The 2014 Hazon Jewish Food Festival is an all-day event that celebrates the Bay Area's Jewish culinary landscape at every level, from eating and cooking to food photography and health. This is the second year of the festival, and the first that's been hosted at the Palo Alto JCC (last year's was in San Francisco).
There's much to choose from, and something for everyone, but here are some highlights throughout the day:
- Renowned chef, food writer and restaurant consultant Joyce Goldstein will give a talk, "Embracing Healthy Mediterranean Jewish Food" at 10 a.m.
- A "shuk," or marketplace, will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You'll find tea, rugelach, eggs, coffee, art, judaica and local organizations manning info booths. Vendors will accept cash and check; some will accept credit cards. An ATM is located inside the JCC's fitness center.
- Food photographer Erin Gleeson will give a talk on food styling and photography at 11 a.m. (limit 25 people; age 12 and up; bring your own camera)
- Learn how to make dumplings and spring rolls with BrokeAss Gourmet blogger Gabi Moskoqitz. (limit 25 people; ages 8 and up)
- The festival's food booths are open from noon to 3 p.m. and include King Knish, Oren's Hummus Shop, Milk and Honey Catering and Shmaltz Brewing Company.
- Check out a health-centric cooking demo by "Low-Sodium Girl" Jessica Goldman Found at 1 p.m. "Adventures in Spices: Finding Flavor in Whole Foods" includes tastings and is open to all ages.
- Also at 1 p.m. is "Backyard Beekeeping 101" with Doug Smith of Cupertino-based Bees At Home, a full-service beekeeping company.
- Aspiring food bloggers shouldn't miss Gabi Moskowitz's second talk of the day, "Food-Blogging My Way to Primetime," at 2 p.m.
- Pickling 101 with Pacific Grove pickling company Happy Girl Kitchen starts at 2 p.m. (limit 40 people, ages 8 and up)
- Tired parents, finish off the day with beer tastings with kosher brewer Shmaltz Brewing Company and beer, wine and liquor distributor Chrissa Imports at 3:30 p.m. (limit 50 people; 21 and up)
There's numerous other events well-worth checking out throughout the day. For a full schedule, go to hazon.org.
If you're going?
What: 2014 Hazon Jewish Food Festival
When: Sunday, April 27, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto (The festival, food, market and live music will be outdoors; classes and lectures will be inside in classrooms. A schedule and map will be provided with a wristband at check-in on Sunday.)
Tickets: $18 general admission; $25 at the door. $15 for seniors and students (or $20 at the door); $5 for children 8-13 ($10 at the door); children under 8 are free. See link below to purchase online.