Chopped Herring Salad Tops at Bubbie’s First Food Festival
By Shelley Kriegshaber
Herring-stained recipe card
The handwritten recipe for chopped herring salad had been ignored in my recipe box for years. But, on September 13, 2009, I dusted it off and knew it was headed for greatness. That was the day of Beth Shalom Synagogue’s inaugural Bubbie’s Brisket Bakeoff, and I was entering my recipe in the appetizer category. Some of our synagogue’s best cooks were busy preparing their briskets, matza ball soups, challahs, desserts, and other delicacies for the competition. Everyone had to make ten batches of their recipe to be able to offer samples to those attending. Two well-known chefs and a food critic in the community judged each entrée. The winners were announced, and I was delighted to hear the chopped herring salad won for Best Appetizer! Next, the winners of each category gathered to learn which recipe was the best overall…and yes, you guessed it…chopped herring salad won first place! I was thrilled! What no one knew at the time was this was the only year there would be a competition, so I have the great honor of being the first, last and only overall winner of the Bubbie’s Bakeoff.
Bubbie’s judges with Shelley and her winning chopped herring salad
Since that day, the bakeoff has transitioned from a competition into a popular community food festival. Bubbie’s Brisket and Bakery Extravaganza, sometimes referred to simply as “Bubbie’s,” is the only kosher food festival in South Carolina. Volunteers begin cooking briskets and baking challahs months before the fall event, so they are well prepared to feed the large crowds who come to satisfy their cravings for Jewish food.
Shelley and her husband, Rob, serving up derby pie
My chopped herring salad recipe card is back in my recipe box, now stained with dribbles of herring oil. It has joined the ranks of my most beloved and often used recipe cards, such as derby pie, Thai chicken peanut salad and broccoli/cheddar quiche. Those recipes, along with those written in my late mom and late mother-in-law’s handwriting make my recipe box one of my most valued possessions.
Chopped Herring Salad
2 8-oz. jars of herring in wine sauce
2 hard-cooked eggs
1 tart apple, pared
1 small onion, diced fine
2 T lemon Juice or 3 T vinegar
2 T oil
2 T sugar
3 T bread or cracker crumbs
Pepper
Drain herring and reserve liquid (for spread-ability).
Chop herring and eggs to a smooth pulp.
Grate in apple.
Add onion, lemon juice and oil.
Add sugar.
Stir in dry crumbs.
Add pepper.
Cover and refrigerate.
Serve cold on crackers.
Garnish with olive or pimento.
Stir before spreading on crackers as liquid tends to settle out.
NOTE: Debbie Weaver and Leslie Ptashkin Wyatt, Chairs of this year's Festival
BUBBIE’S JEWISH FOOD FESTIVAL
November 21 ,2021
11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Beth Shalom Synagogue
5827 Trenholm Rd. 29206
Facebook Page: 2021 Bubbie’s Jewish Food Festival
Preorders recommended!
2021 Bubbies Food Festival Preorder form here
Deadline for preorders: November 1
Pick up for Preorders: November 8 at Beth Shalom 9:00 am – 5:00 pm