As I was getting ready to attend the 9th annual Kosher Food and Wine Experience (KFWE 15) held this year at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City, I received an article with the headlines “Cheers! Study says red wine may help burn fat.” This is good news, as I was about to embark on a kosher wine and food fest, one of the largest gatherings offering a sampling of the latest in kosher fare. With 2400 attendees this year, KFWE 2015 has become the destination event for kosher wine and food lovers.
The event is produced by the Royal Wine Corporation the leading producer, importer and distributor of kosher wines and spirits in the world.
Attending KFWE is not a time to be watching calories, or worrying about health. After all, it is just one night. As a nutritionist, however, I am always paying attention to the latest in healthy food and nutrition trends.
If you were hoping that drinking wine does, indeed, burn fat, there were many varieties of wine to choose from. KFWE 2015 showcased some of the best kosher wines from all over the world, with several labels premiering at the show. Baron Herzog, Bartenura, Weinstock, Joseph Zakon, Jeunesse, Pacifica, Harkham, Rashi, Alfasi, and Ovadia were just some of the selections featured. My favorite: Moscato from Bartenura.
KFWE 2015 also featured a large selection of food from top kosher restaurants, gourmet food companies, and caterers. The selections included traditional Jewish cuisine—including cholent, potato kugel, chopped liver and other choices you would likely see at a Shabbos Kiddush—along with lots of steakhouse fare, French, Mexican, and Asian cuisine.
My favorite healthy selections included a variety of dishes from Pomegranate: the purple cabbage and apples salad, winter squash quinoa salad, sunrise salad, and honey chamomile roasted root vegetables; and the healthy assortment from Basil including the chilled cantaloupe soup, the arctic char, and the black cod ceviche.
The event also featured a large variety of decadent desserts and specialty coffees. The peanut butter pareve ice cream from Mr. Penguin along with the halvah and assortment of caramelized nuts from The Nuttery were among my favorites.
If you had no room left for dessert, or you happened to be trying to practice portion control, you could fetch a “to go” bag from Shlomy’s Heimeshe bakery and pack up your favorite cookies for another day.
