15 October 2005 (Saturday)
i scream
Word on the street is that local ice cream chain J. P. Licks is considering disassociating from the Va'ad (i.e. they would no longer be certified kosher). I don't know the reasoning, but we speculate they they want to expand their offerings of non-ice-cream foodstuffs (pastries, breakfast foods, hot drinks, etc.) and limiting themselves to kosher products and ingredients has been a financial and gustatoy hurdle for them. If you have any interest in having the chain maintain its certification - even if you yourself don't keep kosher, have you ever chosen this as a meeting place with your kosher friends? - please visit your local J. P. Licks in the near future and, as you pay, let them know your opinion. Also, please spread the word.
Cross-posted to KosherBlog.
BS"D
NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
THEY MUST REMAIN KOSHER!
For the love of Pete!
why should it be different from friendly's where the ice cream is kosher but the other stuff is not.
missing the fribble in jerusalem
kobi
Two reasons, kobi:
(1) There are people who will not eat at Friendly's locations (or Ben and Jerry's, or other brands' ice cream shops) because of the chance that nonkosher products (e.g. the wrong brand of maraschino cherries) may accidentally be served with the ice cream, or because the dishes and utensils from the ice cream may be washed with all of the dishes and utensils used for regular food. But, more importantly...
(2) J.P. Licks offers more than just ice cream. At the Coolidge Corner location, there is a variety of hot drinks, pastries, and (on weekend mornings), freshly baked waffles. The Jamaica Plain location has even more "real food," and is one of the few places in the greater Boston area, (besides the Milk Street Cafe and one Dunkin Donuts location) where a kosher consumer can get a nice, dairy breakfast (or lunch, I suppose).
horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible
They have a website at jplicks.com
How about a letter writing campaign?
I sent an email and got the following reply:
"Thank you for your concern. To answer your question, the rumor is definitely not true. It is possible that only one of our locations may not remain kosher certified but that is not a definite yet."
Felicia - At the Brookline location Saturday night, the manager was asking every customer (as they paid) whether it amttered to them that J.P. Licks (chain and specific location) was kosher, and encouraging us to fill out comment cards. I doubt that if they were considering making only one location non-kosher, it would be the Brookline one, so at least as of a couple of days ago, store managers were being told to ask everyone that question without specifying a location. It could be that the response was so overwhelming that they already changed their plan, but I don't know. In any case, would you mind posting about your communication over on KosherBlog?
David - Our shul's rabbi already implored us to call Duncan Hines about the cakes. I haven't, and I realize I'm being selfish in this, but...I just don't use them. I don't think it's that big of a deal. The lactose intolerance thing is not an issue (as far as I can tell, no substantial amount of milk product will be added to the mixes), though I suppose an actual dairy allergy would make these mixes problematic as they will be processed on the same equipment as milk products. You can make your own "cake mix" by spending a few minutes one Sunday filling a series of plastic zipper-close bags with measured-out cocoa powder, sugar, flour, and baking powder or soda, spices, etc. (as required), and then mix up a better-tasting cake at a later date with exactly the same number of steps (add eggs, water, oil/margarine, and maybe vanilla if you didn't use vanilla sugar in the first place).
hmmm...interesting. I'll reply to the email I got and see what this guy has to say. Last time I got a quick reply, so maybe we'll hear back before I have to leave work for the day. I'll check out kosherblog later.
the response: "Thanks for the information. That survey was meant specifically for informational purposes only. The owner wanted to see what our customers’ feedback would be from that."
and I don't have time to check out kosherblog today, sorry (but please post yourself)
As far as Duncan Hines - but the ou-D designation means my kids' school will no longer use them since their stuff is not cholov yisroel.
I find the brownies more of an issue than the cakes, but do buy both.
I sent an email to Duncan Hines but did not receive an answer. . . I guess the phone number is on the boxes?
Can we make a deal, I'll write JPLicks if you call Duncan Hines?
I went to the JP Licks in Davis Square last night, and we mentioned it to the woman working behind the counter. Her response:
"I haven't heard anything. In fact, we just got our certification renewed last week..."
