Twenty-five years. That’s more than twice the lifetime of many kosher restaurants, aside from the kosher carry outs and pizza shops.
“The trailblazers in kosher Pan-Asian cuisine,” said Eden Wok restaurateur and creator Josh Berkowitz, “were Moshe Peking and Yossi Peking, as well as places like Shmulka Bernsteins.”
Eden Wok expanded on some of what those classic and cutting-edge institutions started, and tailored them to the clientele and environment in New Rochelle. Berkowitz was 19 at the time.
“As part of our 25th anniversary celebration year,” he shared, “We’re hoping to re-introduce certain selections that were “retired” but now seem to appeal to a whole new generation. We also plan on ‘re-imagining’ the classics of those places, but only if our ‘experts’ tell us we got it right!
“When you think about it, Chinese, aka Pan-Asian Fusion, dining was pretty much the first glatt kosher dining experience that ‘came to market’ when post-immigrant kosher consumers began looking to expand their palates beyond the heimish deli fare dining that they, their parents and grandparents were raised on. And it’s been around easily over half a century,” Berkowitz continued. “But with age, especially in our kosher dining world, there comes a ‘been there/done that’ sense and a culinary wanderlust that has us looking for the next big thing.”
Berkowitz cited sushi, smokehouse and rib joints and high end “aged steak” houses, and mused that one would think that Chinese/Asian (the first man in) would also be the first casualty of the ongoing kosher culinary revolution.
“In most communities,” he explained, “it has been: Owners got tired, menus got tired and invariably the client-base got tired. B”H, this hasn’t been the case at Eden Wok!”
Berkowitz described himself as the “Energizer Bunny” of glatt kosher restaurant owners. He just keeps on going, looking for the new and the next. Fun fact: Berkowitz said that Eden Wok was one of the first, if not the first glatt kosher restaurant to introduce Impossible Burgers for his Nine Days slider menu, in addition to updating the Asian standards with items that went from “Nine Days” to all days and was based on customer feedback.
Discussing the noteworthy endurance and success of Eden Wok, Berkowitz attributed this achievement in part to the fact that he has “never just phoned it in,” never taken the attitude of “we made the investment and commitment, plus we’re the only game in town, so now you [the community] should reciprocate with your loyalty.”
He continues to seek ways to enhance the experience and selection. Eden Wok’s main chef, Ming, trained in the Far East’s equivalent of the Culinary Institute of America. Prior to coming here, he worked in and consulted for some of his home town’s most prestigious hotels and restaurants, providing him with exposure to American tourists and an understanding of the American perspective on Pan-Asian dining, a key reason he was hired by Berkowitz.
During covid when New Rochelle was literally under siege, Eden Wok was one of the first establishments to do a 180 degree pivot and operate exclusively via deliveries. Remember that New Rochelle was the first city quarantined.
Berkowitz related, “No one knew anything, what to do, or what not to do. And virtually no one there had a chance to prepare for Purim. I got a call from someone saying they wanted to sponsor shalach manos meal deliveries for the people in New Rochelle. So I added my own funds to the project and got a list from Young Israel. Together, with other anonymous sponsors, we made meals until we ran out of funds, and delivered whatever we had to whoever we could.”
Berkowitz most recalled the look of pure happiness on people’s faces receiving that shalach manos. And the Chabad group that came from out of the area to circulate and read Megilla. “People really felt the love.
“We also fully recognize the loyalty of the New Rochelle community, a loyalty that’s their way of saying ‘thank you,’” acknowledged Berkowitz.
Berkowitz hails from Queens, so one might wonder what brought him to New Rochelle to gamble on opening a kosher restaurant, especially as a 19 year old lacking a resume on restaurant ownership.
“New Rochelle is home to one of Westchester’s oldest, most well established Jewish communities. Its first synagogue was founded in 1896, and it also offers proximity to other Westchester communities, communities in Connecticut and even Rockland County, New York, especially when using the Thruway home versus the Palisade Parkway.”
Berkowitz shared, “Running a restaurant is a highly personal experience, the equivalent of having friends for lunch or dinner. It’s a relationship that’s not your typical transactional business relationship. When you’re as community centric as we are, this is even more relevant. For example, we’ve hosted Sheva Brochos here where we also remember catering the bar or bat mitzvah for that same family! So part of why this milestone means so much to us is due to the New Rochelle and greater Westchester community making us feel like we’re part of it, rather than an outsider.”
Eden Wok will be offering numerous menu and pricing specials throughout their 25th anniversary year of celebration. Watch for their ads in The Jewish Link!
Berkowitz also noted that if there are any dishes or specialties customers and fans want to see “make a comeback,” they can email [email protected], “and we’ll do our best to make it happen!”
Summarizing, Berkowitz commented, “Open up the kosher dining guide of any publication, and see how many establishments (pizza shops, fast food and take outs aside) have been around a decade, let alone a quarter of a century. Eden Wok is proof that if you’re in the right community, and are committed to doing the right thing, you’ll iy”H grow with the community instead of the community outgrowing you!”
To enjoy the ambiance and comfort of the restaurant, please visit in person at 1327 North Avenue in New Rochelle. For reservations or to order via phone, call Eden Wok at 914-637-9363. You can also view the menu online at www.edenwoknr.com
The Jewish Link joins in wishing Eden Wok a happy and prosperous 25th anniversary!
By Ellie Wolf
