Whitefish Bay chef shares how food helps introduce people to Jewish culture
May 27, 2026
A Whitefish Bay catering company is using Jewish American Heritage Month as an opportunity to share traditional foods and culture with the broader Milwaukee community.WATCH: Whitefish Bay chef shares how food helps introduce peo
ple to Jewish culture Whitefish Bay chef shares how food helps introduce people to Jewish cultureMosaic Catering operates out of the Harry Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center in Whitefish Bay, where it also runs a caf open to the public. Hannah, the chef behind the operation, said food is one of the most accessible ways to introduce people to Jewish culture. "I think it's important because we're such a small community, and so it's a good way to show who we are to people," she said.Hannah said some visitors may have never encountered Jewish food or culture before."May never have met a Jew, and so food is obviously a good way to introduce people to that," she said.The menu at Mosaic Catering is made largely from scratch by a full pastry chef staff. Offerings include several flavors of rugelach, homemade chicken soup, kreplach a meat dumpling and homemade matzo balls. The caf also serves homemade babka in chocolate and strawberry cream varieties, as well as crembo, a lesser-known dessert made with a homemade cookie, homemade marshmallow cream and a chocolate coating.WATCH: TMJ4s Kidd OShea learns to make challah during Jewish Heritage Month TMJ4s Kidd OShea learns to make challah during Jewish Heritage MonthHannah said her path to running a catering company and caf was not one she originally planned."I started running my synagogue kitchen, and so I happened into it when that changed, and I just love working with the whole community," she said.She said the tight-knit nature of Milwaukee's Jewish community which spans religious and nonreligious members is something she values deeply, and that the caf serves as a gathering place for all of it."I think it's really important. Our community in the Jewish community of Milwaukee is small, and so we're very connected, nonreligious or Orthodox, and those relationships, and I think that's a really important and good thing. And then to just bring things to those families is important, and community connects here at the caf as well," she said.The caf has drawn a following beyond the Jewish community as well. Hannah said many regular customers have developed a taste for Jewish staples."We have a lot of regular customers that come in who've gotten to know the Jewish food. We have people who come in and get challah all week long and make their French toast or whatever they're looking for," she said.The Mosaic Catering caf at the JCC in Whitefish Bay is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.Its about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for TMJ4 on your device.Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip
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