(On which note, soon Markys will be joined by Hakotel, the excellent shawarma, shishlik, etc. joint near Bathurst-Steeles. Apparently they have now decided to venture into Ashkenazi food and are promising to add deli sandwiches to their kosher menu. Good news!

That said, I don’t know that they will do a wonderful job. The days of Ashkenazi immigrants founding snack-bar style restaurants are long gone — they’ve been replaced by Israelis so that it is all pizza, falafel, shawarma now. Still, we shall see how it is!)

Maison David is kosher style, though the meat is kosher, and nothing in the preparation is treyf. The milk and meat never mix, though yes, his cheesecake is dairy, but it rests in a separate case within the deli and he uses separate tools to bake and cut it. It’s certified as kosher, but you must understand that the glatt kosher certification in the USA doesn’t really exist in Europe.

but in short, no, it’s not black hat kosher. It’s more like 2nd Ave Deli kosher.

I met Michel when i visited in Paris last February. I had rented an apartment up the street. (much better than staying at a hotel as it allows you to cook up the delicious produce). He was incredibly warm, friendly and full of generosity and clearly takes immense pride in his art. My favourite were his fig salamis. yum! I also had the good fortune of being invited to share s Sabbath dinner with him, his wife and their daughter. Who says Parisians are unfriendly? Dang I so owe them a letter! Thanks for keeping the torch lit.