After a pandemic hiatus, the Kosher Food & Wine Experience returned to Los Angeles on February 9 at the Hollywood Palladium. Established in 2006, it’s attended by 2,000 people, who taste 400 kosher wines from all around the world, as well as food from local kosher eateries.
“We believe it highlights the spectacular diversity of kosher wines, curated from six continents, as well as the wide array of flavors and cultures that thrive in the LA restaurant scene.”
“KFWE Los Angeles is a celebration of kosher wine, spirits and cuisine,” David Whittemore, marketing director at Herzog Wine Cellars, said. “There is nothing like it on the West Coast. We believe it highlights the spectacular diversity of kosher wines, curated from six continents, as well as the wide array of flavors and cultures that thrive in the LA restaurant scene.”
This year’s KFWE featured a trade show for wine and spirit buyers and distributors during the daytime, which expanded to the general public at night. Both the general admission and VIP tickets, which cost between $90 to over $200 each, were sold out. VIP tickets included exclusive food, hand-rolled cigars and top-shelf whiskeys and wines.
Royal Wine Corp., which manufactures, imports and distributes kosher wine, spirits and liqueurs, hosted KFWE. The company owns Baron Herzog wines, along with Tierra Sur, the upscale kosher restaurant and winery at Herzog Wine Cellars in Oxnard. The Herzog family, who started making wine in 19th century Czechoslovakia, has owned and operated Royal Wine Corp., which also makes the kosher wines, spirits and food under the Kedem label, in the U.S. since 1958.
In a statement, Joseph Herzog, president of operations at Herzog Wine Cellars, said KFWE “is the only event in Southern California where the Jewish community, wine lovers and foodies alike can experience top kosher restaurants and renowned wines in one outstanding location.”
Wine companies on display during KFWE included Baron Herzog, Barkan, Alfasi, Carmel Winery, Bartenura and Covenant, which originate in different regions like California, Israel, Chile, Italy , and France.
Restaurants like Lenny’s Casita, Next Door, Holy Smokes Kosher Barbeque, La Gondola and Tierra Sur served hors d’oeuvres all night long, and Delice Bakery served up parve desserts to complement the dessert wines and champagnes. Orthodox Jewish online influencers Bari Mitzmann, Esti Iwaniski, and Daniel Kramer and Doni Schwartz of Passover Listings, who have large followings on Instagram, were in attendance.
KFWE is held every year in LA, London, Tel Aviv, New York, Dallas and Miami. The LA event, which took place just an hour from Herzog Wine and Tierra Sur in Oxnard, was a return to normalcy – but in a bigger way this time around.
“KFWE Los Angeles brings storied winemakers from around the world to meet kosher consumers face-to-face, in a space where they can share a glass of wine together,” said Whittemore. “They experience the passion behind the bottles they love.”
