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Who would believe Chipotle Chili Aioli sauce, Pomegranate Acai Mints, or Pina Colada Popcorn would be found in the pantries of today’s kosher consumer? They are among more than 120,000 kosher certified items, and additional items are on the way. More than 500 newly kosher certified foods will be introduced at the 21st annual kosher food, beverage, wine & spirits trade show – Kosherfest 2009 – at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, NJ October 27-28, 2009 (www.kosherfest.com). According to the Mintel Research Organization, kosher remains the most dominant feature on new food items and an estimated 40% of a supermarket’s food products are kosher. According to Rabbi Eliyahu Safran, V.P. Communications and Marketing for the Orthodox Union (OU) kosher certifying agency, “In the past year there has been significant increase in the number of inquiries and applications by many food companies about OU certification despite the ongoing recession. The companies are well aware that attaining kosher certification can easily increase sales and gain a larger market share. We have particularly noted a spike in applications from every segment of the beverage, baking and organic food categories. Join this show as I interview some of the newest kosher certified food and beverage items. You don't have to be Jewish to love kosher food, but you can be Health Conscious, Gluten-Free, and Lactose intolerant. People don't know how large the selection of kosher certified products that meet their unique dietary needs perfectly. To learn more about the attendees and to see a list of the recipients of this year's New Product Competition, go to http://www.kosherfest.com.

Doni Zasloff Thomas, a.k.a. Mama Doni, is the lead singer/songwriter in The Mama Doni Band. Doni’s “wacky, Jewish indie-rock band for kids” (Carrie Stetler, The Star-Ledger) won the Simcha Award for “Inspiring Joy Through Music” in competition with more than 100 bands from 15 different countries at the 2008 International Jewish Music Festival in Amsterdam. Quirky, zany, off-beat, and unpredictable, The Mama Doni Band expands the horizons of traditional Jewish music with a contagious and unexpected blend of reggae, rock, disco, Latin, klezmer and “Jewgrass” – all woven together with a hip Jewish sensibility. In a spirit of outrageous fun, Mama Doni brings her special brand of “funky music with a Jewish twist” to this year’s holiday season, with the release of a new CD, Chanukah Fever. The album is resplendent with Mama Doni’s signature wild and wacky style, about which kids’ media authority Amy Kraft enthused, “We were all laughing out loud … Listen as Mama Doni spreads around some challah-day spirit in her inimitable cross between Sheryl Crow and Tone Loc.” Chanukah Fever will be released on November 24. Doni Zasloff Thomas, “Part Weird Al’ Yankovic (for the hilarious and surprisingly insightful lyrics), part Sarah Silverman (but much cleaner and only the parts of Sarah’s show where she innocently sings her little heart out), and that adorable mom down the street who manages to wear bright red lipstick and cute track suit to put out the recycling at 6 a.m.”

Dahlia Topolosky wrote and produced her first album Kol Nearim/Voice of Children for children and parents where children learn the traditional Jewish melodies of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach while moving and dancing to their own unique rhythms. Dahlia was greatly inspired by the music and teachings of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, who used his soul music to teach, inspire, and bring all people together. In college and after, Dahlia started to perform for women and have concerts/sing-alongs where she would share jewish mystical teachings and sing many melodies of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, as well as other Jewish soul music. In 2005, Dahlia completed her doctorate in clinical psychology and became the psychologist at The Horace Mann Lower School where she often used her creativity and music in her work with children. Dahlia also started the first Jewish mommy and me music and movement class, Kol Nearim/Voice of Children, in Riverdale, NY, together with her friend Jenny Sassoon (who plays percussions on the album!). All the lyrics on this album, Kol Nearim/Voice of Children, were originally written by Dahlia for her music class. Seeing how well the children and parents responded to the songs, Dahlia decided it was time to record her first album. Dahlia now resides in New Orleans where she, her husband Rabbi Uri Topolosky, and their two songs Elyon and Itai, are helping to rebuild and revive Beth Israel, a synagogue destroyed by Katrina. *A % of proceeds will go to post Katrina efforts in helping rebuild the Jewish community of New Orleans!!!

Finding a Mensch : Whether you're a man or a woman, finding a mensch isn't always easy. In fact, it can be a pretty tough job...unless you know what you're doing. Robin will share tips on how to identify a mensch, social strategies for finding one, and insights from happily married mensches. If you are single, visit Robin's website...www.LoveCoach.com...for loads of advice, articles, etc. Her most recent book is HOW TO MARRY A MENSCH. You might have heard of her first book HOW TO MEET A MENSCH IN NEW YORK, both available on amazon.com.

ABOUT JAMIE GELLER Chief Foodie Officer, VP of Content, Marketing, Kosher.com Jamie Geller is a best selling author (Quick and Kosher Recipes from the Bride Who Knew Nothing, 2007), an internationally syndicated food and lifestyle columnist, an award-winning television producer, a motivational speaker, and the host of popular Internet cooking shows “Quick & Kosher” and “Simply Kosher.” As Chief Foodie Officer and VP of Content and Marketing for Kosher.com, a kosher food delivery site that provides informative content and serves as the ideal destination for kosher foodies, Jamie will ensure that the site offers plenty of recipes, cooking and food prep tips, as well as videos with culinary demonstrations with appearances by special guests and celebrity chefs. Jamie has been featured in The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune and hundreds of print publications as well as on TV. Currently, Jamie is one of the most sought-after kosher cooks worldwide. For the Food Network, Jamie produced “Summer Seafood” (which aired in June 2007) starring celebrity chef Tyler Florence, and which achieved instant acclaim. Jamie also took on prestigious projects and became an award-winning senior writer and producer for HBO. There she worked on the television and theatrical marketing campaigns for the network’s Groundbreaking Original series, including The Sopranos, The Wire, HBO Original Films, HBO Concerts and HBO Sports. She also worked for CNN where her stories and profiles of the world’s top celebrities appeared both in the U.S.and across the globe. On a personal note, Jamie Geller’s incredible religious journey is what inspired her to speak publicly and share the story of how she went from secular award-winning producer to Orthodox Jewish cookbook author and expert.

Finding a Mensch : Whether you're a man or a woman, finding a mensch isn't always easy. In fact, it can be a pretty tough job...unless you know what you're doing. Robin will share tips on how to identify a mensch, social strategies for finding one, and insights from happily married mensches. If you are single, visit Robin's website...www.LoveCoach.com...for loads of advice, articles, etc. Her most recent book is HOW TO MARRY A MENSCH. You might have heard of her first book HOW TO MEET A MENSCH IN NEW YORK, both available on amazon.com.