Jewish Council of Lake Norman to Hold Huge Deli Fest on The Green in Davidson on October 10

Charlotte Jewish News August 2021

Well, it just goes to show what happens when the Jewish Council of Lake Norman (JCLKN) doesn’t get to hold its annual Deli Fest — it just comes back bigger and better than ever! With a new venue allowing for more space, there will be more of the authentic, traditional, New Yorkstyle deli foods, more entertainment, more vendors, more sponsors, more activities for children, and more Jewish culture than area has seen in quite some time.

New York-style deli food has a rich history and is sometimes rather difficult to come by here in the Southern states. Kosher and kosher-style deli meats, such as corned beef and pastrami, which are the stars of Deli Fest, were meats that are cured in various ways to preserve freshness in absence of refrigeration, which was particularly important for the Jewish people many generations ago living in Eastern Europe under precarious circumstances. During those times, families needed to create an inexpensive

(now expensive) protein that lasted a long time and traveled well.

The corned beef and/or pastrami typically found its way onto Jewish rye bread, as it will at Deli Fest. This bread also originated from Eastern Europe, where rye and wheat were usually harvested together. Rye was usually less expensive but also contained less gluten, making it much denser, so it required some wheat in the baking. Caraway seeds were added for flavor. The loaf shaping was either round or oval (now it is oval), as in the Jewish tradition, round symbolizes the never-ending cycle of life.

One of the traditional fun beverages you’ll find at Deli Fest is called an egg cream. This writer used to fear it involved drinking an egg á la “Rocky” style. Fortunately, this is not the case. It is carbonated chocolate milk with foam on top and a great story behind it. Born on the Lower East Side and Brooklyn during the 1920s, a certain Mr. Herman

Fox had a gambling problem, and after he lost all of his money in Texas oil well investments, he produced a chocolate syrup and named it “Fox’s U-Bet” with a tagline of “You bet it’s good.” Seltzer was popular as an aid to digestion and to beat the stifling heat, so the two were mixed. Initially whipping an egg white on top and calling it an egg cream gave people at the soda fountains the impression they were getting a fancy drink for their money. Eventually, the egg was replaced by milk resulting in our current-day egg cream.

Other featured foods will be kosher hot dogs, knishes, Dr. Brown’s soda, kosher pickles, Israeli food like falafel, traditional Jewish baked goods like blackand-white cookies, rainbow cookies, rugelach, and more.

When you’re ready to dance off the calories, you will find the traditional Jewish folk music of the famous Bandana Klezmer Band of Western North Carolina. Don’t worry if you don’t know any dance steps - Steven Lee Weintraub, the well-known teacher of traditional Yiddish dance at festivals around the world, will perform a few solo favorites and then have the crowd join in for some lively calorie burning. If you have two left feet, come watch. Then you can stroll around the curated vendor booths and find that oneof-a-kind piece of art or craft that you simply must have. Don’t forget to visit the sponsors’ tables (I found my dentist there a few years ago!).

The kinder (children) will have a great time as well. PJ Library will be coming up from Charlotte to put on a puppet show and will have free books for the children. There will be face painting and plenty of other amusements to keep smiles on their faces.

We would be remiss if we failed to mention our kugel c ontest. This is where you get to pull out your bubbe’s recipe or create your own kosher or kosher-style recipe and bring it to be judged and awarded. It’s all about the bragging rights!

You will not want to miss this event. If you are a business owner, think about the location and consider a sponsorship. If you are an artisan, again, think about the location and consider a space. If you are now hungry, think you are going to be hungry, and wish to preorder and get your food at a better price, do so now. For any or all and more, please head over to our website at www.jcln.org. We can’t wait to hear from you. See you on October 10!

Deli Fest Sunday, October 10, 2021 12 p.m.-4 p.m. 119 S. Main St. Davidson, NC 28306