“It was an unforgettable evening, full of exciting and surprising flavors, a magnetic social atmosphere and day drinking! What could be better?!” said Shaina Dubroff of the Kosher.com hit show Queen of Cakes. Dubroff was one of the attendees at KFWE NY, held March 1, 2022 at the Hilton Meadowlands in East Rutherford, NJ.

 

KFWE was started in New York 16 years ago and has grown to be the largest kosher food and wine event in the world.

 

After last year’s event was held virtually, there was a lot of excitement to bring KFWE back to in-person at last. The spectacular menu was served alongside a massive lineup of hundreds of the best kosher wines from around the world.

 

 

Chef Michael Solomonov of Zahav in Philadelphia, a James Beard Award-winning chef, and Chef Gabe Garcia of the legendary Tierra Sur in California, teamed up to produce a curated menu catered by renowned Catering by Michael Schick.

 

 

“I really loved [the chefs’] dishes: the chicken melted on the plate, the fennel salad was amazing, and the turnips in the sauce were mind blowing. Add a really good wine selection, and everything was delicious!” Chanie Apfelbaum of Busy in Brooklyn said, as she enjoyed sampling the food on offer.

 

 

Chef Gabe Garcia said, “It was awesome, the juxtaposition of culture from east coast to west coast. We also got Michael Solomonov, the Israeli chef of Zahav restaurant, and I was very fortunate to work with the really well known caterer Michael Schick. It’s really a monumental task to take a flavor of California as inspiration and bring it to New York and showcase it in a different light.

 

“It was great talking to the guests, meeting the guests, and seeing what they like — that was the best part. Overall, it was insane, can’t wait for the next one! KFWE New York in 2023!” 

 

Esty Wolbe of Kosher.com’s show Easy Does It said, “My favorite part about KFWE is that there are so many things to choose from, and taste, and explore. If you’re on a wine mission you can work around the room and taste and compare different notes and different wines that you enjoy where you normally wouldn’t have that experience, right? Because when else are you in a room with that many wines? And then you also get, in between all the sips of delicious wines, to taste the really delicious food and that really completes the night, because it’s all in one place.”

 

 

“I love the variety of wines. I’m a white wine person and I love to try all the different white wines. They get overshadowed by everyone’s love for red wine, but I think whites and rosés are spectacular. I also always try the champagnes, the sparking white and the dessert wines,” said Naomi Nachman of Kosher.com’s show Sunny Side Up.

 

Erik Segelbaum, a sommelier who was a co-presenter of past KFWE events, said he wasn’t able to choose a favorite. He tried Flam’s Blanc blend and recommended it as “absolutely amazing.” While he enjoyed many of the wines, he added, “What excites me the most about KFWE is all the incredible Israeli wines that are here. Do not sleep on Israeli Mediterranean varieties. I’m talking Grenache, I’m talking Carignab, Syrah, this is what is the star of KFWE.”

 

Gabe Geller, Royal Wine Corp’s PR Director & Wine Educator and co-host of the Kosher.com show Swirl, said, “I’m having an absolutely amazing time here at KFWE 2022, the wines are absolutely fantastic. From Herzog, there is the new special edition Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon, and we have here all the great Israeli wines. Flam Noble 2018, Netofa, Zion Winery, and of course delicious food.”

 

 

Jay Buchsbaum, Executive Vice President of Marketing at Royal Wine Corp, the other Swirl co-host, added, “The reaction I’m getting is the best ever! KFWE is more elegant than ever, and with more new wines than ever.”

 

Don’t feel bad if you missed out on this year’s event- stay tuned for KFWE 2023!