Kosher caterers have become the centerpiece of the lucrative Passover resort program in properties nationwide and beyond. Most program operators team up with kosher caterers although several operators depend on hotel culinary personnel.
Irwin Mehl, the late legendary kosher caterer, was amongst the first kosher caterers to offer kosher for Passover programs in hotels. Mr. Mehl was the caterer in the Laurels Hotel as early as 1975 and in the 1980’s at the Stevensville Hotel in the Catskills.
Many other prominent caterers of that era used the Passover holiday as a respite from the rigors of their year-round business and did not cater during Passover.
Today, most upscale caterers team up with Passover program operators in what has emerged as the ideal setup for both the caterers and the operators.
Michael Schick once again teamed up with the Werner Brothers of KMR at the Hilton El Conquistador in Tucson, one of the leading Passover programs. Mr. Schick said that he “brings in 90% of his staff including 35 chefs.”
Barry Simanowitz of RAM Caterers teamed up with Majestic Retreats at the Green Valley Resort in Henderson NV. “I totally brought in my own staff to serve the 1100 people at the hotel,” he noted.
Avi and Shneur Faskowitz who ran the successful first-year program at the luxury Las Vegas resort do their own catering in their other Passover program at the Westin Beach Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale.
In addition to catering the Las Vegas program, RAM also catered at the Trump National Doral Miami and the Arizona Biltmore.
Amongst other caterers involved in Passover programs were Prestige (Boca Raton Resort & Club), MGM Caterers of LA (Mandalay Bay Resort), and Richter (Sheraton Crescent, Phoenix).
I can’t understand for the life of me how ppl can bring their children into such a matzav let alone on a Yom Tov!! The high end luxury programs are nothing less then a ruach shtus! It taking the essence of a Yom Tov and perverting it to say the least. Yes I’ve been on multiple ones and will now hire a chef and stay home! turns into a who’s who.. everyone is out to show who has more money and higher heels then the next. I hear their was a Chabad program ffh (or something like that) supposed to… Read more »
Pesach is not what it used to be…Everything made from scratch at home. Sadly, it has become a party.
That said, if you can afford a hotel, or some other venue, and it gives your wife a much needed rest, not only on pesach, but more important, an entire month before pesach…it’s beneficial for your family as a whole. You don’t have to eat everything they serve..you can be machmir if you want…but having your wife and kids relaxed, calm and happy is an inyan too no?
KMR and Michael Schick are definitely fantastic, however, it’s more for it’s venue than the “Catering” per se. Levi Feigenson “Table One” on the other hand, may not have the most beautiful or luxurious venue, but the cuisine is above and beyond in every respect – He’s “No. 1” indeed!
(I’ve been to both programs)
I’m involved in the food business, and I think I would not go a hotel for Pesach…for Kashrus reasons. Yes, Kashrus. The issur of eating chametz has a much, much stricter, higher threshhold than anything in Kashrus. Not to mention the severity of it, kares. No Botul bshishim and all that, people. While I think I could really enjoy a weekend, Shavuos, Sukkos or Chanukah in a five star hotel experience, not Pesach, no siree. I am sure that most providers to do their utmost to make sure everything is 100 percent on the highest standards of Kashrus for Pesach,… Read more »
kosher ingredients i’m sure , freedom from spiritual chometz & materialism certainly not . maybe next year the guests will choose “real cheirus” leshonoh habah buyerushalayim
I feel happy for those who can BH afford these things, and enjoy seeing the pictures and videos they post. The Eibershter is good and gives good things to people. If He wills it, some day me too… But if not it’s also good.
Many of us would love to try out any of these places but since it cost more than many people make in a year we only get to read about those who got to experience it.
KMR is a great program! Feels like I’m walking into a wedding hall each Seder/meal over the course of 10 days. However, the other 10% would return if you move Destinations 😉
Is to get a kfp grill. If you grill/smoke every day you can keep all the chumras and still feel like you were eating from a pesach hotel. Maybe even better 🙂