SOBEWFF Goes Kosher For The First Time
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MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) -- The South Beach Wine and Food festival is going kosher. At least for one night.
Bringing together chefs from near and far including a local favorite Zak Stern, better known as "Zak The Baker," the dinner party is meant to let locals explore Israel using their palates. The kosher dinner is a first for the festival.
Menu items span from lamb to avocado mouse stuffed falafel - a delicious mix of South Florida and Israel cooked in one dish.
One of the stars of the night - Zak the Baker's Yemenite bread called Kubane.
"Kubane is a wet dough with lots of oil, baked in a round covered pan. I find it quite similar in taste to focaccia," said Zak.
For those lucky enough to have grabbed a ticket before the event sold out weeks ago, Zak wants guests to simply enjoy it.
"I would be very pleased if people walked away from the dinner well fed with a smile and a strong buzz from stinky red wine," said Zak.
Click here to view pictures of the dishes.
As for those who could not make it, there may be another opportunity at next year's South Beach Wine & Food Festival or you can opt for a kosher option. It's something Zak says you may have already tried.
"People eat kosher food every single day, including their butter, pasta, apples, rice, coffee, lentils etc. We don't call Heinz ketchup 'kosher ketchup.' We call it Heinz ketchup. We don't call Barilla pasta 'kosher pasta.' We call it Barilla pasta. Eating kosher is an ideological food choice such as eating organic, fair trade, non-GMO. It is not a particular style or ethnicity," said Zak.
Thursday's evening event which is being held at the Rok Family Shul in Downtown has been under the strict supervision of a Rabbi.
As for another event next year, it's not clear.
"I think that if there is a market for a kosher dinner at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival then it will probably continue. I'm sure the religious Jewish community would be very pleased to see a kosher event each year," said Zak.
