The Ultimate Forum Meeting - An Idea and A Poll

[Daniel Rogov]

Possibly because we have been talking about cholent in another thread, and possibly because I am planning cholent for this weekend, a thought popped into mind - that of a cholent meal that I would prepare to which all forum members would be invited.

My idea - for me to make an arrangement with one of the kosher restaurants in Tel Aviv (ideally in my mind Lilith) to start a cholent not on the traditional Friday afternoon but starting after the restaurant closes on Saturday night, thus to cook diligently until it is ready for Sunday evening. The cookery will all be done by me with of course the supervision of the resident mashgiachto ensure that all is both literally and proverbially "kosher".

Following this, for forum members from Israel and the world to meet on Sunday evening at the restaurant, each person bringing the kosher wine of their choice (sparkling wines would be served as aperitifs, whites with a light first course, reds with the cholent, dessert wines with or as dessert) and there to take the private room at the restaurant in order to host as many as forty people. A way for many of us to meet, to simultaneously keep the meal so that it is fully acceptable both to those who keep kashrut and those who do not, and simply to enjoy ourselves.

Please note that all are invited, those who do and do not keep kashrut, those who may or may not be Jewish. Only one thing counts - that we love good food (cholent in particular), good wine and good company.

The logistics will be hell, I agree, for we will have to determine when and if at all those residing outside of Israel will be available for such a meeting. As to costs, a certain amount for the restaurant of course for letting us use their facilities and for the first course as well as a generous tip (because we will surely leave the waitstaff half insane). I'll pick up the costs for the cholent but each person will have to bring a bottle of wine with them to go with the meal.

Please share your thoughts and feedback here. If feedback is largely positive I will offer three possible dates for meeting and then we will, as life has it, "go from there". If feedback is not largely positive, c'est la vie.

Best
Rogov

[Isi M]

Great idea !

[Jonathan Kalman]

Yes please; I'm in (and I don't even like cholent!).

[HazelG]

Looking forward to hearing more details. Hope it works out.

Hazel

[Eli R]

Great Idea!
Considering the facts that we all would need to get back home, even if not driving, I would suggest that one bottle of a good wine per two persons would do.

[Mark Lieser]

I'm definitely in.

Although, I must admit I can't believe I'm agreeing to go to a good restaurant to eat cholent! My wife will think I've gone insane. (But I guarantee she'll want to come, too.)

[David L]

Rogov,

How about we arrange a special meet-up for all the NY metro forumites??

[Matilda L]

Sounds like a great idea. I don't plan to be in Israel any time soon... so I'll be watching for the posts after the event.

[Jonathan Kalman]

Great Idea!
Considering the facts that we all would need to get back home, even if not driving, I would suggest that one bottle of a good wine per two persons would do.

Eli, I didn't know you were my mother!
Seriously, whilst I do recognize the validity of the driving issue I think that Daniel should stick with his original plan and all of the participants can use their own judgement about how much they drink.

[YoelA]

Would that I could attend but the round-trip airfare would make this the most expensive cholent ever. Carry on without me, unless perchance I hapen to be in the country at the right time.

[Michael J]

Sounds to me like a good idea

[HazelG]

Would that I could attend but the round-trip airfare would make this the most expensive cholent ever.

especially if you brought a bottle of Rom with you.

[Isi M]

Great Idea!
Considering the facts that we all would need to get back home, even if not driving, I would suggest that one bottle of a good wine per two persons would do.

Eli, I didn't know you were my mother!
Seriously, whilst I do recognize the validity of the driving issue I think that Daniel should stick with his original plan and all of the participants can use their own judgement about how much they drink.

Agree.

No one will be forced in finishing the bottles till last drop !

I might even bring 2 ....

[Jonathan Kalman]

Great Idea!
Considering the facts that we all would need to get back home, even if not driving, I would suggest that one bottle of a good wine per two persons would do.

Eli, I didn't know you were my mother!
Seriously, whilst I do recognize the validity of the driving issue I think that Daniel should stick with his original plan and all of the participants can use their own judgement about how much they drink.

Agree.

No one will be forced in finishing the bottles till last drop !

I might even bring 2 ....

Isi,
I am sure that you know the saying "A magnum is a reasonable amount of wine for two gentlemen to consume over lunch, provided that they have drunk a bottle of champagne beforehand"

[Isi M]

Isi,
I am sure that you know the saying "A magnum is a reasonable amount of wine for two gentlemen to consume over lunch, provided that they have drunk a bottle of champagne beforehand"

Of course !

And don't forget the almost endless absorbtion ability of cholent ...

[Jonathan Kalman]

And don't forget the almost endless absorbtion ability of cholent ...

Here I will bow to your superior knowledge in these matters.

[M Kremer]

I'm not a big cholent eater, but since reading this post, I feel like cholent. Will be interesting to try Rogov's cholent. Waiting for it already, i.e. I'm definitely in.

Michael K

[Isi M]

I'm not a big cholent eater

[Scott Lancer]

If it was held within three hours of my home, or on a day I will be in New York City already, yes definitely. As I will not be in Europe any time in the near future, I would not be able to attend.

[Josh Patt]

Sounds good to me - count me in.
Josh

[Alan B]

A simply BRILLIANT idea...but....

I second the motion to have one in New York City. I would most certainly attend that one!

((and I LOVE cholent... ))

[Ben Kfir]

Q # 1 : Who eats cholent in the summer ?
As far as I know cholent is a heavy dish that you wait to a very cold winter Shabtt to eat it.
Last that I have been told June and July are not in the cold winter (at least not in Israel).

Q # 2 : Who drinks heavy red wines along with cholent?
Cholent goes woderfuly with lots of beer.

Q # 3 : Who eats cholent in the evening?
Cholent is a very heavy dish that you eat at Shbatt noon and hope to recover till night.
Otherwise there is always the possibility that one will go to sleep (after cholent in the evening)
and will never wake up next morning.

count me in. I'll be happy to come.

Ben

[Jonathan Kalman]

Otherwise there is always the possibility that one will go to sleep (after cholent in the evening)
and will never wake up next morning.
Ben

Sounds like a plan to me.

[Daniel Rogov]

Ben, Hi....

You be right about cholent during the summer time, and best indeed may be to hold until October or so. Also from reading through responses it sounds as if may be a good idea to schedule two meetings - the first for those who can make it to Tel Aviv and the second at a New York restaurant setting.

From the responses it surely does seem to be a viable set of options. I suggest let's hold now until September and then start coordinating dates, places, wines and others of the logistics. I shall post here again shortly after Yom Kippur and then we shall see how it goes.

Best
Rogov