MaPa Sells Fluffy Matzoh Balls and More

Marci Alt grew up in Williamsville, N.Y., a small suburb outside of Buffalo, in a family that focused on cooking and spending quality cooking time together. She recalls her great grandma, “Bubbie,” teaching her the mother’s and grandmother’s recipes while she stood on a step stool stirring soup at age four.

MaPa’s company name, “MaPa’s Nosh,” was coined by her children. Alt said, “I am a single mom by choice so I am both Ma and Pa. When we were trying to name our company, my nine-year-old (at the time) said to call it ‘MaPa’s Matzoh Ball Soup because you’re my MaPa and you make the best soup.’”

MaPa’s knishes contain garlic mashed potatoes and onion puree.

Alt continued, “My favorite pastime is cooking Jewish cuisine whether I am making brisket or soup. Knowing that all my recipes are handed down from generations past really puts a smile on my face. I love the time it takes to perfect my cooking, and I always am thinking about my Bubbie who inspired me. Knowing that hundreds of people are enjoying my soup would have made her very proud.”

Alt started selling at farmers markets because the demand for good matzoh ball soup was overwhelming. Three years ago, she placed her first ad in the Atlanta Jewish Times and immediately received more than 100 orders. Then came the temples, like Congregation Dor Tamid, which orders monthly. The Temple on Peachtree sends her soup to sick congregants.

Marci Alt’s clients like her melt-in-the-mouth kugel.

Alt still sells at farmers markets and supplies/delivers to temples, and Fridays at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta. She sells all products year-round including Jewish holidays and delivers to consumers’ homes. This includes spinach and potato knishes and different flavored sweet kugels. Her soup comes in both vegetarian and kosher chicken base. She uses all kosher products in soups. Her knishes and challah are kosher as she works with local kosher markets.

Alt’s secret to great matzoh balls soup is “don’t rush it.” Her soup takes over 20 hours to cook so the flavor is bountiful. Her secret to floaters (balls) is crushing in gluten-free matzoh that produces fluffier balls.

Soups come in quart sizes with about three to four large fluffy balls and about two bowls ($16 plus tax). Other offerings include:
• Knishes: two per order ($11 plus tax)
• Kugel: large cut ($11 plus tax)
• Latkes: four per order ($11 plus tax)

Regarding her food, Alt embellished, “Soup may be my passion; however, the right knish is my favorite. We use garlic mashed potatoes with an onion puree and wrap in a puff pastry. I swear if you add hot mustard, you will think you are sitting in Jersey eating this delicious knish.”

Latkes come four per order for $11.

Alt wears another part-time hat having invented the Gay Yellow Pages. Thirty-two years ago, and (14 years ago with the invention of smartphones), she came out with the first app specifically designed for the LGBTQ+ community, called Gayborhood.

She explained, “Gayborhood works like Yelp. The LGBTQ+ community uses Gayborhood as a resource so we can feel safe and comfortable when purchasing goods and services. Whether someone is searching for a veterinarian or an accountant, our directory is filled with all nondiscriminatory businesses welcoming the LGBTQ+ communities. One can buy an ad package.”

Also, Gbaequality.org is a nonprofit that Alt helped start for LGBTQ+ college kids on their journey to get to the best careers and not let their sexuality impede them.

What’s next for Alt?

“Jewish cooking has always been my passion; and one day, I will have a Jewish food truck filled with many of our traditional foods to buy to eat on the spot.”

To place an order, text (404) 822-7789 for pick up at a market or home delivery for a small fee.