✈ Keeping Kosher in Oxnard, CA

Contributed by: Dani Klein | Last Date of Travel: August 2008

Kosher Info: Oxnard, CA houses the Herzog Wine Cellars, one of the U.S.’s finest kosher wine brands. Within the complex there is Tierra Sur, a classy glatt kosher meat restaurant, obviously with a wide selection of kosher Herzog wines. I was only able to try the burger but I was not disappointed! The burger came with sliced heirloom tomatoes, red and yellow, with options to add on: Homemade hickory and maple smoked lamb bacon, sautéed balsamic onions, and Sweet potato fries instead of regular fries. Not only was the burger amazing, but the sweet potato fries were awesome!

As far as I know, Tierra Sur is the only kosher eatery in Oxnard, and the Gold Coast of California, which includes Ventura, Ojai, and Oxnard.

Tourist Info: Oxnard is a quiet city 60+ miles north west of Los Angeles accessible by Amtrak. The city has nice houses, nice beaches, and acres of fields to go strawberry picking. Oxnard hosts the California Strawberry Festival each year. The beaches are sparsely filled, except for some of the locals and few tourists surfing and sunbathing.

Also, the Herzog Wine Cellar offers a 15-30 minute self-guided tour.

Not far off of the coast of mainland California are the Channel Islands, beautiful and untouched. You can only access the islands by boat or small plane.

Jewish Info: While in Oxnard I bumped into many Jews, not Orthodox Jews, but Jews nonetheless. I also passed by the Chabad of Oxnard, which seems to be the only Orthodox shul in town.

✈ Keeping Kosher in Vail, CO

Contributed by: Rabbi Dovid Mintz | Last Date of Travel: {Author lives in Vail}

Kosher Info: Chabad Jewish Center of Vail offers a kosher menu @ www.KosherVail.com. Meals can be ordered 24 hours in advance and are delivered daily at approximately 6 pm. Citi Market in Vail carries a small kosher section, kosher breads and pastries.

Tourist Info: Since it’s opening in December of 1962, Vail has become one of the world’s premier resort areas. Thousands of people visit every year to take advantage of Vail’s world class winter sports and exciting cultural life. Because it is such a popular tourist destination, this tiny mountain village boasts world renowned artists, and luxurious homes and lodges which would usually only be found in a larger city.

Visiting Vail:
Vail Mountain is home to some of the world’s most exciting skiing and snowboarding, as well as to other winter sports activities. The mountain boasts 5289 ski-able acres, including the legendary back bowls. RIVA is the mountain’s longest run at just over four miles. Vail’s other runs offer something for everyone, from the beginner to the world class expert. A convenient complex of 34 lifts and one gondola, as well as professional schools and magnificent lodges make any trip to Vail unforgettable.

A visit to the village of Vail can be just as fulfilling as a run down a challenging slope. Vail’s tourist industry supports a vital community of artists, musicians and performers, and a visit into town might include any number of delightful activities. Whether you’re looking an evening of live music, or unique boutique shopping, Vail can certainly deliver.

There are lots of options in terms of accommodations when visiting Vail, Colorado. Depending on your needs and preferences, you can choose from a variety of hotels, condos, lodges and even rental homes. You can choose your lodgings based on their proximity to areas of interest, their size, or the amenities they offer. The price of your lodgings will depend on the season, with prices being highest during the winter holiday season and peak winter ski season.

Jewish Info: The Chabad Jewish Center of Vail is located at 1000 Lions Ridge Loop in a Hotel called Vail Run. It is a ten minute walk from Lionshead Village and twenty minutes from Vail Village. Services are held Friday evening at 6:00 pm Shabbos and Morning at 10:00 am with a traditional Kiddush to follow. If you need a Minyan for Kaddish, please contact the Rabbi to make special arrangements. For more information call Chabad of Vail at 970.476.7887 or visit www.JewishVail.com

✈ Keeping Kosher in Istanbul, Turkey

Contributed by Dahlia Adler Fisch | Last Visit: July 2008

Kosher info: There is a surprisingly large population of Jews living in Istanbul today, but there is only one Kosher restaurant in the entire city of Istanbul. Fortunately, it’s a good one—tasty, reasonably priced, and accepts all major credit cards. Carne is located at 53 Halaskargazi Cadessi in Harbiye, which is a little bit of a trip from the popular tourist attractions in Sultanahmet but accessible either by cab or by taking the tram all the way to Kabatas, taking the funicular to Taksim, and walking up the hill. (As a bonus, you’ll also pass by the 7/11, which sells Ben & Jerry’s.) Not all the waiters speak English, so bring a phrasebook if you’ve got one. Reservations are recommended, especially later in the evening, as it starts to get much busier around eight.

Tourist info: There is an incredible amount to do in Istanbul, but several of its greatest landmarks are mosques, so avoid the Blue Mosque, Sulemaniye Mosque, and Hagia Sofia if it is your personal religious policy not to enter non-Jewish houses of worship (although they’re worth taking in from the outside, at least, and the Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque are located across the street from each other).

Other worthwhile landmarks include Topkapi Palace (where they claim to have Moses’ Staff on display…judge for yourself), the Grand Bazaar (tram stop to Bayezit) which is like the Shuk on steroids and where you are expected to bargain for absolutely everything, and the Turkish Archaeological Museum, which displays a stone from the courtyard of the Beit HaMikdash. Also highly recommended is a ferry ride on the Bosphorus, which you can catch at the Eminonu tram stop and which lasts about an hour and a half, stopping briefly on the Asian side of Istanbul. Bring a camera–I can’t emphasize this enough. Istanbul is, thankfully, a fairly inexpensive city. Admission to most tourist attractions is 10 Lira (YTL) which is about $8.50. Admission to the Blue Mosque is free, but it is closed during Muslim prayer times.

The only real you’ll-kick-yourself-for-spending-so-much-money-on-this tourist trap, unless you’re an avid photographer (but even then) is Galata Tower. It costs 10 Lira to go to the top of the tower for panoramic views of the city or to sit in their overpriced (and non-Kosher, obviously) cafe. However, the views are beautiful, and it’s conveniently located near Neve Shalom Synagogue.

Jewish Info: There are three Shuls to see in Istanbul, but be aware in advance that they all require appointments, they all require paperwork to be sent in advance, and they’re not all in the same neighborhood. Ask your hotel if they have the proper forms and if they can fax over a copy of your passport.

Ahrida Synagogue is the oldest of the three, located in the old Greek-Jewish neighborhood of Fener-Balat. If you’re staying in the Sultanahmet, be warned that Balat is FAR, and the only good way to get there is by taxi. Should you get lost, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anyone around who speaks English.

Neve Shalom is a beautiful Shul and much more conveniently located in Beyoglu, down the street from Galata Tower. However, since it has been bombed twice in the recent past, it also has the tightest security. They require extra paperwork, and without everything, you will not be admitted. Neve Shalom also contains the only mikvah in Istanbul, and is the only Shul currently in use for Shabbat services.

There is also an Ashkenaz Synagogue, but here I must admit that we could not find the address and the concierge at our hotel who made our appointment was nowhere to be found, so we missed that appointment.