History of the Mildred Bernstein Kitchen Fund:
The Mildred Bernstein Kitchen fund was founded, in memory of the late Mildred Bernstein, after her passing in 1970. Mildred was the matriarch of the Bernstein family. She was known for her delicious food and was the only CharlestonJewish caterer. Her best friend Minnie Weinberger eventually became Mildred’s partner in the catering business. There were not many Bar Mitzvahs, Shabbat Onegs or Jewish weddings that they were not involved with.
When her son, Fred married and brought his family back to Charleston in 1962, Mildred welcomed his wife, Anita to the family and the two became very close. Anita soon learned all of Mildred’s secrets in the kitchen and began to help her cater. Upon Mildred’s passing, the Bernstein family along with the KKBE congregation and Jewish community, remembered her by starting a memorial fund in her honor at KKBE called the "Mildred Bernstein Kitchen Fund”
Her daughter, Anita Bernstein continued the catering tradition with her sister, Minnie Weinberger, until Minnie’s passing in 1988. She entertained celebrities in her home who were entertaining at the Gilliard Auditorium. Her most exciting and memorable visitor was Liberace. Anita catered almost until her passing. Her last party was literally 3 days before she went into the hospital. She passed away April 12, 1998.
After Anita's passing, her three daughters continued to cater all of the remaining parties Anita had booked. Her daughter Lynn, took over the next generation of Bernstein catering until her untimely death due to lung cancer at the young age of 60 in 2012. After Lynn’s passing, there was an effort to start an endowment called The Kitchen at the JCC. Money was raised and then the JCC closed. That money was given to the KKBE Mildred Bernstein Kitchen Fund by the Bernstein family.
Her daughter Sandy DeAntonio, carries on the Bernstein food Legacy. Although she has no interest in catering, she makes the Bernstein Family stuffed cabbage for the Lowcountry Nosh every year. It’s a labor of love in memory of her grandmother, mother and sister. Honestly, she feels more connected to them in the KKBE Kitchen than anywhere else. A special acknoledgement goes to Sandy DeAntonio for her beautiful history of her grandmother, mother, sister and the Bernstein family.
