Albertsons opens kosher marketplace

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The Jewish community in Southern Nevada now has another option in buying kosher foods, and it's a big one.

The Albertsons at 2910 Bicentennial Parkway opened Jan. 10, boasting a full-service kosher marketplace. It is the first in Henderson and the first market of its size in the United States.

The marketplace includes a kosher deli with fried and rotisserie chicken made in-store; a full-service meat shop; a fish shop featuring kosher sushi; a kosher bakery with parve cakes ready to order; and a wine shop with wines from Israel and around the world. The Albertsons also features a kosher grocery, dairy and frozen foods department with new items added daily.

A mashgiach (pronounced mosh-key-augh) oversees the kosher market at Albertsons. Lead mashgiach Yehuda Shor acts as a supervisor to ensure that the integrity of the kosher laws are upheld.

Shor, who is an Orthodox Jew, was specially trained to oversee the kosher market and to enforce the kosher dietary guidelines set forth by the Orthodox Union.

"The Jewish people requested this," said Shor. "We're here to accommodate all."

Shor said there was no particular reason why the location in the Anthem community was chosen.

According to Stephanie Martin, director of communications for Albertsons, there are no future kosher marketplaces planned for the Las Vegas Valley, although she said Albertsons currently is looking at the next fiscal year.

"We're looking into remodeling current stores," she said.

Although the kosher marketplace in Anthem is the first of its kind in the country, Martin said Supervalu, Albertsons' parent company, has five kosher markets in the country.

"It's new and unique," she said.

Shor explained that kosher food follows strict dietary guidelines in preparation, storage and preventing cross-contamination.

For beef to be acceptable, Shor said, the animal must be non-predatory, chew cud and have split hooves. Only a trained person who is God-fearing and has a peaceful personality may slaughter the animal.

"A person who wouldn't hurt a fly is chosen to slaughter the animals," Shor said.

This is because the animal must be slaughtered in a humane manner with the least amount of pain. The manner in which animals are slaughtered also cuts down on food-borne hazards, making it a wise choice for all people, no matter what their religious beliefs, Shor said.

"In kosher product, you will never have mad cow disease," Shor said. "It's a very extensive process."

According to kosher custom, the only edible seafood are fish with scales and fins.

Crustaceans, such as lobsters, are considered bottom feeders and are therefore unclean.

"You want to have a clean food environment to keep your body spiritually and physically pure," Shor said.

Each type of food is kept separate from one another when stored.

Dairy and meat products are not found in the same case in the kosher deli. The equipment is not used for different types of food. Food handlers must wear a different color smock to identify which food group they are working with.

Products on the shelves are clearly marked with symbols identifying to which group each food belongs.

"(Avoiding) cross-contamination is a big part of kosher food," Shor said.

Foods that grow from the ground are considered neutral. Items throughout the store, such as baked breads and fruits, are marked to identify them as such.

In addition to solid foods, the Albertsons kosher market also carries a large variety of kosher wines. Joseph Herzog, vice president of operations for Herzog Wine Cellars, a kosher winery, was present at the grand opening.

"Because something is kosher does not mean it is blessed. That is a common misconception," Herzog said.

Herzog said kosher wine is no different than standard wine. Instead, kosher wine undergoes flash pasteurization, heating the wine to 160 degrees and then back down to 65 degrees in a matter of 30 seconds, he said.

"The wine ... has gotten all the same medals as other wines," Herzog said.

He flipped through a catalog showing that kosher wines had scored in the 80s and 90s out of 100 in international ratings.

Herzog said many kosher wines are dry and come from all over the world.

"Kosher wine has a reputation of being a sweet wine. We are trying to change that," Herzog said.

The Albertsons is open daily from 6 a.m. to midnight.