Glat kosher catering for business visitor?

My firm has someone orthodox coming in for at least a couple of days next week. I don't know if he's more modern orthodox, chabad chassidic or what. But, he will require every meal, drink, meeting break snack, etc. to be completely regulation kosher.
We are in the loop and the person doing the arranging hasn't found any place closer than Skokie that qualifies for the assignment. Anyone have any experience?

First, ask your visitor what he/she finds acceptable to eat. Will they eat a salad or cold dairy from a non-kosher restaurant? If they are "M.O." they may be O.K. with either of those. If they insist on Glatt, then almost all of your options will be located north or northern 'burbs. As far as snacks, it may be easier just to send someone to Hungarian or the Jewel on Howard to pick up enough stock for the week. We often entertain very observant friends and relatives, and it takes a bit of creativity, but it is very do-able.

http://www.crcweb.org/community/chicago ... estaurants

Try MetroKlub inside the Crowne Plaza. It's new, and I have not been there yet, but it may be your only kosher option in the Loop area. Just read about it in Dish.

733 W. Madison Street
(773) 602-2104

I would call for reservations. I believe it has a small dining area.

Suzy

You might want to get in touch with Wolfgang Puck Catering. They'll be running the Kosher Cafe in the Spertus Museum when it opens. Here's more on this particular venture:

http://www.chicagoloopalliance.com/busi ... ngPuck.htm

Call Danzinger Kosher Caterers, located on Devon Ave. They will deliver to the loop, and it will be costly, (just an fyi).

When Evil Ronnie says "costly," he's not kidding. I have a client who visits once or twice a month and also requires Glat cuisine. I use a Skokie caterer by the client's specific request, who charges $35 for a continental breakfast box (fruit, juice, kosher creamer, pastry and a sm. smoked salmon plate,) plus $55 for delivery to the Loop and an $8 credit card processing fee. The food quality is high for what it is and he's always on time w/ the delivery, but yikes! The cold box lunches are $40 each. I've never bothered to inquire what a hot lunch might be. If these prices don't scare you, PM me and I'll send you his contact info from work tomorrow.

BTW.....if you do find someone to deliver food, remember to not peel off the label on the container. Your guest may want to see its pedigree.

Tomorrow is my last day in my current job, so the team decided we should all go out for lunch today. I work for a Jewish org, and the boss keeps kosher. She normally just gets a salad somewhere, but thought it would be fun to try MetroKlub: she could actually eat, and I'd get a goodbye meal that was more upscale than Au Bon Pain.

We called on the way over to see if they'd be able to handle a walk-in group of 5, and also to tell them we had to be in and out in an hour. They said no problem.

Rolls we started with were good, not great. Wheat with sunflower kernels. Vaguely smoky taste. Good crust, decent if slightly dried out crumb.

Two of us had the turkey club, three had the grilled chicken cobb salad. Turkey was deli sliced but not slimy or gross. Thickly cut. Generous portion, along with nice tomatoes, lettuce, red onion, mustard. Very thick slices of multigrain bread. We both added the "beef frye" for a $1 upcharge. Beef frye is (as I understand it) corned beef that has been "fried" to stand in for bacon. Pretty tasty stuff, actually. Sandwiches are served with herbed fries, pickle, and cole slaw. Fries were thin cut and had a nice taste. Some were nicely crisp but others were a tad soggy.

Cobb was the usual suspects, sans cheese and with beef frye standing in for the bacon. Plates were cleaned, though I didn't try any. Dressing was a garlic and tomato concoction.

Other options on the menu were a burger, caesar salad, balsamic veggie wrap, salmon entree, some sort of pasta dish... there are probably around 15-18 total menu choices.

For dessert we split the turtle "cheesecake" (their quotes, not mine). It's soy based, but <i>mighty</i> tasty. Highly recommended.

Service was friendly and efficient. Salads and sandwiches were $8-12, entrees $12-20. For a kosher meat restaurant, not outlandish. I'll definitely go back for other business lunches.

They note on their menu that carryout, delivery, and catering are also available.

MetroKlub
733 W. Madison
(in the Crowne Plaza hotel)
(312) 602-2104

Depending upon the requirements of your guest, this deli may be a good option for you.

Ashkenaz Deli
12 E. Cedar, Chicago
Tel: (312) 944-5006

Ashkenaz serves kosher-style food, but would not suffice for someone who keeps glatt kosher. Particularly if they offer clam chowder on their menu.

I had to laugh when I saw they had "beef fry" on the menu at MetroKlub. My uncle in Connecticut is a cantor and keeps a kosher house. Many years ago when we would come to visit, he would serve beef fry to us and tell us proudly that it tasted "just like bacon." Since we did not keep a kosher home we knew this stuff didn't REALLY taste like bacon, but we were brought up too politely to tell him so and ate it anyways.

Suzy