Local Dishes

1. געפֿילטע פֿיש

   gefilte fish

   Gefilte fish

   Usage

   A staple of Ashkenazi Jewish cooking: ground fish used as a stuffing. It is often served as a starter on the Sabbath and holidays

   Grammar Note

   A plural noun phrase meaning "stuffed fish"; the adjective "געפֿילטע" carries the plural ending "-ע"

2. קוגל

   kugl

   Kugel

   Usage

   A baked dish made from potato or noodles, served as a side or as a dessert. Ask which kind it is before ordering

   Grammar Note

   Masculine noun. The two best-known kinds are the potato kugel and the noodle kugel

3. טשאָלנט

   tsholnt

   Cholent

   Usage

   A Sabbath stew of potatoes, barley and meat

   Grammar Note

   Used as a masculine or neuter noun. "טש" stands for the "tsh" sound. Spellings vary, for example "טשאָלענט"

4. לאַטקעס

   latkes

   Latkes

   Usage

   Grated potato fried in oil, the classic Hanukkah dish. "כ׳האָב ליב לאַטקעס" means "I love latkes"

   Grammar Note

   The plural of "לאַטקע", and usually ordered in the plural. In Jerusalem the same word can mean a fried doughnut

5. בלינצע

   blintse

   Blintz

   Usage

   A thin pancake of flour and water or milk, filled with cheese or other fillings. Known as a dairy dish for Shavuot

   Grammar Note

   Feminine noun; the plural is "בלינצעס"

6. בייגל

   beygl

   Bagel

   Usage

   The ring-shaped bread, a breakfast and snack staple. "טאָם האָט געגעסן אַ בייגל" means "Tom ate a bagel"

   Grammar Note

   Masculine noun; the plural is the same "בייגל". The same spelling also names a small bone of the ear, the stapes

7. חלה

   khale

   Challah

   Usage

   The braided white bread baked specially for the Sabbath and holidays. "אסתּר באַקט חלה" means "Esther is baking challah"

   Grammar Note

   A feminine noun of Hebrew origin, written without vowel points; the plural is "חלות"

8. מצה

   matse

   Matzo

   Usage

   Thin unleavened bread, eaten in place of ordinary bread during Passover

   Grammar Note

   A feminine noun of Hebrew origin, written without vowel points; the plural is "מצות"

9. קניידלעך

   kneydlekh

   Matzo balls

   Usage

   Dumplings made of matzo meal and eggs, eaten in chicken soup

   Grammar Note

   The plural of "קניידל" (dumpling), and normally said in the plural

10. באָרשט

    borsht

    Borscht

    Usage

    Beet soup, served hot or cold. Check before ordering whether it contains meat

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; the plural is "באָרשטן"

11. קאַשע

    kashe

    Kasha

    Usage

    A porridge of boiled grain

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun; the plural is "קאַשעס"

12. הערינג

    hering

    Herring

    Usage

    The herring fish of northern seas, eaten in Eastern European Jewish cooking

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; the plural is "הערינגען"

13. קישקע

    kishke

    Kishke

    Usage

    A traditional Ashkenazi dish of stuffed beef intestine. Check first if you do not eat offal

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun; the plural is "קישקעס". It also means the intestines themselves

14. שמאַלץ

    shmalts

    Schmaltz

    Usage

    Fat rendered from chicken or goose, used for frying or spread on bread

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun. It is also a general word for "fat" or "grease"

15. לעקעך

    lekekh

    Lekach (honey cake)

    Usage

    A spiced honey cake. More broadly the word can mean cake in general

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; the plural is "לעקעכער" or "לעקעכן". It also means a diamond shape or the diamond suit in cards

16. שטרודל

    shtrudl

    Strudel

    Usage

    A pastry of thin layered dough rolled around a filling, often apple

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; the plural is "שטרודלען"

17. שניצל

    shnitsl

    Schnitzel

    Usage

    A thin cutlet fried in breadcrumbs, traditionally veal, with the Viennese style the best known. Check which meat it is before ordering

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; the plural is "שניצלען". The same spelling also means a slice or scrap, for example of paper

18. אַ שטיק קוגל, ביטע.

    A shtik kugl, bite.

    A piece of kugel, please.

    Usage

    A pattern for asking for one portion of a cut dish at a shop or canteen. Another dish name can replace "קוגל"

    Grammar Note

    "אַ שטיק ..., ביטע" is a basic ordering pattern. Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

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