May 14, 2009
Kosher, halal deli sandwiches now available on campus
For those looking for kosher or halal diets, a bit of change has come to the UW campus. Housing and Food Services (HFS) has begun offering deli sandwiches on campus that satisfy the dietary requirements of both the Jewish and Muslim faiths.
The sandwiches are from Nosh Away Inc., a family-operated kosher catering company in Renton, in partnership with HFS. Micheal Meyering, HFS project manager, said the sandwiches have been available since April 20 at two campus “Express Market” locations — at Etc., located in the HUB and at Too Convenient, adjoining the Eleven01 Cafe in the Terry-Lander residence hall.
Meyering said the change came at the prompting of Rabbi Ellie Estrin and his wife, Chaya Estrin, co-directors of Rohr Chabad Jewish Student Center, located at 5200 21st Ave NE in Seattle.
“(Chaya) explained that there are an estimated 3,000 Jewish undergraduate students, professors, grad students, doctors and staff on campus daily as well as hundreds of students of the Muslim faith who will eat only halal or kosher meat deli sandwiches, if we made them available.”
Meyering wrote in an e-mail that HFS representatives met with those of Nosh Away to discuss product quality testing, packaging, labeling, pricing and delivery. “At our very first product sampling, we were impressed with the quality of sandwiches,” Meyering wrote. He added that the company was able to accommodate HFS on the desire to use compostable packaging for the sandwich line.
Meyering said there are plans to expand the sandwich line to other UW locations, the next being Ian’s Domain, in the McCarty residence hall.
For more information on campus dining, visit the HFS Web page.
