Goodbye Blintzes and Knishes - Kutsher's Sold to Indian Magnate, to be Rebuilt as Wellness Center

It's the end of an era, the decades of Jewish food and Jewish comedy filling the resorts nestled in the Catskill Mountains just 90 minutes from New York City.

Late last month, while we were getting ready to light the first Chanukah candle, ownership of Kutsher's, the last of the full-service kosher Catskill resorts, passed from the Kutsher family to an Indian company that will transform the 1,325 acre property into a world-class health and wellness center.

Indian media mogul Subhash Chandra plans to spend some $90 million to completely remodel the facilities. He paid $9 million for the historic Sullivan County resort. The healthy living resort will feature "yoga sciences," "ayurvedic medical treatment," "biodynamic restaurants," golf, tennis and "a wide range of health-driven activities." 

Since this is the first we heard of biodynamic restaurants, we did a Google search and found that  biodynamic dining involves the process from farm to table consisting of complete chemical free manufacturing. From the vegetables or the livestock used to provide succulent dishes in restaurants the entire process is done with organic care and consideration. To further promote the concept restaurants produce their own organic green gardens for ultimate freshness and use local suppliers to ensure meat products are both organic and chemical free for true biodynamic authencity.

The plans for the new resort made no mention of blintzes, knishes, kishke, schmaltz, or any kosher food.

If you think that this is the end of Passover holidays in the Catskill Mountains, it isn't. While the ink was drying on the Kutsher's sale agreement, two other famed hotels have been reborn as Kosher for Passover destinations. The Fallsview, in Ellenville has been renamed Honor's Haven Resort, and the Granit, in Kerhonkson, is now the Hudson Valley Resort. Both hotels have announced programs for the full eight days of Passover in April 2014.

In the coming weeks, we'll be sharing memorable video clips of the famous comedians who performed on the stage of Kutsher's Stardust Room. Today, let's look at a new video reflecting on the sale of this landmark hotel.

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO IS NOT VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)