104 West! serves CU campus's multicultural tastes

Students, staff and community members serve themselves from the dining fare at the grand re-opening Feb. 11 of 104 West! Formerly known as the Kosher Dining Hall, the all-you-can-eat facility is an official Cornell dining hall open to all and catering to the special eating needs of the universityÕs multicultural community.Barry De Libero/University Photography

By Linda Myers

You don't have to be Jewish to enjoy some of the best kosher food in upstate New York, which also happens to be at Cornell. 104 West! -- formerly the Kosher Dining Hall -- had a grand re-opening Feb. 11 to celebrate the building's new name and much expanded multicultural menu. The facility is at 104 West Ave., adjacent to West Campus.

President Jeffrey Lehman, who spoke at the Feb. 11 reception, pronounced the food "fabulous" and said: "I'm delighted that there is a place on the campus where those who keep kosher or follow different religious dietary laws can enjoy a good meal with others from our diverse campus community."

In addition to serving Jewish students who keep kosher, 104 West! accommodates the dining needs of Muslims who eat only "halal" foods, Hindus, Seventh Day Adventists, vegetarians and others with dietary restrictions -- as well as anyone who likes great food.

104 West!, in partnership with Muslim students at Cornell, provides food in Anabel Taylor Hall's One World Room at the traditional Iftaar dinners that follow fasting during Islam's holy month of Ramadan. The meals are open to the public so that non-Muslims may learn more about Muslim traditions. Noting that he and his wife had participated this year, Lehman said the experience made him reflect on how such communal dining events are "a social and cultural experience, central to what it means to be a person living in a community with others."

104 West! is one of six all-you-can-eat dining halls on campus. It is open to everyone, and students on Cornell Dining meal plans can use their plans there. What makes it special is that it offers a smaller, more intimate setting than many Cornell eateries offering kosher food, and it is one of only two to offer a hot, freshly prepared kosher option (the other is North Star at North Campus's Appel Commons).

"The food at 104 West! is excellent and represents the typical fare that undergraduates like, along with interesting recipes gathered from around the world," said Joe Regenstein, a Cornell professor of food science and faculty member on the Student Assembly's dining subcommittee, who helped bring kosher food to campus. "It is both kosher, for Jewish students who eat only kosher food, and prepared without alcohol, for Muslims students who observe halal." Vegetarian entrees and salads are offered at lunch and dinner.

Shaffique Adam, a graduate student in physics, dining at a table of Muslim and non-Muslim students at the reception, said: "Professor Regenstein has been keen on making 104 West! open to Muslims, making them feel comfortable." A survey of Muslims at Cornell that Adam did showed that 70 percent found kosher food consistent with their dietary requirements. "Kosher food matches most Muslims' interpretation of halal," he said.

Mike Rosenof, a junior in engineering, said: "I honestly think it's the best place around campus to get lunch." And at about $10 per person for an all-you-can-eat dinner, its also one of the best deals, he noted. And Jane Monisova, a sophomore in Arts and Sciences, said: "They do a fantastic job. It's the best kosher program I've seen on any college campus."

Cornell Dining contracts with New York-based Flik International Corp. for all its kosher food preparation and serving operations. The food and its preparation are certified as strictly kosher by Josh Ross, Cornell's orthodox rabbi and the "mashgiach," or rabbinical supervisor, of the Orthodox Union (the association of synagogues is the largest kosher certification organization nationwide). "We believe we are the first non-sectarian campus to have this well-respected national supervision," said Regenstein.

The event's menu included beef brisket with onion relish, marinated chicken breasts, green beans with candied pecans, an array of cold salads, smoked whitefish and salmon. "We have the best food on campus," said assistant manager Carol Innerst, who was serving up scoops of raspberry and melon sorbet in edible chocolate bowls for dessert to the crowd of hungry diners.

Speakers at the event included Susan Murphy, vice president for student and academic services; Colleen Wright-Riva, director, Cornell Dining and Retail Services; Rabbi Ross; and Cornell Hillel Director Rabbi

Ed Rosenthal. Rosenthal thanked Norman Turkish '56, also present, a promoter of kosher dining at Cornell

who supported the initial construction of the 104 West! building. For information about the program and meal plans, call 255-8582 or visit this Web site: http://campuslife.cornell.edu/dining/kosher.asp.