Chai on Life 67. Sharing Pesach Secrets with Batya Kahan of Batya's Kitchen
Mar 23, 2026
Batya Kahan, founder of Batya's Kitchen and author of Pesach Secrets, is a kosher catering pro who built a national Pesach delivery service. She talks about building her business, mastering freezing and reheating, planning menus without overwhelm, kitchen hacks for focus and efficiency, what to freeze versus make fresh, and ways to involve kids while keeping the holiday joyful.
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From Teen Host To Nationwide Pesach Caterer
- Batya started catering after loving to host as a teen and taking a maternal role when her parents divorced, which led her to host Shabbat meals and events for friends.
- Her first Pesach catering had 18 customers; over ~18 years Batya's Kitchen grew to serve thousands of families nationwide.
Freezing Is About Reheating Too
- Mastering Pesach cooking came from on-the-job experiments, chef hires, and formal food training rather than culinary school.
- Freezing success depends on cool-down, parchment layering, airtight sealing, and—crucially—proper reheating techniques.
Break Pesach Prep Into Daily Tasks
- Shift mindset by learning Pesach history and breaking prep into daily lists to avoid overwhelm.
- Batya recommends tackling tasks word-for-word, day-by-day, and delegating specific rooms or chores to helpers.
