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Houston, we do not have a kosher problem

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For most of my 29 years, I’ve been spoiled rotten when it comes to kosher food. 

I was raised not only in New York City, but in the borough of Brooklyn, the kosher capital of the world outside of Jerusalem—or maybe even surpassing Jerusalem. I didn’t exactly leave my comfort zone as a college student at Brandeis University in Massachusetts, with access to three meals a day in the campus dining hall’s full-service kosher wing. Forget the notorious “Freshman 15”—I managed to put on the “Sophomore 30.” After graduation, I’d go on to live in two of the best kosher-restaurant towns in America not named New York: Los Angeles and Teaneck.

I had it all. Kosher cuisine of all shapes, sizes, flavors, and countries of origin. Gourmet, greasy, and everything in between.

Then I moved to Houston.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t live in a kosher wasteland. We have the standard kosher fare for a mid-sized Jewish community: a pizza place, an Israeli place, a vegetarian place, and a kosher takeout counter at the grocery store with delicatessen items and Chinese food. But I used to be spoiled rotten in Brooklyn, Los Angeles, and Teaneck, and suddenly I found myself in a strikingly “ordinary” kosher scene. 

What is this Brooklyn boy to do?

As it turns out, the newest entrant in the Houston kosher landscape saved the day. Genesis Steakhouse & Wine Bar has brought a much-needed upscale kosher experience to the city I currently call home. It’s not just the steak. Even the burger is elevated—take my favorite Genesis dish, “The Bruce,” which features a half pound prime burger, crispy pastrami, fried eggs, and onion strings. Each bite is to be cherished, as are the restaurant’s elegant lighting and overall ambiance.

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