Jew in the City

Last Thursday eve, at Manhattan’s Kehilath Jeshurun, Allison Josephs – blogger extraordinaire at Jew In the City – launched her video (JITC’s Orthodox Jewish All Stars)  featuring 10 Jewish Orthodox celebrities. The event was proudly sponsored by Freeda Wigs, The Patchke Princess, Gift of Life and this very blog (The Kosher Scene), among others.

Allison was interviewed by Marshall Hyman from The Wall Street Journal…

Allison Josephs and Marshall Hyman from The Wall Street Journal.

…as well as by Atara Abersfeld from The Jewish Press, Tammy Marks from New Jersey’s Jewish Star and more.

A delicious latke bar (with lots of topping choices), was presented by mother and daughter catering team of Michicas, as well as a donut fondue bar and a superb selection of Israeli wines by Shlomo Blashka (from the Royal Wine Corporation).

Sara Lasry (The Patchke Princess and Kosher Street) this event’s main organizer, followed Dimitry Salita. She explained the significance of this event and what made it important to the media.

Sara Lasry

A member of the Maccabeats lit the candles for the sixth night of Chanukah…

No event of this kind could be complete without lighting the Menorah.

After the lighting, Allison herself gave an emotional speech about her 7 year journey of breaking down stereotypes about Orthodox Judaism. In describing the occasion and her video she said:

This video celebrates freedom – Chanukah is about freedom and contrary to popular belief, Orthodoxy is freedom – it is freedom to seek our path in an elevated way, to become what we are meant to become, the best possible version of ourselves — in a way that is true and fine and full of substance.

The video features nationally known figures from the world of politics, arts, entertainment, sports, publishing and more. It was not only an enjoyable evening with delicious food and wine, not only was a video launched, but the close to 200 people present saw proof positive (as will anyone else watching it) that being an Orthodox Jew does not in any way shape or form preclude following one’s dreams or reaching the highest pinnacles in one’s profession. Nothing of importance is closed to an Orthodox Jew, and neither does he or she need to sacrifice one’s beliefs.

During immediately after the speeches, a interesting and enjoyable music ensemble took over, The Brooklyn Jazz Warriors

Y.A. Gootblatt, vocalist and keyboard player – Brooklyn Jazz Warriors

Bravo, bravissimo Allison! I’d be remiss if I did not again mention Sara Lasry’s herculean efforts, the driving force, in putting together this beautiful event in just two weeks.

CS

Kosherfest 2012 Highlights

While we will be adding more videos (properly edited) to these post, over the next 2 days, we can’t wait to tell you about last week’s two day event at the Meadowlands Exhibition Center, Kosherfest 2012.

With more exhibitors than ever it was hard to talk to everyone or taste everything, but both Geila Hocherman (kosherrevolution.net) – author of  Kosher Revolution – and I, still managed to find some of the best products at the event.

We spoke to Scott Sunshine (video to follow), chef at OSEM, who spoke to us about the company’s new line of gluten-free products and their improved couscous; Ruti Schwarcz, The Wine Lioness from Happy Hearts Wine, who had us taste us to three superb new wines they are introducing to the American market;  Jack Silberstein, co-founder (with Dr. Alan Bronner) of Jack’s Gourmet (here, here, here and more).

Jay Buxbaum from the Royal Wine Corporation spoke to us about some of the newest healthy foods products recently introduced; Koby Cohen, from Gelato Petrini winners of this year’s Best New Product in it category (video to follow);

Next we spoke to brothers Benjamin and Martin Weisz, from Elegant Desserts, who described their new products for caterers and consumers – especially exciting was the news of their association with a young but seasoned chocolatier.

On Wednesday, we spoke to Rachel Golian, from Simply Bar – whose product won this year’s Best New Snack Food Award; our old friend Gabriel Boxer spoke to us next about his new company and delicious product – Shani’s Tahini Sauce; Leah Haddad, from Voila! Hallah came next; she was followed by the Iron Chef Competition sponsored by the Center of Kosher Culinary Arts  (here, here, here and more) and Jack’s Gourmet Kosher Sausages. Geila then spoke to the competition’s winner, Chef Alexandre Petard from Ladino Restaurant.

Paula Shoyer, one of the judges and author of  The Kosher Baker; we then spoke to Paul BenSabat, coCEO of The Manischewitz Company (here, here and more) who told us of some exciting new introductions. Elan Kornblum, from Great Kosher Restaurants Magazine, spoke to us next…

Our last interview was with Alexander Rappaport, CEO of Masbia, Yaakov Leibowitz, from Agri Star  and Chef Ruben Diaz for the Masbia Soup Kitchens and the wonderful work they are doing by feeding over 1000 Hurricane Sandy victims every day!

CS

NTD’s 5th International Chinese Culinary Competition – Kosher Round

Thursday morning past started out as a dreary, uninviting rainy morning, soon the sky brightened just in time for the Kosher round of NTD’s 5th Annual International Chinese Culinary Competition in Times Square to get underway as scheduled. Elan Kornblum, the founder, publisher and editor of Great Kosher Restaurants Magazine more than ably organized the kosher competition round in conjunction with New Tang Dynasty Television.

The event was held in the pedestrian mall on Broadway between 46th and 47th Streets in Manhattan. There were quite a few old friends and recognizable faces from among the foodies in our community, most notably event planner extraordinaire, Nelly Rosenking (from NellysList.com), Dr. Alan Bronner from Jack’s Gourmet Kosher (manufacturers of superb sausages, unequaled in the kosher world!)

At the sound of the gong, the competition started… (Left: Zhong Lee, NTD President; Right: Kean Wong, Host)
Photo by: Elan Kornblum

Four chefs from kosher restaurants were pitted against each other … the passion for food, the fierce competitiveness were soon apparent…

Chefs in action
Top photo by: Nelly Rosenking (NellysList.com)
Bottom photo (Elan Kornblum)

The dishes ranged from fish, to spicy chicken, tofu and more.

Some of the dishes made by the competing chefs…
Photos by: Elan Kornblum

Thecontest entries were superbly delicious, as the chefs showed off their expertise, their unique understanding of the subtle flavor nuances of the ingredients necessary for a great kosher Chinese cuisine.

Combine the drama of the competition, the pyrotechnics indigenous to Asian cuisines, the pageantry of 5,000 years of Chinese history and the reverence Chinese pay to great chefs and you have all the ingredients for an unforgettable experience. This culture filled culinary event, clearly proved that the more food fashions, fads, tastes, evolve over time they always – invariably – stay within the parameters of rich tradition.

CS

Sukkot starts this evening, why not enjoy a nice Chinese dish in the Sukkah?

Chag Same’ach!!!

Food and Wine Paring in Style

This past Monday, at Millesime in the Carlton Hotel (88 Madison Avenue, between 28 and 29th, in Manhattan) there was a kosher food and wine pairing event. Adam Mukamal, a lawyer with J.P. Morgan Chase, first came up with the idea and immediately enlisted Seth Weiser, from 67 Wine and Spirits, and Nelly Rosenking, from Nelly’s List, event planner extraordinaire.

Many of the top wine distributors were at the event, such as Royal Wine Corporation, Happy Hearts Wine, Allied Importers, Recanati Wines and more. The food was superbly prepared and beautifully presented.

Photos by Tibor Tóth

Food ranged from salmon to beef, to salads, fruit salad and cakes…

The audience fully enjoyed the food and the more than 60 wines…

There were some superb wines that showed how far kosher wine-making has come over the last 20 years; from the laughing stock of the wine world to internationally acclaimed award winning potables in direct competition with the best of the non-kosher world. Among the wines at this pairing there was a whole range spanning from the mid tens to $200 a bottle.

I’ve been to quite a few food and wine pairing events over the years, never have I seen anything quite like this one. Incredible as may sound, the whole thing was planned in a mere three weeks through the herculean efforts of the team under the direction of  genius event planner Nelly Rosenking, who just got back from putting together a similar function for 400 people in Tel Aviv, in roughly the same amount of time.

Great food, great wine, great people, great ambiance, who can ask for more? It just doesn’t get any better than this!

(Next week, be’ezras Hashem, we’ll post our video of this event and more on iFoods.tv‘s brand new kosher channel)

CS

A Conversation with Royal Wine Corporation’s Gary Landsman

Tomorrow evening at 8:00pm (Eastern Time), on BlogTalkRadio.com/kosherscene, we will talk with Gary Landsman about the new wines and liquors from all over the world the company introduced since KFWE 2011. We will talk about how the Kosher Food and Wine Experience has progressively grown into the mega event it’s billed to be this year. Between the restaurants and wineries at the show there will be plenty to see, taste and enjoy.

Meanwhile, if you missed our show last week, why not listen to the archived recording right here. We spoke with Reyna Simnegar the author of Persian Food from The Non-Persian Bride, a beautifully produced book with delicious Persian and Sephardic recipes and great photography.

Well, gentle reader, please listen to our show tomorrow evening at 8:ppm (Eastern Time). We’ll be wait’n for ya!

CS

Renewal Benefit Event – Food & Wine Tasting, Cigar Rolling!

CHaZa”L teach that “He who saves one life, it is as if he saved a world!” In this day and age when technology has developed new ways to save lives which mere decades earlier couldn’t be saved, it is now easier to save such worlds, but to do so is still very expensive, resources are not always easy to find and certainly not within most people’s reach. Renewal, an organization based in Borough Park, Brooklyn, is dedicated to just that, finding the means and resources to save lives and future worlds.

This evening, at 7:00pm, there will be a Food and Wine tasting to benefit the organization. Premium wine selections from the famed Herzog Wine Cellars, food from some of our areas top restaurants and hand rolled cigars, all waiting just for you. Enjoy yourself while you hob nob with the veritable who’s who of the Greater New York Jewish Community.

Where?

The View on the Hudson

101 Shad Row, Piermont, NY 10968

When?

This evening at 7:00pm

For tickets and info: Contact Daniella Sabo at: 646-493-9831 or 718-431-9831 or email her at: dsabo@renewal.org

Hope to see you there!

CS

A Community Tzedaka Affair

This is not the usual The Kosher Scene post, but, since we know the people personally and are fully aware of their plight, we felt it necessary to publicize this.

There is a family in Flatbush, Brooklyn, living in untenable circumstances including serious health issues. The community is banding together to help them find a new place to live.  Come enjoy the evening and help us with this worthy cause.

Could you find it in your heart to help out? By attending? By contributing? By sponsoring a prize for the Chinese auction? By sponsoring the family? If so please call either 718.290.0233 or 718.415.5992. Make out your check to Merkaz Hatefilla Tzedaka Fund and mail it or join there at the Merkaz Hatefilla 1898 Bay Avenue, Brooklyn 11230 on June 20th at 7:30 pm.

Hope to hear from you,

SYR