Israeli couple brings kosher cuisine to boro
BY MICHAEL ACKER
Staff Writer

PHOTOSBY MICHAEL ACKER The Falafel Factory on Jernee Mill Road in Sayreville opened its doors last year. It offers a variety of glatt kosher food to patrons.

SAYREVILLE - Last year marked the beginning of a new journey of sorts for Yose Malka, a borough resident originally from northern Israel.

Malka opened the Falafel Factory near his home on Jernee Mill Road about six months ago, providing glatt kosher food for customers, Jewish or otherwise, according to Jerry Zahavi, of Staten Island, N.Y., who works at the restaurant. Zahavi, originally from Ukraine, said the vegetable and kosher dishes have attracted customers from all ethnic groups and cultures.

"Muslim people come here because we are kosher," Zahavi said.

The food offerings at the business are diverse and come from a variety of countries, including Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine and Israel. Since in the Jewish faith, milk and meat are not mixed, the Falafel Factory does not offer milk products.

The restaurant does offer humus, shawarma sandwiches with meat, and falafel, which is a fried ball made of beans. It also has American foods, such as hot dogs, and french fries.

Falafel Factory owner Yose Malka cuts spiced turkey meat for shawarma sandwiches at the Jernee Mill Road restaurant.

Most menu items range from $4 to $9 and include complimentary food from the salad bar.

"The food is made fresh here," Zahavi said.

Malka and his wife, Mazal, were born in Israel and relocated to the United States seven years ago, Malka said through Zahavi, who acted as a translator. The couple, now in their 50s, settled in Sayreville two years ago. The Malkas have four children, one of whom lives in Sayreville. The other grown children reside in Staten Island. The couple has 10 grandchildren, with another on the way.

The business is regularly closed on Saturdays in observance of the Sabbath.

"In the Jewish faith we observe Sabbath on Saturday," Zahavi said. "It is very important that we do."

The restaurant is also closed for Passover until April 11, Zahavi said, noting that the holiday is observed in remembrance of the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and their 40 years in the desert in Biblical times.

"At that time, they didn't have GPS [global positioning system]," Zahavi said with a smile.