How It Worked
In Spring 2020, a team conceived a festival to build community and support those in need. The result: 10 days of cutting-edge programs and an unbelievable response from industry leaders and food lovers.
A Virtual Food Festival
Over 10 days we created a groundbreaking virtual festival that offered a variety of events–workshops & conversations, industry happy hours, as well as Shabbat dinners and community-produced events, and so much more–which took place over Zoom, Instagram, and Facebook. We also have a library of unique Anytime Content that can still be enjoyed.
Watch & Enjoy
25,000 attendees participated. Many sessions were recorded and are available for you to enjoy! Check out the Festival sessions, Anytime Content, and Recipes shared by our chefs and presenters. Share your own cooking and reflections by tagging @greatbigjewishfoodfest on Facebook and Instagram, and follow us there too!
Festival Highlights
Some of our Featured Programs
Other Festival Features
Featured Festival Presenters
Michael Solomonov is the Executive Chef/Co-Owner at Zahav, the 2019 James Beard Foundation’s Outstanding Restaurant.
Joan Nathan is the author of eleven cookbooks including her latest work, “King Solomon’s Table: a Culinary Exploration of Jewish Cooking from Around the World.”
Michael Twitty is an African-American Jewish writer, culinary historian and educator and author of The Cooking Gene which won the 2018 James Beard Foundation Book Award for Book of the Year.
Gail Simmons is a trained culinary expert, food writer, and dynamic TV personality. Since the show’s inception in 2006, she has been permanent judge on BRAVO’s Emmy-winning series Top Chef.
Ruth Reichl was the restaurant critic and food editor of the Los Angeles Times and then The New York Times before moving to Gourmet Magazine, where she was Editor in Chief for ten years. She has authored five memoirs.
LIOR LEV SERCARZ is the chef, spice blender and owner of La Boîte, a biscuits and spice shop in New York. He collaborates with chefs from around the world, and has written three cookbooks.
Adeena Sussman is a cookbook author, food writer, recipe and product developer and consultant based in Tel Aviv. Her latest cookbook, Sababa: Fresh, Sunny Flavors From My Israeli Kitchen.
Einat Admony is the chef and owner of Balaboosta, the fine-dining Middle Eastern restaurant; Kish-Kash, New York’s first couscous bar; and the beloved falafel chain, Taim. She is also the author of two cookbooks: Balaboosta and Shuk.