‘Embracing all things Jewish and foody’, Gefiltefest took place on 20 May at the London Jewish Cultural Centre (LJCC) with support from the Jewish Community Centre for London and the LJCC. This high-energy, all-day festival full of foodie sights, sounds, smells and tastes was organised by Founder and Director Michael Leventhal and an army of volunteers.
Slow Food UK was invited to present at the festival. SFUK’s communications team member Julie Andreshak-Behrman facilitated a well-attended session entitled: Routes or Roots? The Slow Food movement, heritage, identity and our transnational selves. Along with a presenting on Slow Food UK’s origins, projects and aims, the group had a lively discussion on the curious topic of what we lose and what we gain in our food cultures by passing through or settling in different cultures throughout our lives – and how our food cultures are defined and redefined along the way.
Gefiltefest showcases Jewish food cultures and communities in unique and interactive ways. Cooking demonstrations, lectures, kids’ activities and a host of garden stalls were on the menu. One the main highlights of the day was an interview with legendary cookery writer and Gefiltefest patron, Claudia Roden. Interviewed by the food blogger Anthony Silverman , a warm and sophisticated Ms Roden shared a lifetime of food experiences and a incredible depth of knowledge of Mediterranean and Jewish food cultures to an enthralled audience.
The festival is an annual North London event.
