LJCC Jewish Food Festival moves a week earlier

For the first time, the Fred and Brenda Friedman Family Jewish Food Festival will be in October this year. Held at the Levite Jewish Community Center in Birmingham, the festival will be Oct. 28 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Food Festival Director Betty Habshey said she has been proud of the festival’s successes. In the first nine years, attendance and revenues have tripled.

“It feels really good to see the Jewish community and the Birmingham area community come together to share some great food as well as entertainment. That has always been our main goal, to bring people together,” she said.

Publix Supermarkets will continue as the Gold sponsor. As of mid-September, close to 90 percent of last year’s sponsors have re-upped and many of the items at this year’s food festival will bear their names.

New for 2012 is “The Foodies” sponsorship level. This allows individuals to contribute a smaller amount ($100) and donations can be made up through two weeks prior to the event. “Even $100 goes a long way toward buying the ingredients we need to make the food,” said Habshey.

All of the items from 2011 will be back by popular demand, including corned beef sandwiches, falafel, cabbage rolls, hummus, kugel, burekas, Israeli salad and more. The most popular item over the life of the food festival has been the brisket plate.

This year hamantashen along with Black and White cookies will part of the regular food festival menu. Many other desserts will be sold as part of the bake sale and the LJCC welcomes contributors of homemade kosher sweets.

The festival will coincide with the N.E. Miles Jewish Day School Think Green fair. During the food festival, costumed actors from the upcoming musical Seussical will also entertain and lead story time for the kids.