Beginning on the evening of Sept. 29, Rosh Hashanah is a lot closer than many Jewish Journal readers may realize. As it is an ideal time to bring in the new year (5780) and get together with friends and family you may be finding yourself at a get-together or two.
In turn, it may be best to have something to bring along to keep your host happy. Below are 7 suggestions for items — that don’t include apples and honey— that you may want to bring to a Rosh Hashanah celebration.
1) Bouchon Bakery’s Honey Bundt Cake
Bouchon Bakery is inspired by the classic French boulangerie concept, and Chef Thomas Keller’s memories of life in France. Its popular U.S. locations are based in Northern California, Las Vegas and New York City, and through October 1st, Bouchon Bakery will be offering a Honey Bundt Cake and Challah for Rosh Hashanah this year
Offered as both full loaves and cakes — as well as in slices — the Honey Bundt Cake is be available for nationwide shipping through Goldbelly.com.
2) Bennett’s Butter Co.
A new-ish food brand with two young Jewish founders, Bennett’s Butter Co. was founded by brother-sister-duo Austin and Bess Orwasher (yes, those Orwashers of the famous NYC bakery). While Orwashers has been famous for its bread, its youngest family members are now disrupting the butter industry. Their most popular flavor is Everything Bagel Butter. Filled with onions, garlic, white sesame seeds, black sesame seeds, poppy seeds, sea salt, plus a touch of honey, lemon juice, and scallions, every bite is filled with deliciousness.
Should there be leftovers beyond Rosh Hashanah, Bennett’s Butter can be used on everything from a marinade, to popcorn seasoning, or simply as a spread it on your favorite bagel, bread or cracker. It’s also tempting to simply eat by the spoonful. Bennett’s Butter is also available in the following flavors: Roasted Garlic Butter, Cinnamon + Brown Sugar Butter, Sriracha Jalapeno Butter, Blueberry Butter, and Mushroom Butter. It is both sold at major supermarkets and through its website at www.bennettsbutter.com in 6-packs.
3) Treeline Treenut Cheese
Treeline Treenut Cheese is the first dairy-free cheese maker with certified kosher and “parve” cheeses. With an array of flavorful, soft French-style and aged plant-based cheeses, Treeline Treenut Cheese draws on traditional dairy cheese-making methods by fermenting creamy cashew nuts with a healthy probiotic, known as L. Acidophilus. This produces a creamy consistency, smooth texture and the rich, natural fermented flavors normally associated with fine dairy cheeses.
The company also recently debuted a Premium New York Style Plain Cream cheese made with just five ingredients: cashew nuts, filtered water, sea salt, lemon juice, L. Acidophilus. In total, Treeline Treenut Cheese, has expanded to include seven flavors and is available in more than 3,000 grocery and specialty stores nationwide, while also recently launching their new online store that sells the cheeses directly to customers.
4) Daily Harvest’s Limited-Edition Kabocha + Spice Latte
At Daily Harvest, the belief is “living good starts with good food” as the food” feeds us physically, mentally and emotionally.” The brand has a Michelin-trained chef and topline nutritionist at the helm to craft and balance all of its soups, smoothies, lattes, bowls, and bites.
Its new Limited-Edition Kabocha + Spice Latte is essentially rich organic coffee fitted into a perfect, seasonal latte and done right. Warm spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice alongside rich coconut cream make it taste like all the good things fall brings. Cordyceps, an ancient adaptogen, brings holistic, immune-strengthening nourishment for a seriously good for you sip. At only 80 calories per serving, it is nutritious, delicious and sure to keep you alert.
5) Stella Rosa Peach Aluminums
With easily twistable caps and fun packaging, these Stella Rosa aluminums – aluminum cans, of course — are perfect for all activities and lifestyles. Wine for anytime, the Riboli Family created Stella Rosa Peach Aluminums with a proprietary blend of several white grape varietals including Moscato with an addition of natural peach flavors that make it truly distinct. Riboli Family Estates was notably the 2018 American Winery of the Year, according to Wine Enthusiast.
6) Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co.’s Peerless Bourbon
The Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. released its first bourbon in 102 years in June, and as the story goes, it sold out on day one. It released a second batch in August which again sold out immediately. This limited-release bourbon made its outside of Kentucky starting this month and the likelihood it will stay on the shelves long is slim.
Its Peerless Bourbon is rooted in fruits, florals and oaks. The nose features citrus, cedar and honeysuckle as well as a nice balance of spicy oak. Notes of caramel and toasted oak are welcome on the palate while the finish showcases both sweet and spicy notes as citrus and florals duel against dry cocoa and spicy oak. Peerless Bourbon exclusively uses sweet mash instead of sour and non-chilled filtration, barrels product at 107 proof and bottles it as a barrel strength whiskey.
7) Amy Rosen’s “Kosher Style: Over 100 Jewish Recipes For The Modern Cook”
For the same price as a good cake or bottle of wine, you also have the option of purchasing an excellent cookbook that your host can use for the long-term. Amy Rosen’s “Kosher Style: Over 100 Jewish Recipes For The Modern Cook” aims to give you all the recipes you need for successful shellfish-free (and pork-free) home entertaining, be it for a Jewish holiday or a workaday dinner. From crave-worthy snacks to family-size salads, soulful mains to show-stopping desserts, all of the recipes are doable in the home kitchen and are clearly marked as either a meat dish, a dairy dish, or as pareve.
“Kosher Style” is for anyone who likes to cook and loves to eat. Rosen is notably a James Beard Award-nominated, award-winning freelance journalist who is also the author of five books, including the bestselling “Toronto Cooks” and its follow-up, “Toronto Eats.” She is also the founder of Rosen’s Cinnamon Buns, in case you seek top-notch cinnamon buns for this year’s Rosh Hashanah outing.
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