for Passover), next to a supervising agency logo, such as the “P”, next to the “OU” symbol onEmpire brand chicken or turkey packages.

STORE NAME MEAT POULTRY CHEESE GROCERY DESSERTS FROZEN
COSTCO * (NORWALK CT) Yes Yes Yes Limited No No
FAIRWAY MARKET Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
MRS. GREEN’S NATURAL MARKET Yes Yes No No No No
SHOP RITE / GRADE A (NEWFIELD) No Yes Yes Yes Yes No
STOP & SHOP (RIDGEWAY) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
WHOLE FOODS (GREENWICH) No Yes No No No No
*Please refer to the SKAC website (www.SKAConline.com) for NEW Costco members to take advantage of the new application discount, with a printout of the SKAC / Costco discount coupon.

For those who prefer having Passover catered locally, Sweet on You (kosher supervision under VKFC), is featuring a catered full pareve Passover menu. Please contact Rebecca Martin (rebecca@sweetonyoubakery.com) or at 203-321-0066, for more information.

We here at SKAC hope you find the information above useful during the next 2 weeks of Passover shopping.

Wishing everyone a most enjoyable seder and healthy / happy holiday.

Chag Kasher V’ Sameach,

Avi Greif
Chairman
SKAC
avig1@optonline.net

Our best wishes for a Happy PassoverThe Stamford Kosher Activists Committee

THE NEW JEWISH VOICE, MARCH 2011

TUE, MARCH 1, 2011
Kosher Korner, The New Jewish Voice, March 2011

Tuesday, March 1, 2011Read the new Kosher Korner article, This Year It’s Purim at Costco, Passover at Both Stop & Shop and Fairway Market, published in the March 2011 issue of The New Jewish Voice.

FAIRWAY MARKET BAKERY DEPT. UPDATE
FRI, FEBRUARY 25, 2011 KIMMIE WARMFLASH
SKAC – Kosher Alert – Fairway Market Bakery Dept. Update

Friday, February 25, 2011 12:30 PM

Beginning March 1st, all fresh baked goods (breads, rolls & pastries) in the cases and with the Fairway label, are all under the Rabbinical Supervision of Rabbi Abraham Marmorstein.

Signage has also been updated to provide Dairy or Parve designations.

Always check signage or ask the staff to ensure your purchase is under kosher supervision.

Avi Greif Chairman, SKAC