Big Nosh, inaugural Jewish food festival, being held in Squirrel Hill
Pittsburgh’s festival menu has a new flavor.
Big Nosh, a Jewish food festival, is happening from 3 to 8 p.m. April 7-9 at Congregation Beth Shalom in Squirrel Hill.
In Yiddish, the word nosh means “to snack.”
“It is a time to celebrate authentic Jewish cuisine and culture,” said Evan H. Stein, chair of the board of trustees for the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle, the event’s sponsor. “When I looked at the range of great events happening in Pittsburgh around food and culture I noticed a gap in Jewish and Israeli cuisine options. It will be a true feast for the senses and we can’t wait to share it with the Pittsburgh community.”
There have been other Jewish food events, but nothing like this in a long time, Stein said.
“It is about inclusion,” Stein said. “This is not just for Jewish people. It is for everyone. And it is not political. We live in a very divided time and with all this division we have migrated further into our corners. The great equalizer is food. We invite everyone to come and share a meal with us and try our food and share the culture and cuisine we know and love.”
Food will be prepared by master chef Judah Cowen of Elegant Edge Catering in Squirrel Hill.
Cowen will create a variety of traditional, strictly kosher dishes available for dine-in or takeout. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options will be available.
“Being a chef is about the enjoyment of making people happy and seeing them celebrate around food, no matter what religion they are,” said Cowen, who has been cooking for more than 20 years professionally and trained in Israel. “We want to represent the city because that is what Pittsburgh is all about. Our staff is really focused on this event. We are excited about it.”
On the menu
Cowen recalled the smell of matzah ball soup in his home growing up on Friday evenings. There is nothing better than a meal with a good bowl of soup with deep flavor, he said.
Cowen will offer traditional chicken matzah ball soup as well as a vegetarian option.
“Everyone knows matzah ball soup,” said Stein. “But we also want to give guests an opportunity to try a dish such as chopped liver.”
Big Nosh will serve finely chopped chicken liver with schmaltz — fat — blended into a smooth pâté and served with crispy melba toast. Chicken liver pate has been the quintessential hors d’oeuvre at Jewish celebrations for centuries, Stein said.
“Chopped liver is not for the faint of heart,“ Stein said. “It’ll lubricate your arteries for the next decade, but it’s so good.”
A staple of Israeli street food, turkey shawarma pita is made of spicy turkey and vegetables with a blend of coriander, cumin and turmeric served in a pita pocket.
Gefilte fish is sort of Judaism’s take on a sausage. It’s served cold and has a salty and savory taste, but is also “kinda sweet,” Stein said.
Typically, ground carp, pike or whitefish is mixed with onions, eggs and matzo meal and then poached and served chilled with horseradish.
“You’ll either love it or hate it,” Stein said. “It is definitely worth trying for yourself.”
Shakshuka is eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, olive oil, peppers, onion, garlic, paprika and cayenne pepper, eaten “with a nice piece of bread to help soak up the sauces,” Stein said.
It is a great option for vegetarians, Stein said.
Beef kafta kabob is a cross between a hamburger and a shishkabob — it’s ground beef seasoned with shredded onion and a litany of Middle Eastern spices cooked over an open fire and served on a stick.
Chocolate babka is chocolate cinnamon nut bread. The sweet braided bread originated from Jewish communities in Poland and Ukraine. It features a yeast-leavened dough rolled out and filled with swirls of chocolate.
“You know it,” Stein said. “You love it. If you think the babka’s good from Whole Foods, buckle up because chef Judah’s babka will knock your socks off.”
Big Nosh is not just about food.
“It’s about coming together to celebrate our rich heritage and create lasting memories with friends and neighbors,” Toby Tabachnick, editor of the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle, said in a statement.
“We hope this will grow because Pittsburgh has definitely embraced different foods and different cultures,” Stein said. “There are several festivals throughout the year. What was missing was a Jewish food festival.”
Big Nosh will also offer a full bar, 50/50 raffle and live music. Admission is free.
The full menu can be found here.
Details: pjcbignosh.com
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region’s diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of “A Daughter’s Promise.” She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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