Jewish food festival now accepting orders until June 27

LACONIA — For 24 years, Temple B’nai Israel of Laconia has opened its doors for the New Hampshire Jewish Food Festival, one of the premiere events of the summer offering the homemade traditional Jewish style foods that everyone craves but is hard to find in the Lakes Region. Now is the time to take advantage of this once-a-year opportunity to fill your freezer and fridge with these unique homemade delicacies. The temple website, tbinh.org, is now accepting orders until June 27. Quantities are limited so don’t delay. Orders will be prepared and ready for pick up, at the temple, 210 Court Street, by appointment on July 31 or Aug. 1.

All the homemade foods that are on the Jewish Food Festival menu are from recipes that have been handed down, from generation to generation. In the kitchen at Temple B’nai Israel teams of volunteers come together to cook and bake these traditional foods that you would make yourself, if you only had the time. From blintzes and brisket to rugelach and strudel, just like “Bubbie” (Yiddish for grandmother) used to make. Bubbie is alive and well on the TBI website, tbinh.org, where “Bubbie’s Kitchen Adventures” provides a behind the scenes look at what happens in the kitchen to prepare for the New Hampshire Jewish Food Festival. Learn the secrets to how the knishes, latkes, blintzes and rugelach are made, even if some of the techniques Bubbie uses are from the time before there were food processors and microwaves.

The newest addition to the Jewish Food Festival menu is the custom deli sandwich “Picnic Pack” made up of fresh, ready-to-eat items that serves 4-6 people. Start with your choice of four ½ pound packages of deli meats, that’s 2 pounds of meat. Mix and match corned beef, tongue, or black pastrami (Boston style), from Evan’s New York Style Deli of Marblehead, MA. Put your favorite deli meat on the Jewish style rye bread from the When Pigs Fly Bakery slathered with the deli style horseradish mustard (a full container is included). Add some of the freshly prepared homemade coleslaw on the sandwich or on the side, don’t forget a pickle or two and then enjoy the home baked rugelach for dessert. What could be easier? Take the Picnic pack to the beach, on the boat, to the park or the backyard after winding up at home following a busy day. Just bring your utensils, plates, and favorite beverages.

To place an order before June 27 visit the Temple B’nai Israel website, tbinh.org.