Kosherfest New Products Competition & Kosher Cooking Class to be at Career Academy of NY

The Career Academy of New York (www.careeracademyny.edu), an ethnically diverse student population of soon-to-be chefs, will be the focus for the kosher food industry October 28th. The occasion will be the annual Kosherfest New Products Competition which this year will be preceded by the school’s first kosher cooking course.

The New Products Competition takes place a few weeks in advance of Kosherfest, the largest annual kosher food and beverage trade show, being held Nov 11-12, 2008 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, NJ (www.kosherfest.com). The competition selects the best new kosher products from among more than 15 categories, from best new kosher snack food to best new Passover food product. An independent panel of kosher chefs, restaurateurs, buyers and cookbook authors as well as other industry experts comprise the panel of judges who choose the final winners.

For the first time students of the Career Academy of New York (located at 14th Street in Manhattan) will learn about kosher cooking, taught by New York cookbook author, caterer and chef Levana Kirschenbaum. The course is hosted by Kosherfest in honor of its 20th anniversary.

According to Menachem Lubinsky, co-producer of Kosherfest and show founder, “The trend in kosher foods that we’ll see are new and improved products in almost every category, with a major focus on health (i.e. gluten-free, sugar-free, & fat-free). Many of these products will be to enhance meals, everything ranging from new flavors to new gourmet applications of existing products.”

“We are delighted to welcome Kosherfest to the Career Academy of New York. As students living and working in New York City, learning about kosher food and kosher cooking is of great benefit to the overall experience of our students,” says Christopher Burgos, Chair of Culinary Arts, Career Academy of New York.

“The Academy offers a fresh venue for our Kosherfest New Products Competition. Students will help prepare and serve hundreds of new kosher food items from more than 15 categories to our judges, and we look forward to continuing our relationship with them, “ says Bill Springer, VP Diversified Business Communications and Kosherfest Show Director.

Tuesday, Oct 28 Schedule at Career Academy

· 10:00 am - 11:00 AM- Kosher Cooking Course taught by Levana Kirschenbaum

· 11:30am -3:30 PM - Judging of New Kosher Products Competition



The Career Academy of New York is located at 154 West 14th Street, NYC, NY.

Kosherfest 2008 hopes to attract more than 6,000 professional attendees and more than 350 exhibitors from all over the world. For information visit www.kosherfest.com or contact Vianna DiGristina at vdigristina@divcom.com.

Kosherfest is co-produced by Diversified Business Communications of Portland, ME (www.divbusiness.com) and Menachem Lubinsky, president and CEO of LUBICOM (www.lubicom.com).

Diversified Business Communications (DBC) specializes in producing international trade events in the food and beverage industry, and brings more than 40 years experience to buyers and sellers together. DBC’s food industry expositions include four internationally recognized seafood shows, the New England Foodservice & Lodging Expo in Boston, All Things Organic in Chicago, three Fine Food and Hospitality shows in Australia, Expo Comida Latina, All Asia Food and Kosherfest.

Menachem Lubinsky is the chairman & CEO of LUBICOM Marketing Consulting, a strategic marketing firm that also markets kosher foods. He is the founder of Kosherfest, the world's largest international kosher food trade show and a prominent figure in the Orthodox Jewish Community.