![Abigael's Abigael's](https://07oca3.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/P20407841-150x150.jpg)
Earlier this month @ArielleKlein and I got to enjoy the annual Kosher Food & Wine Experience at Chelsea Piers in NYC. If you haven’t been, it’s basically a large event space with 30-40 booths of kosher restaurants and caterers and another 30-40 tables of kosher wineries from around the world (but mainly the US & Israel of course). Thousands of Jews of all shapes and sizes attend, and it’s a generally fun event all around.
Attending specifically to capture the “best” food, I forcibly had to pull myself away from shmoozing with my friends who I haven’t seen in months / years, (or ever since we met on Twitter), and make sure to try ALL the food put forth by the restaurants … or whatever is available when I get to their table.
![Basil Basil](https://07oca3.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/P2040791-150x150.jpg)
Arielle already wrote about her favorite dessert dishes from this year’s event, which you can read here.
Based on what I tried this year, here are my favorites:
- Abigael’s – Vietnamese Chicken: Stir Fried Bell Peppers, Napa Cabbage and Bok Choy with sweet & sour sauce. Well presented.
- Basil – Artic Char & Icelandic Cod Crudos: 1) Artic Char, Kirby pickle with Salmon roe caviar, avocado mousse and jalapeño + 2) Icelandic Code Crudo with grape/caper tapenade. Very different and excellent choice for a dairy restaurant at a heavily meat event.
![Le Marais Le Marais](https://07oca3.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/P2040796-150x150.jpg)
- Le Marais – Grilled Hanger Steak: with a ragu of winter veggies. Prepared hot, cooked perfectly, juicy and soft. Delicious.
- The Prime Grill – Porcini Kobe Sliders. If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve thought there was cheese on it. My favorite of the night.
Disappointed by:
- Citron and Rose – Kasha & Mushroom Knish: smoked kasha, wild mushrooms and potato with carrot mustard and tsimmes. Was just underwhelmed by this choice from the new fancy Philly restaurant that I’ve heard such great things about.
![The Prime Grill The Prime Grill](https://07oca3.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/P2040798-150x150.jpg)
Other mentions:
- Pardes had an interesting dish that had many unique ingredients and flavors, but I think it was just too out there. Sometimes simple is better. They are quite inventive though.
While I didn’t focus on the non-restaurants in attendance there were two tables I have to mention:
- Hakadosh BBQ – 15 our Apple & Hickory Wood Smoked Beef Brisket
- Jack’s Gourmet – Facon (fake bacon)
![The end of a good night!](https://07oca3.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/P2040834.jpg)
I loved that hanger steak – was a favorite of mine!
I have to disagree on the hangar steak ( could have been my piece, but it was tough and had bad mouth-feel but the veggies were good) and I have to agree on the Basil crudo with grape/caper tapenade.
Great roundup! My favorite of the night was definitely that burger from Prime Grill. I think I told every person I saw to go over and get that burger :)
great post, love that you put your favorites!
I’m not much of a meat eater so i would agree with a great review of Basil’s Arctic Char. Overall it was a great event to meet gourmet kosher food vendors from all over the world.
I want that burger, that is all everyone is talking about!
[…] have been attending the KFWE events in NYC for the past few years. You can read about them here: 2013, 2013 desserts, 2012, and in 2011. This year, they are running a 2nd event in South Florida at the […]