The Jewish New New Year is marked with wine, feasting, and lots of tradition. But it is also associated with certain flavors, ranging from apples to honey. These are often seen at the table on Rosh Hashanah and throughout the season.
Rosh Hashanah New Year Celebration Box
Fany Gerson, chef, cookbook author, founder and co-owner of La Newyorkina, an artisanal Mexican frozen treats and sweets business, as well as Fan-Fan Doughnuts, an artisan gourmet doughnut shop based in Brooklyn, New York. Gerson is known specifically for her Mexican sweets, but her work represents both her cultural heritage, Mexican, and religion, Judaism, and her Rosh Hashanah doughnuts, just in time for the Jewish New Year, are a tribute to that.
The Rosh Hashanah New Year Celebration Box ($30), which includes a Chocolate-Honey Glazed Doughnut, an Apple Sticky Bun with salted caramel, and a Pomegranate Cherry Round Braid with black sesame and bee pollen, is available for local pickup at Fan-Fan Doughnuts from September 22-28, and more information is available on the Fan-Fan Doughnuts website.
“On Rosh Hashanah, Jews around the world celebrate the Jewish New Year. As with most Jewish traditions and symbolism, food plays an important role and it is those traditions that have inspired the flavors of our Fan Fan New Year box,” says Fany Gerson, chef and owner of Fan Fan Doughnuts.
A lot of the flavors associated with Rosh Hashanah are related to the concept of a sweet new year. “In general, there is an emphasis on sweets to wish people a sweet new year. Honey is present at the table in different forms depending on where you’re from – the chocolate honey doughnut is our interpretation of this tradition,” says Gerson.
There’s also flavors inherent to this celebration, too. “Some regions have pomegranate on the table to symbolize the wish for abundance – we prepared a round, braided (challah like) pomegranate doughnut with cherry glaze,” says Gerson.
But, of course, everyone knows about the apple element. “We eat a lot of apples (apples and honey traditionally) and the sticky bun made with our doughnut dough, is rolled with apples and topped with a sticky, delicious caramelized honey!” says Gerson.
Chocolate-Honey Glazed Doughnut
While these doughnuts are incredibly exciting for the holidays, here’s some spots where you can get Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur packages delivered nationwide, right to your door:
Liebman’s Kosher Deli Complete Deli Dinner for 2-4: If you don’t feel like cooking this year, this meal kit of pastrami, soup, and all the trimmings can be delivered to your door in time for the holiday.
Katz’s Deli Yom Kippur Package: Yom Kippur may be a fasting holiday, but it’s bookended by pretty big feasts. Katz’s has the complete spread available for delivery, from matzoh ball soup to pastrami and brisket to bagels & lox. Note, this food is Jewish fare and Kosher style, but not certified Kosher.
Breads Bakery Rosh Hashanah Babka + Cake Combo: The most classic of New York desserts, perfect for a holiday dinner, any time, anywhere.