faces&places

34 | FEBRUARY 29 • 2024 
J
N

T

emple Shir Shalom of West 
Bloomfield once again stepped 
up to support those in need 
with its 11th Annual Chicken Soup 
Cook-Off. The Feb. 4 event benefited 
Metro Food Rescue, CARE House of 
Oakland County and 
the temple’s youth 
and young adult pro-
gramming.
More than 20 pro-
fessional and amateur 
participants were 
on hand with their 
versions of the best 
chicken soup. The 
chicken soup recipes 
were from local delis, 
markets and caterers 
as well as Temple Shir 
Shalom’s Rabbi Daniel 
Schwartz and other 
members of the con-
gregation.
Attendees tasted 
unique versions of chicken soup with 
and without noodles, matzah balls and 
kreplach, and voted for Best Chicken 
Noodle Soup, Best Matzah Ball Soup 
and Best Creative/Contemporary 
Chicken Soup. The Chicken Soup 
Cook-Off was sponsored by Stage Deli, 
Zoup!, Market Square, Plum Market 
and many other local merchants. 
A silent auction and raffle were also 
part of the festivities. Co-chairs Debbie 
Lippitt and Ashley Sefferman helped 

bring in new soups this year as well as 
raffle and auction items including gift 
cards to local stores and a five-night 
stay at a luxury cabin near Yellowstone 
National Park.
Judges included Blythe Tyler, pres-
ident and CEO at 
CARE House of 
Oakland County; 
West Bloomfield 
Police Department 
Chief Michael Patton; 
Howard Dembs, 
chair of the board of 
directors of Metro 
Food Rescue; Danny 
Schwartz, senior staff 
reporter for the JN; and 
TSS members Gary 
Grossman and Alan 
Abraham. 
 In the Professional 
Division, Val’s 
Delicatessen won Best 
Chicken Noodle Soup 
and Best Matzah Ball Soup. Platinum 
Dish Catering won Best Creative/
Contemporary Soup. 
In the Amateur Division, Brian 
Halprin won Best Chicken Noodle 
Soup; Micah, Avi, Jenna, Elana and 
Rabbi Daniel Schwartz won Best 
Matzah Ball Soup; and Gabe and 
Mike Reamer won Best Creative/
Contemporary Soup. 
 David Grossman’s Matzah Ball Soup 
won the People’s Choice Award. 

Chicken 
 Soup 
Cook-Off 

DANNY SCHWARTZ SENIOR STAFF REPORTER

Chef Val and the team from Val’s Delicatessen serve their 
award-winning soups. 

Mike and Gabe Reamer serve their award-winning Delicious 
Chicken Soup to tasters Bruce and Sheila Harris.

LEFT-RIGHT: Co-chair Ashley Sefferman, Chef Hobby 
and Paul Wertz of Platinum Dish Catering, and Co-chair 
Debbie Lippitt receivee the trophy for their Best Creative-
Contemporary Soup – Caldo de Pollo.

Jenna Vinter and the Cook-Off 
Super Chicken

LEFT: Micah Schwartz, Elana Schwartz, Ellanora Brown, Hayliana Brown and Jenna 
Schwartz serve the Schwartz Family Matzah Ball Soup.

Temple Shir Shalom Hosts

11th 
Annual

