Nosh, Nurture, and Narrative: How Jewish Food Shaped the Culture
Experience New York Comedy, Cuisine, & Culture
July 24 - 26, 2026 in the heart of The Catskills!
Liz Alpern
Liz Alpern Based in Brooklyn, Liz Alpern is passionate about reimagining tradition and bringing people together. Liz is co-founder of The Gefilteria and co-author of The Gefilte Manifesto: New Recipes for Old World Jewish Foods. She is also the creator of Queer Soup Night, a global event series highlighting the talent of queer chefs and raising tens of thousands of dollars for locally-based social justice organizations.
Liz received her MBA from Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business and has been featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 List, the Forward 50 and and The Cherry Bombe 100. She is committed to seeing a more just and equitable food system for all so when she’s not in the kitchen with The Gefilteria, she’s consulting for national non-profit organization, Fair Food Network.
Rocco Marinoccio
Rocco Marinaccio is a Professor at Manhattan College. He joins Borscht Belt 2026 following his recent sold-out presentation at the Borscht Belt Museum, "Consommé w/ Matzo Ball: The City, the Catskills & the Birth of Jewish American Food." Expertly weaving together history, personal narratives, vintage cookbooks, and family archives, Professor Marinaccio brings the cultural aspirations of Jewish immigrants and their neighbors vibrantly to life. He brings this same passion for historical depth and storytelling to today's panel, exploring how iconic kitchens shape our collective identity.
Prof. Rocco Marinaccio & Liz Aperin
New York City didn’t just adopt Jewish food—it was transformed by it. From the pushcarts of Orchard Street to the overstuffed booths of the Stage Deli and the legendary dining rooms of the Catskills, the story of the "Golden Medina" (the Golden Land) is written in schmaltz and brine.
Join us for a high-energy panel featuring chefs, scholars, and "appetizing" icons as we trace the journey of Jewish cuisine from a survival tactic on the Lower East Side to the very DNA of New York’s global food identity.
Location sent with ticket confirmation
Experience New York Comedy, Cuisine, & Culture
July 24 - 26, 2026 in the heart of The Catskills!
Liz Alpern
Liz Alpern Based in Brooklyn, Liz Alpern is passionate about reimagining tradition and bringing people together. Liz is co-founder of The Gefilteria and co-author of The Gefilte Manifesto: New Recipes for Old World Jewish Foods. She is also the creator of Queer Soup Night, a global event series highlighting the talent of queer chefs and raising tens of thousands of dollars for locally-based social justice organizations.
Liz received her MBA from Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business and has been featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 List, the Forward 50 and and The Cherry Bombe 100. She is committed to seeing a more just and equitable food system for all so when she’s not in the kitchen with The Gefilteria, she’s consulting for national non-profit organization, Fair Food Network.
Rocco Marinoccio
Rocco Marinaccio is a Professor at Manhattan College. He joins Borscht Belt 2026 following his recent sold-out presentation at the Borscht Belt Museum, "Consommé w/ Matzo Ball: The City, the Catskills & the Birth of Jewish American Food." Expertly weaving together history, personal narratives, vintage cookbooks, and family archives, Professor Marinaccio brings the cultural aspirations of Jewish immigrants and their neighbors vibrantly to life. He brings this same passion for historical depth and storytelling to today's panel, exploring how iconic kitchens shape our collective identity.