"Delicious Dozen: Twelve Ways to Jewish Food Festival Fun by Way of Belly (Religious Stomach or Not)" by Food Blog

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Delicious Dozen: Twelve Ways to Jewish Food Festival Fun by Way of Belly (Religious Stomach or Not)

August 22, 2012

Say it with me. Yofee.

That's yummy in Hebrew (or so my goy self is told).

The Food Blog turned to organizers of the Jewish Food Festival at Congregation Beth Israel—now about to celebrate its 25th year—to pick out 10 of their favorite morsels from the upcoming Sunday, Aug. 26 affair. There were so many they came back with 12. They appear below.

The festival, which includes other activities besides eating, like Klezmer and Gypsy bands providing free entertainment, takes place 10:30am-4pm at Congregation Beth Israel, 5716 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley. Admission is free and plates are $5-$10. Learn more at 624-2015 and www.carmelbethisrael.com.

1 • Corned Beef and Hot Pastrami - served on seeded deli rye bread with cole slaw and a real kosher dill pickle. Here's your chance to pretend you're in NYC without having to hail a cab.

2 • Matzo Ball Soup - Jewish food for the soul. There's even a reason to come out if you're not feeling well...in case you have a cold this week (or are planning to call in sick for work on Monday) and need some good old fashioned comfort food.

3 • Brisket - you have to try it for yourself, heaped high on a roll like your Bubbe used to make.

4 • Barbecued Salmon - grilled to perfection, accompanied by salad, kasha varniskes (bow tie pasta and mushrooms, onions, bulgur wheat) and pita bread.

5 • New York Egg Cream - it's a mystery why they call it an egg cream. Sounds like a breakfast food. But it's not, it's a soda. And whose idea was it to put seltzer, half and half and chocolate syrup into a single glass?

6 • Latkes - the Jewish answer to French fries, home fries and hash browns and all things potato-y. Cooked to perfection right before your eyes!

7 • Blintzes - divine Jewish crepes filled with sweet cheese and served with sour cream and strawberry jam. What would a brunch be without them?

8 • Knish - hard to pronounce (ka-nish). Filled with potatoes or vegetables, they resemble an Italian calzone.

9 • Kugel - dessert lasagne. Lovingly prepared fresh in our own kitchen. Egg noodles, raisins and sweet cheese make this a delicious treat.

10 • Falafel - Middle Eastern Booth serves some of our vegetarian and heart healthy options. (Note the low obesity rates in Israel and across the Middle East.) Savory falafel in a pita shell served with a salad and tahini. Or indulge in some tabouli and hummus with pita and imagine you're at an Israeli food stand. (Which you kind of are.)

11 • Chopped Chicken Liver - the Jewish version of pate. Enough said/sq

and leave room for

12 • Jewish Desserts - rugelach (Jewish cookies), mandlebrot (Jewish biscotti), strudel (Jewish baklava) and…the ultimate meal/deal closer: Hamentaschen (you can eat your hat)...

B'tayavon! (Bon appetit!)