New kosher dairy restaurant opens at CMU
Hungry Oakland eaters can satisfy their kosher cravings at The Edge
Carnegie Mellon University students, staff and community members craving fresh kosher pizza now have a new dining option: The Edge, located at Resnick House, Tartans Pavilion on the Oakland campus, offers Vaad-certified thin-crust pizzas, bagels, bourekas, pastries and pasta.
In celebration of The Edge’s grand opening, more than 100 attendees enjoyed an evening of free food, balloon art and airbrushed tattoos.
The Jan. 24 event was a chance to enjoy delicious dairy items in the company of friends, said Judah Cowen, chef and owner of Elegant Edge Catering.
Seated beside fellow computer science students, sophomore Serena Yip praised the pastries.
Sophomore Ray Man also touted the offerings and called the grand opening a chance to reconnect with others.
“COVID felt very isolating,” Man said. “It's good to have these types of events again.”
Weeks before the festivities, Cowen softly launched The Edge.
The chef, who maintains a kosher kitchen inside Congregation Beth Shalom, told the Chronicle that the growth of kosher food on campus is a credit to both CMU and the community at large.
“I have a great partnership with the university,” Cowen said.
Since 2019, Cowen and his wife, Chaya Cowen, have provided kosher dining options on the Oakland campus. Tahini, an outdoor food truck, transitioned into an indoor restaurant that serves falafel, shawarma and Mediterranean cuisine.
The Edge, Cowen said, seeks to build a similarly loyal following, while also operating inside Tartans Pavilion.
Squirrel Hill resident Ira Frank attended the grand opening. He praised The Edge’s location as a “clean, wide space.”
Throughout the evening, Cowen greeted guests, spoke with staff and tended to pizza pies in his Wood Stone oven.
Cowen said he was pleased by the scores of supporters who, whether living in Oakland, Squirrel Hill, Greenfield or other nearby areas, took time to attend the affair.
“It’s heartwarming to see so many people come together,” he said.
With students, community members and staff eating together and sharing space, there's a palpable energy in the room, said Joe Beaman, CMU’s director of dining services. “You couldn't ask for anything else. This is what CMU is about.” PJC
Adam Reinherz can be reached at areinherz@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
The Edge at Resnick House, Tartans Pavilion, is open Sundays from 5-9 p.m. and Mondays through Thursdays 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
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