Kosher foods are becoming increasingly popular around the country, and you can find kosher food distributors in most major cities to help you plan your kosher menu. Kosher specialty and gourmet foods education and training will help you understand the intricacies of a kosher menu, so you can prepare your kosher foods according to the kosher principles and laws.

Kosher gourmet foods can add to your bottom line, but you have to follow the rules. Learn about kosher certified foods by:

1. Attending conferences and food festivals that offer kosher foods information.

2. Reading books that offer information on restaurant kosher food preparation and training.

3. Learn about kosher certification and what kosher food ingredients to use in your menus.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Attend kosher food conferences and events to learn more about serving and preparing kosher foods

Kosher food festivals and conventions offer an opportunity to learn more about offering kosher food, while becoming aware of the kosher food laws and how to keep a kosher kitchen. They also offer specific seminars on kosher topics, like choosing the right kosher meats for your restaurant.

I recommend: Kosherfest is an annual food festival for the kosher industry, offering events, food producers, and seminars on the kosher food business. The annual Hazon Food Conference takes place on the West Coast, and offers seminars on a variety of kosher food issues and trends.

Read books and view videos on kosher foods to learn about preparing a kosher meal

You can find information on kosher foods from a kosher food distributor, but if you want to create your own kosher recipes, you'll need to know what foods are kosher, how to keep your kitchen kosher, and even what serving and cooking utensils to keep in your kitchen. Online videos and books teach you everything you need to know about rabbinically supervised food, from kosher gourmet meat to everything in between.

I recommend: KosherQuest offers a book, "What is Kosher?" with online chapters available on just about every kosher topic you can think of. The Orthodox Union offers several informational videos to help you learn more about kosher cooking and official kosher certification.

Learn more about kosher food suppliers, certification, and kosher food production online

You can use the information you find online to create your own kosher offerings rather than looking for a company that does kosher food distribution, but you'll need kosher certification to do it from your commercial kitchen.

I recommend: Kosher Consumer offers a "Mini-Course in Kashrus" that offers the information you need to know on preparing and serving kosher meals. OK Kosher Certification offers guides on kosher foods and applying for and gaining kosher certification.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you don't want to invest in an entire kosher menu to augment your regular menu, think about adding some menu items from a kosher food supplier, or get your feet wet by throwing a special Passover or Hanukkah party with kosher food, to judge the interest in kosher food in your area.

When you're stocking your specialty store shelves, don't forget kosher gourmet foods. Choose from kosher gourmet meat, pastries, candies, sauces and other kosher groceries. Kosher specialty and gourmet foods meet high standards that make kosher foods a good choice for anyone who wants to stay healthy. And thanks to the variety of online suppliers, you'll easily find the right mix for your customers.

Kosher gourmet foods also make excellent gift baskets that are sure to be remembered. Choose from a variety of kosher foods, from nuts and fruits to salmon and wine. Kosher foods can also be a staple at your next office party. To buy kosher foods, consider:

1. Choosing kosher gourmet foods for the perfect gift baskets for employees and clients;

2. Buying kosher gourmet meats at great prices online to stock your store or for an office party;

3. Or selecting from wholesale kosher food distributors online for a full selection of foods.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose kosher gourmet foods for the perfect gift baskets for employees and clients

Kosher specialty and gourmet foods make the perfect gift when you want to say thanks to a special client or employee. Choose a variety of kosher foods for a gift basket. Some gift baskets have nuts, fruits, cordials and other scrumptious goodies. Or choose gift baskets with smoked salmon, chocolate-covered cherries, gourmet mustards and other delicious choices.

I recommend: For the perfect kosher gift basket, go to Raising the Candy Bar or GourmetGiftBaskets.com.

Buy kosher gourmet meats at great prices online to stock your store or for an office party

Kosher certified foods include a long list of kosher meats that will satisfy your customers. These kosher meats also are the beginnings of a great kosher meal to serve at your office party. At online kosher food suppliers, choose from kosher bison, chicken, beef, lamb and veal. And you can also find barbecue chicken and even turducken online.

I recommend: For bison, chicken, beef, lamb and deli meats, go to Kohn's Kosher. Check out Aaron's Gourmet Emporium, Inc., for grass-fed organic beef, barbecue chicken, turducken and ground veal.

Buy from wholesale kosher food distributors online for a full selection of foods

Find everything you need for your store at online kosher food distribution sites. Kosher food suppliers carry everything from frozen and refrigerated kosher foods, wines, candies and other groceries. With the extensive list of kosher foods available, you're sure to find all the right products to keep your customers happy.

I recommend: For refrigerated foods, frozen items and wines, go to Shalom and Sons. Check out Kosher Mania for candy, cakes, pastry, pasta, chocolates and other groceries.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When choosing online kosher food distribution, make sure the delivery schedule is in line with your needs. You want to ensure you can get fast shipment when you have a special order.

Depending on your clientele, it may be considered more important to understand kosher specialty and gourmet food key terms than to understand the terminology related to any other specialty foods. For your customers who are following extensive and complicated Jewish dietary laws (or kashrut), it is vital you stock the right foods at the right time. Since your customers want to know the food you carry is perfectly acceptable according to their religious laws, it's important for you to understand some of the nuances of kosher food. With that in mind, here are some terms with which you may not be familiar.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Batul

Batul means nullified. The Talmud allows that, in specific instances, a small amount of non-kosher food is acceptable if mixed in with kosher food. However, the unacceptable food must make up less than one sixtieth of the whole food.

I recommend: OuKosher.org discusses the nuances of batul in regard to liquor in "Hard Truths About Hard Liquor." See paragraph seven.

Cholov Yisroel

Cholov Yisroel refers to situations in which dairy products (such as cheese, milk powder and other foods) are under complete Rabbinical supervision. A designation of Cholov Yisroel ensures the dairy product is absolutely kosher.

I recommend: Star-K Kosher Certification discusses Cholov Yisroel in-depth.

Kasher

To kasher means to make kosher. Often, this word is used in regard to salting and soaking kosher poultry and meat. It may also be used to describe the koshering of non-kosher utensils or kitchens.

I recommend: For more background information on kashering food and other forms of kashering, visit WiseGEEK.

Mevushal

Mevushal is a term related to Kosher wine. Mevushal literally means 'cooked,' and at one time, all mevushal wine was boiled, making it pretty tasteless. However, today, mevushal wine is usually brought to a high temperature and then swiftly cooled so the flavor of the wine isn't ruined.

I recommend: KosherWineInfo.com offers complete information about what makes a wine mevushal.

Pareve

Food that is pareve is neutral. In other words, the food contains neither poultry, dairy, meat nor their derivatives. Pareve foods include vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes and eggs.

I recommend: The Chicago Rabbinical Council website offers a discussion of what pareve really means and whether those with dairy allergies can eat all pareve products.

Yoshon

Yoshon literally means 'old.' Yoshon is the old grain (grain that takes root before Passover) that is thoroughly permissible to eat. If a food is called yoshon, it has yoshon grains in it.

I recommend: OU.org discusses in detail the idea of yoshon and how it applies to various foods.