As part of the 6th annual “Man-o-Manischewitz” Cook-Off, cooks from all over submitted thousands of recipes using Manischewitz products. And last week I got to attend the live kosher cook-off at the JCC of Manhattan!
Those who attended (including me!) got to taste the five final recipes, and then an esteemed panel of judges chose a winning dish. Highlight of the event: Chef Claire Robinson from The Food Network’s 5 Ingredient Fix was one of the judges, and I was pretty tickled to get to meet her!
The event was really organized and well-run, but I briefly forgot how pushy a crowd of Jews can be when there is food at stake. It was like being at a cousin’s bar mitzvah schmorg waiting for the meat carving station. After waiting for the line and pushiness to dissipate, I got to taste the dishes.
While the official winner of the event was Eric Silberman’s Mod Matzo Ball Soup, my own favorite was Andrew Dorsch’s Torte Vegetali.
You can read bios for all the finalists and try out their recipes here.
A little Manischewitz secret of my own: I only use their matzo ball mix in order to make my fluffy matzo balls! Why mess with a good thing!?
Stay tuned for the 2013 cook off next year and get ready to submit your best recipes.
bar mitzvah
Pronounced: bar MITZ-vuh, also bar meetz-VAH, Origin: Hebrew, Jewish rite of passage for a 13-year-old boy.
kosher
Pronounced: KOH-sher, Origin: Hebrew, adhering to kashrut, the traditional Jewish dietary laws.
mitzvah
Pronounced: MITZ-vuh or meetz-VAH, Origin: Hebrew, commandment, also used to mean good deed.
