Jews in Passaic NJ explain burning of chametz for Passover
Shmuel Winiarz, of Passaic, explains why jews burn bread before the start of Passover. Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Kevin R. Wexler, NorthJersey.com
Passover commemorates the Israelites’ escape from slavery and involves avoiding leavened grains.Nashville has limited certified kosher dining, so many people cook or plan ahead for the holiday.Several restaurants offer “Passover-friendly” menus, which typically avoid leavened grains but are not certified.A few establishments, like Nova Market and Grins Vegetarian Café, are kosher-certified and offer suitable options.
Passover begins before sundown on Wednesday, April 1, and ends after nightfall on Thursday, April 9.
The holiday commemorates the Israelites’ escape from slavery in ancient Egypt. During that time, observant Jews avoid chametz, which means leavened grains like bread, pasta and beer.
Many Ashkenazi Jews also avoid kitniyot (rice, corn and legumes). Sephardi Jews generally don’t.
When dining out: kosher-for-Passover restaurants use certified ingredients and kashered kitchens. “Passover-friendly” spots typically just skip obvious chametz with no certification, no guarantees.
The reality: Nashville isn’t a kosher dining city. There are a few certified kitchens, a handful of workarounds and a lot of ‘kosher-friendly’ gray area. For strict Passover observance, most people are cooking, preordering or planning ahead.
Where to find kosher-friendly food in NashvilleSpecial dinner at Sadie’s
This Wedgewood Houston haunt is offering a Passover menu built for sharing, available April 1-9. Choose from a dinner for two ($78) or four ($140), featuring a charoset-inspired salad with apples, walnuts and dates, Israeli-style braised chicken with sweet potatoes and quinoa and almond cake for dessert. Served family-style in-house starting at 4 p.m., with preorders available for pickup or delivery (2–6:30 p.m.) with 24 hours’ notice. No pickup on Easter Sunday (April 5). 1200 Villa Place
Aba’s special menu
This design-forward Mediterranean spot is leaning into Passover with a short run of holiday specials available April 1-2, alongside its usual mezze lineup. Expect matzo ball soup, crispy potato, Parmesan and Brussels sprout latkes with scallion crema, and a warmly spiced apple matzo kugel with golden raisins and apricot. The spread is available for dine-in and carryout. Reserve on OpenTable. 435 Houston St.
Holy Smokes Artisanal Kosher
A small but dialed-in kosher food truck serving brisket, shawarma, falafel and barbecue on a tight, well-executed menu. Everything is certified kosher through Chabad of Nashville, and there are solid Passover-friendly options depending on the day. Parked near Vanderbilt (390 24th Ave. S.), with hours tied to the academic calendar.
Jerusalem ReeBar
A South Nashville staple for fast, fresh Middle Eastern food: hummus, baba ghanouj, falafel, grape leaves and bright, herb-heavy salads like tabbouleh and fattoush. Not kosher-certified, but often considered kosher-friendly thanks to halal meats, no alcohol and a deep bench of vegan options. 360 Elysian Fields Ct.
Grins Vegetarian Café
Inside Vanderbilt’s Jewish Life Center, this kosher-certified vegetarian café quietly overdelivers. Think grilled sandwiches, soups, salads and an excellent lineup of kosher, vegan and gluten-free baked goods. Open to the public when school is in session. By the way: “grins” means “greens” in Yiddish. Closed during Passover; order ahead. 2421 Vanderbilt Pl.
Noshville Delicatessen
Old-school, New York–style deli energy in Green Hills. Latkes, blintzes, towering sandwiches and a matzo ball soup that people are weirdly loyal to. Around Passover, it’s especially useful: preorder quarts of matzo ball soup, house-made haroset, chopped liver and sliced meats by the pound. 4014 Hillsboro Circle
Succulent Vegan Tacos
Inside the Nashville Farmers’ Market, this kosher-certified (Nashville Kashrut Commission) vegan taqueria leans hard into Mexico City–style street food; think al pastor seitan, chipotle carrots, bright salsas. Fully pareve kitchen, but heavy use of grains and legumes means limited Passover play unless you’re being flexible. 900 Rosa L Parks Blvd
Woodlands Indian Vegetarian Cuisine
A West End standby with a massive vegetarian menu including dosas, chaat, curries and thalis, all made under kosher certification. It’s a reliable, flavorful option year-round, especially for vegan diners. For Passover, though, the menu leans heavily on lentils, rice and grains, so usefulness depends on how strictly you’re observing. 3415 West End Ave.
Nova Market & Café
Nashville’s only fully kosher market and café, tucked into Bellevue. Israeli-leaning menu, dairy kosher (Mehadrin) under Chabad supervision, plus a full grocery of kosher staples. During Passover, this is one of the most practical stops in town. It’s stocked with kosher-for-Passover products and prepared foods when available. 7648 Hwy 70 S.
Nashville Kosher Take Out
A Chabad-run, advance-order operation geared toward travelers and anyone planning ahead. Expect glatt kosher, double-wrapped meals designed for easy reheating, so it’s straightforward and reliable with no surprises. Note: It’s closed during Passover, so order ahead. nashvillekoshertakeout.com
Sunflower Bakehouse
The Donelson sibling to Sunflower Cafe, focused on vegan, gluten-free baked goods plus breakfast, sandwiches and grab-and-go items. Great for dietary restrictions, but not a strong Passover option with no certification, shared kitchen, lots of grains. 2414 Lebanon Pike
Avo
A long-running vegan restaurant in West Nashville with a creative, vegetable-forward menu. Once kosher-certified, it no longer is, making it a fit for plant-based diners, but not for those keeping kosher or observing Passover. 4 City Blvd #104
Reach Mackensy Lunsford at mlunsford@tennessean.com.
Dining and Cooking