Now Inducting Into the Challah Fame: Pepper S. of @peppelahchallah
The Challah Fame is a OneTable series that celebrates someone who loves to make challah (or delicious Jewish food!) and does so as a form of self-care, self-expression, as a business, or for any other reason (do we really need a reason to adore a good chunk of that beautiful bread?!).
Know someone who needs to be inducted ASAP? Fill this out with the info you have and we’ll be in touch, or send it over to them to complete!
What led you to start Peppelah Challah?
I am a breast cancer survivor, and before my treatments and surgery, I was running full-service kitchens. After my surgery, I was not able to perform the physical labor needed to continue as an executive chef. For the past 2 years, I have been in a lull with what direction I was going to take professionally. I was super bummed about not being able to work in full-service dining anymore, but baking challah kept me grounded and now has turned into a very lucrative biz. The best part is I still get to make people happy with my food creations- food is my passion!
Where do you do your baking?
Greensboro, NC
We hear you’re a pro in the kitchen, but how’d you learn how to bake challah?
I went to culinary school and took a few baking classes so I knew the basics, I didn’t really learn how to bake it until failing a handful of times before eventually adapting my own recipe and procedures.
We must know….what’s most delicious challah you’ve ever made? Spare no details!
Vanilla coffee crumble! The dough is made with local honey and vanilla bean paste. Each one is stuffed and topped with a stick of butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla bean paste, dash of salt and flour to make the ultimate crumble. It’s like if coffee cake and challah had a baby.
Can we take this opportunity to get some tips from a professional?
Yes! If your dough feels a bit sticky while kneading it, try oiling your hands and surface. Rarely is more flour the answer, as it can make your challah very dry.
If you could make challah with (or give your challah to) anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
I would love to make challah with people from all walks of life, spreading the joy it brings while educating others what Judaism is about. I feel it could help with a lot of anti Semitism- people fear what they don’t understand and one of the best ways to bring others together is with food.
I think we need a vanilla coffee crumble challah in our collective lives. How can we get our hands on one?
My website peppelahchallah.com, DM, email or text. Shipping, delivery, and pickup available.
