Experience Jewish culture, food and games at ShalomFest
By NATALIE MIKLES World Scene Writer - 10/7/2009
Sometimes even the organizers of ShalomFest are surprised at just how long someone will wait in line for a black-and-white cookie.
But ShalomFest regulars know the cookies come only once a year — and they go fast — so they don't mind the wait.
What started out as a small cultural gathering 16 years ago is now one of the most-anticipated food festivals among Tulsa food lovers.
They know that everything is made from scratch right there in the Temple Israel kitchen. And this isn't your typical festival fare. Foods that can be hard to find in Tulsa — bialy, knish, falafel and rugelach — are made in the days leading up to the festival.
Ginny Katz, one of the ShalomFest organizers, said that while most people come for the food, it's also an opportunity to learn about Jewish faith and customs. Visitors can watch productions of a bar mitzvah, Jewish wedding and reading of the Torah. Temple tours will be offered throughout the day.
Tongue-tied?
Don’t know a knish from a rugelach? Here’s a Jewish food primer to just a taste of what will be featured at Shalom- Fest on Sunday
Bialy: A bialy is a Yiddish word for a Polish yeast roll that’s much like a bagel, minus the hole.
Black-and-white cookie: This New York City favorite is a cake-like cookie with lemon and dark chocolate toppings. It’s one of the first things to go at ShalomFest.
Borekas: A staple in Israel, borekas are savory pastries filled with potatoes, onions and spices. It’s the Jewish cousin of the Spanish empanada.
Challah: Shaped and twisted egg bread.
Falafel: It’s believed to have originated with the Jews of ancient Egypt, and it’s one of the most popular foods in Israel today. Falafel is made from ground garbanzo beans, spices, parsley and couscous. At ShalomFest it’s deep fried and served with pita bread and tahini sauce.
Hamantashen: This three-cornered pastry can be made with nuts, dates, preserves or cream cheese.
Hummus: It’s a staple in nearly all Middle Eastern cuisines. Hummus is a spread made from garbanzo beans, lemon, garlic, parsley, olive oil and tahini.
Israeli salad: Often served for breakfast in Israel, this salad is a small dice of tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and peppers dressed with lemon juice, olive oil and parsley.
Knish: Little meat pies made with a crust of either pastry or potato dough and filled with a mixture of ground beef and onions.
Matzo ball soup: Dumplings are made from ground matzo and then served in chicken broth.
Praakes: Cabbage rolls, with variations depending on which Central or Eastern European country was their source. At ShalomFest, they’re filled with rice and baked in a tomato sauce.
Mandelbrot: Twice-baked cookie, similar to an Italian biscotti.
Rugelach: A rolled pastry-like cookie filled with chocolate, raisins or preserves.
SHALOMFEST
When: noon to 6 p.m. Sunday
Where: Temple Israel, 2004 E. 22nd Place
Cost: Free admission
What to expect: Food, music, games for kids and tours of the temple and demonstrations of Jewish weddings and rituals
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Tulsa World Reader Comments
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Lifelong New Yorker, (10/8/2009 2:53:14 PM)
>Black-and-white cookie: This New York City >favorite is a cake-like cookie with lemon and >dark chocolate toppings. It’s one of the first >things to go at ShalomFest. As a life long New Yorker who stumbled upon this site, I just want you to know that New York City Black and white cookies are NOT chocolate and lemon. I have Never seen that in NY in my life, Black and white cookies are chocolate and vanilla. That is the point. Black and white.They are good, and I'm sure yours are too, but show me a cookie that is chocolate and lemon, and I will show you a cookie that is just a pretender!
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