Posted by NY1, NY on April 18, 2008 at 11:05:21:
Queens
Queens Woman Wins National Kosher Cooking Competition
April 16, 2008
Just in time for Passover, a Queens woman was given the title of Queen of Kosher Cooking today, taking the top prize in a nationwide competition. NY1's Roger Clark had a chance to taste her winning creation and filed the following report.
Simply Manishchewitz Cook-Off winner Joy Devor of Far Rockaway loves to cook. It all started when she was a kid.
"The fact that I grew up right next to my mom, cooking right next to her, whenever I cook I feel that feeling of going back in time and being with my mom in the kitchen," she said.
The mother of six used her culinary skills to win contest, which was held Wednesday in downtown Manhattan. She had been chosen as a finalist from among 3,000 entries from around the country.
Her dish, Fantastic Flounder Rolls, was made with fillet of sole, sautéed mushrooms, onions, and Manischewitz Tam Tam Crackers.
"I've been making this for my family for at least ten years," said Devor. "We have it on a Friday night for dinner. Instead of gefilte fish, we'll have flounder rolls."
The recipe has made its way into the kitchens of Devor's friends, like Judy Frank.
"It's delicious," said Frank. "I've made it now for my family; I'm always calling up Joy and asking, 'Which fish do you use? All the ingredients?' And I make it all the time, my kids love it."
Devor's children are big fans of her recipes, as well.
"Her crumb cake, it taste's very good," said Kasriel Devor of his mom's favorite recipe.
Next year, Devor will be a judge in the competition, but she says she wouldn't mind taking part in another cooking contest, sometime in the future.
However, her next challenge is preparing food her family's Passover Seder on Saturday night.
"I look forward to cooking on Passover," she said. "We have all sorts of different unique ideas that we do, and my kids help me always in the kitchen, and it just turns out great."
To get a copy of Devor's recipe for Fantastic Flounder Rolls, go to www.manischewitz.com.
Part of her prize for winning the cook-off -- a new kitchen, where she can make more flounder rolls.
- Roger Clark