Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on May 18, 2022

Starting May 22, the UN Plaza Grill will take diners' taste buds on a journey around the world with the debut of its Global Chefs Collaborative Pop-up series, an exploration of the world's most intriguing cuisines.

Every month through the balance of 2022, a chef with expertise in cuisine from a specific country or region will collaborate with UN Plaza Grill Culinary Director Ines Chattas to create a three-course menu showcasing representative dishes, ingredients, and techniques. The first such collaboration will be with Ben and Zikki, the husband-wife chef team whose menu of their native Israel's food will be available from May 22 to June 2.

Priced at $77 for the three-courses with a glass of complementary house wine, and reflecting the confluence of Jewish, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern cookery that characterizes contemporary Israeli cuisine, the menu will feature such starters as Masabacha with Israeli Salad, seasoned with shuk spices and topped with dukkah and Fire Charred Eggplant, with cured chilis and fresh squeezed tomato. Highlights among the man dish options include Baharat Chicken with Freekeh, topped with sumac onions and Tahini and Ground Fish Kebobs in Spicy Chraimi Sauce, with herb salad. Desserts will be Tahini Fudge Truffles and Pavlova with Coconut Lemon Cream and Sumac Strawberries.

Each of the Global Chefs Collaborative Pop-up Israeli Menu by Ben and Zikki will also be priced a la carte so they can be mixed and mingled with the offerings from the luxurious kosher restaurant's regular dinner menu which has always had an internationally sensibility, given its 845 UN Plaza address overlooking the grounds of the United Nations.

"We are excited to offer this new journey exploring food from around the world. Not only will it expand our guests' gustatory horizons, but it will expose our entire restaurant team to an exciting new diversity of ingredients and techniques as we execute the menus by the amazing roster of chefs with whom we will be working," says Chattas. "What better way to start than with cuisine from Israel on May 22, the date of the Salute to Israel Parade in New York City."

To compile that roster of international chefs, Chattas has enlisted the aid of Lvana Kirschenbaum, the chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author considered a pioneer in upscale kosher dining and often referred to as the "Jewish Julia Child." Their pick for the second Global Chefs Collaborative Pop-Ip is Rinku Bhattacharya, known for her earthy approach to Indian cooking through a series of cookbooks, classes and her http://www.spicechrionicles.com site.

About BenGingi:

Ben is first and foremost a massively talented baker. Artisanal in every sense, he is self-taught, finding his passion in a journey that took him from his home in Israel to The University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, Italy. It was his time in Piedmont where he began his love story with bread. Today BenGingi is an online presence -- more than 600,000 followers (across Instagram and TikTok) tune in to watch him cook and bake. For more information visit his site at https://www.bengingi.com/about

The UN Plaza Grill is located at 845 1st Avenue (at 47th St.), where on-site parking is available. Reservations can be made on the restaurant's website at http://www.unplazagrill.com or by calling 212-223-1801. Private party space available. UN Plaza Grill is under the kosher supervision of the OU.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of UN Plaza Grill

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UN PLAZA GRILL Launches 'Cuisines from Around the World' with Guest Chefs Through 2022 - Broadway World

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Posted By admin on May 18, 2022

When Eitan Bernath was 12 years old, he started a folder on his computer to store recipes for his future cookbook. That might sound precocious, but he had reason to dream. Just one year earlier, he had competed on the first-ever kid-focused episode of the popular Food Network show Chopped. Bernath didnt win the competition, but the experience solidified his budding love for cooking and food media.

Late last month Bernath celebrated his 20th birthday, and this month, his debut cookbook, Eitan Eats the World: New Comfort Classics to Cook Right Now, was released. The book features globally inspired, eminently cookable comfort foods, from peanut-butter-and-jelly pancakes to beer-battered wild mushroom tacos to Turkish-style red lentil soup. And while the book is not focused on Jewish cuisine, it includes a solid handful of overtly Jewish recipes (like green shakshuka, sesame schnitzel, and chicken soup), which nod to Bernaths heritage.

Like everything Bernath does, Eitan Eats the World is shaped by his signature mix of boundless exuberance (it is hard to imagine anyone being more hyped to make avocado toast), firm grasp on the culinary zeitgeist, and obsessive attention to detail. I hired four people to cross-test all of the books recipes, he said. Four might have been a touch overkill, but I know there are going to be people who are skeptical of my age, so I wanted to make sure everything was as clean as possible. Some of those early recipes from Bernaths computer files even made it into the book, though he updated them to make sure they reflect his current cooking style.

For most food writers, authoring a cookbook is a career-defining pinnacle. That is true, too, for Bernath, who said Eitan Eats the World feels like the culmination of my culinary journey thus far. And yet, the book is just one small part of a larger food media empire he is building.

As is true for many Gen Z stars, the vast majority of his career has been housed online. Shortly after his appearance on Chopped, Bernath started a food blog (which has since evolved into his personal website). In more recent years, he launched wildly successful Instagram and TikTok accounts (with 652,000 and 2.2 million followers, respectively), and a popular YouTube channel, where he posts cooking tutorials for fettuccine alfredo and homemade marshmallows, as well as videos of himself trying outlandish food experiments like cooking while blindfolded. More recently, after appearing on a segment on The Drew Barrymore Show and hitting it off with the host, he was hired as a recurring culinary contributor.

Bernath grew up in a religiously observant family in Teaneck, New Jersey, and, from a very young age, found himself drawn to food. He was raised on a steady media diet of Food Network shows, of course, but also used food as a way to learn about the world. I would obsessively watch documentaries about subcuisines in India or Mexico or Italy, he said. For his bar mitzvah party, he requested the caterer serve lahmajun, or Turkish meat flatbreads.

Many of the dishes he learned about were off-limits from a kosher perspective, but Bernath said the limitations helped fuel his creativity: If I wanted to experience something I couldnt just go to a restaurant and try it, I had to make it myself. In his familys home kitchen, he could, say, recreate a cheeseburger using a plant-based patty, or make the South Asian dish chicken tikka masala by swapping out the yogurt traditionally used to marinate the meat for coconut-based yogurt.

As Bernaths career began to take off in his later teens, he shifted from filming videos in his familys kitchen to the garage, which his parents helped convert into a production set. I was extremely privileged to have parents who were supportive of my dreamsway before anyone else was, he said. In early 2021, while most of his peers were studying for college exams, he left his parents home for a temporary studio in Manhattan to focus on building his production company, Eitan Productions.

A few months later, buoyed by his runaway success, he moved himself and the company to a duplex penthouse (with an expansive kitchen) in Manhattans Gramercy Park neighborhood. Eitan Productions recently hired its eighth employee, which means at 20 years old, Bernath is a first-time cookbook author and a full time CEO. It has been a wild learning experience to do this at such a young age, he said.

Bernath has deftly avoided being pigeonholed as a kosher cook. And yet, he displays his Jewish heritage proudly, whether that means filming a video of himself trying McDonalds for the first time (in Israel, where the restaurant is kosher-certified), joining the food council for the food rescue organization City Harvest as an act of tzedakah, or wearing a Star of David necklace for a cooking segment on The Drew Barrymore Show. For a lot of people who follow me, I might be the only Jew they follow, he said. So I feel a great sense of responsibilityparticularly during this moment when antisemitism is on the rise.

You have to squint a little to see it, but all of the recipes in Eitan Eats the World are kosher-friendly. He included a recipe for that dairy-free chicken tikka masala, along with a mushroom-based riff on a classic Philly cheesesteak, and queso fundido where plant-based protein substitutes for the chorizo. My kosher readers will notice, but most other readers might not, he said. For Bernath, as long as his work means people are getting more comfortable in their kitchens, its all gravy.

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Eitan Bernath Is on Top of the 'World' - Tablet Magazine

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Posted By admin on May 18, 2022

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Catch Helado Negro performing live. Watch a free outdoor screening of Jurassic Park. Learn from Neil deGrasse Tyson. Listen to stories of 1960s L.A. through the marriage of Dennis Hopper and Brooke Hayward. Laugh along at a comedy benefit for the Wonderland School.

Bike to Work Week with MetrolinkVarious locationsIts Bike to Work Week and Metrolink rewards riders who bring their bikes aboard the train with free fare. One free ride per bike, and cyclists must be with their bike for the entire trip. The free rides on Metrolink are not eligible for refunds or free transfers to any other bus or rail operator.COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Helado NegroThe Regent Theater448 S. Main St., downtown L.A.Listen to Helado Negros bilingual electronic-pop tunes live as he tours in support of his latest release Far In. Kacy Hill opens.COST: $25; MORE INFO

Faith Kramer: 52 ShabbatsVirtualFood writer and recipe developer Faith Kramer discusses her new cookbook, 52 Shabbats, with fellow food author Jake Cohen. Kramers new book is a journey of Jewish cuisine from around the world and explores how the diaspora has influenced Shabbat cooking.COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO

Demetri Martin, seen here at the International Myeloma Foundation 13th Annual Comedy Celebration at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in 2019, performs at a benefit show at Largo this week.

(Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images for International Myeloma Foundation

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Wonderlands 7th Annual Comedy NightLargo at the Coronet366 N. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly GroveThis benefit for Wonderland Avenue School is hosted by the Sklar Brothers and features standup and hijinx from Demetri Martin, Atsuko, and Donnell Rawlings, with music from Priscilla Ahn.COST: $65 - $80; MORE INFO

Everybody Thought We Were Crazy: Dennis Hopper, Brooke Hayward, and 1960s Los AngelesSkylight Books1818 N. Vermont Ave., Los FelizMark Rozzo, a contributing editor at Vanity Fair, examines L.A.s history in the 1960s through the incendiary marriage of actors Dennis Hopper and Brooke Hayward. Their Hollywood Hills home on North Crescent Heights Blvd. became the hangout and a showcase for contemporary art, decorated with works from Roy Lichtenstein, Ed Ruscha, and Andy Warhol. Ruscha joins the author for this in-person event.COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Cannabis Infused Yoga & Sound BathThe Studio Lounge at The Artist Tree8625 Santa Monica Blvd., West HollywoodThe session, led by holistic health and lifestyle coach Soha Panah, includes 20-minute gentle Yoga flow, followed by a 30-minute sound bath. For enhancement: Consume any of their cannabis products before or after class in the smoking and nonsmoking consumption lounge areas.COST: Tickets start at $20; MORE INFO

The Un-Private Collection: Takashi Murakami + Benoit Pagotto + Ed SchadAratani Theatre244 San Pedro St., downtown L.A.Before the opening of The Broads exhibition, Takashi Murakami: Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow, the museum presents a conversation about the metaverse between artist Murakami and the co-founder of RTFKT Studios Benoit Pagotto, moderated by The Broads Ed Schad. The event will also be livestreamed. Tickets to the program include access to the Murakami exhibition and This Is Not Americas Flag between May 25-29.COST: $20; MORE INFO

The Lonely Stories: 22 Celebrated Writers on the Joys & Struggles of Being AloneVirtualThis collection of essays tackles aloneness, from writers who welcome the solitude to others who are desperately lonely. Topics include heartbreak, internet addiction, immigrating to another country, and desire. Joining editor Natalie Eve Garrett for this Book Soup conversation are contributors Lev Grossman, Aja Gabel, and Maggie Shipstead.COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO

Neil deGrasse Tyson, who is at the Wiltern this week, is seen here at New York's Build Studio in 2019 to discuss "MasterClass" Critical Thinking and Practical Element.

(Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

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Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson: Cosmic CollisionsThe Wiltern3790 Wilshire Blvd., KoreatownListen to the astrophysicist discuss things in the sky that collide with the Earth asteroids, comets, and detritus alongside their impact on our planet.COST: Tickets start at $49.50; MORE INFO

Muck Annual Jazz Festival Week 2The Muckenthaler Cultural Center1201 W. Malvern Ave., FullertonThe jazz series continues with jazz pianist Bill Cunliffe and Imaginacin, as well as vocalist Carol Bach-y-Rita and trombonist Francisco Torres.COST: Tickets start at $35; MORE INFO

Jurassic ParkFrench St. and Calle Cuatro Plaza, between 4th and 5th St., Santa AnaBring your blankets, low-back chairs, and picnics (no alcohol) for this Frida Cinema outdoor screening of Steven Spielberg's sci-fi classic.COST: FREE with RSVP; MORE INFO

Tiki Ha Ha MayThe Bamboo Club3522 E. Anaheim St., Long BeachThe comedy show returns this week (and every third Thursday of the month) to the venues outdoor patio. Christian Senrud hosts a lineup that features standup from Lizzy Cooperman, Ramsey Badawi, Kelly Ryan, Ernesto Ledezma, Patrick Butcher, and Christopher Wonders blend of magic comedy.COST: $10; MORE INFO

'Days of Rage' is an online exhibition of historical LGBTQ activist posters.

( LGBTQ Poster Collection, ONE Archives at the USC Libraries)

Days of RageOnlineThe One Archives Foundation recently launched an online design exhibit of historical LGBTQ activist posters from the ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at the USC Libraries. A series of public programs accompanies the exhibition, including in-person archive tours and Conversations with the Curators on Saturday, May 21 at 3:30 p.m.COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Shout! CultThis weeks pick is a new, free 24/7 channel from Shout Factory TV. "Shout! Cult" is dedicated to campy, weird, cult films usually programmed for midnight screenings. The channel launches this week (Monday, May 16) screening films such as Godzilla (Gojira), The Little Shop of Horrors, Rock 'n' Roll High School, Living in Oblivion, and Reefer Madness. Find Shout Cult online or on any of the Shout Factory TV apps currently available on Amazon Fire TV, Android, Apple TV, and Roku.

Check out the 411 on restaurant, bar, and food happenings in SoCal this week:

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Send us the basic info who, what, when, where, cost, URL and event description at least a week in advance. We can't guarantee your listing will make it to publication but we'd love to read your pitch.

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Best Things To Do This Week In Los Angeles And SoCal: May 16 - 19 - LAist

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Posted By admin on May 18, 2022

Miles of stunning uninterrupted beaches, waves crashing on the rocks and into tidal pools, misty mountains and mesmerizing sunsets, saved my sanity during the lock down. California certainly has its share of stunningly beautiful destinations, and now that everything is open again, it is time to explore those captivating small towns that move at a deliciously slow pace, and sip my way through SLO Wine Country. Fun Fact San Luis Obispo County is known as SLO County, inferring that we should SLO down and enjoy the 80 plus miles of stunning beaches, beautiful hotels, delicious farm to table food, and world class wine!

When we went on lockdown in 2020, I could feel the beginnings of a panic attack start in my stomach and with every month that went by, it became more and more pronounced. For someone who traveled since I was two, this nightmare seemed never ending and I had to go anywhere as it felt like the walls were starting to close in. So I packed my bags and headed North up the California Coast and I could feel the stress leaving my body. There were still a few places where I could stay, so I triple sanitized, got delivery, and breathed. On my travels I re-discovered the most incredibly beautiful, unspoiled and sometimes foggy beaches stretching endlessly without intrusion, and passed through delightful but quiet, small towns and promised myself I would return. I hiked deserted mountain trails covered in a misty blanket as the sun rose and marveled at the towering redwoods and colony of elephant seals. As the day ended, I stood mesmerized as the sun set over the ocean, glass of wine in hand, just me and this thing called nature. As the human footprint had lightened considerably during that time, nature was bouncing back, and it was beautiful.

When Countries started opening up, domestic travel was trending. Families wanted to reconnect with their loved ones, couples were ready to get married and felt travelling domestically was easier. No one wanted to be stuck in another Country unable to get home at least until their quarantine was over. Thanks to the lockdown, I had an abundance of suggestions for gorgeous and diverse vacation and wedding destinations. Now that hotels have re-opened it was time for another discovery trip to the Central Coast.

This time to see which hotels and venues survived COVID and are ready for guests, families and destination weddings. I headed to Pismo in search of a wedding venue and accommodation for a couple and their family, and stayed at the Cottage Inn. (Review coming soon)

A few months later I again headed up to this little piece of heaven called San Luis Obispo County, this time armed with much appreciated research from the local San Luis Obispo Tourist Board and Chamber. (credits at the end of the post)

I arrived in Pismo as the sun was about to sink into the ocean and headed straight for the world-famous Pier. I stood at the railing and took a few deep breaths of salty sea air and watched the sun set. It felt as though time slowed especially so the sun could show off those last magical golden moments. To the right I could see several beautiful hotels perched on the bluff with the most incredible ocean views. Many with access to the beach for an early morning walk and some even pet friendly. If you want to have a bite to eat while you admire the sunset by the Pier, Woolys is a casual fun spot, and The Oyster Loft above it more of a fine dining option.

This trip I chose the Tides Ocean View Inn and Cottages, as it reminded me of happy times with my family as a kid, and I was not disappointed with that view! (Review coming soon).

Pismo is especially perfect for family travel with lots to do for kids as it has an outstanding selection of outdoor activities such as kayaking, surfing, hiking, and biking all in beautiful surroundings. If you are booking a wine tour in the area, do add Pismo Beach as a stopover for at least two to three nights, but I recommend a week to fully enjoy all that charming little town has to offer. The wine bar, Tastes of the Valleys on Price Street and Giuseppes Italian Restaurant next door are also highly recommended.

San Luis Obispo County is a fabulous wedding and honeymoon destination as the area is so diverse. A couple could have their wedding at the beach, and go on to honeymoon in the mountains, or at a winery.

I found a beautiful venue called the Chapman Estate that is currently being renovated that is perfect for small elopements or weddings. I will be posting more pictures soon but for now let me just say that it is very budget friendly, with fantastic ocean views and gardens for beautiful wedding pictures! There are several hotels nearby for family, friends and the after party. Contact me here for info and bookings. If you are observant, there are kosher caterers in the area also.

My next stop was San Luis Obispo City and as I got closer I noticed that mist was just rolling in over the mountains which gave it an almost surreal look. It has a very different vibe than the beach towns obviously, but is just as captivating. As with most smaller towns it has a slower pace and an authenticity that is not often evident in larger cities. I have always been drawn to smaller country towns known for their warm and friendly locals, enticing regional cuisine, local art and crafts, and fascinating history and San Luis Obispo City is no exception.

I checked into the Apple Farm Inn for a couple of nights found it delightful! (Full review coming soon.) Not only is the hotel absolutely lovely, but what makes it unique is their marketplace and wine cellar where you can taste and purchase wines and spirits from the local wineries and distilleries, as well as culinary and skin care items, art, beer and mixers. The rooms at the Apple Farm Inn are about to be renovated, but they are gorgeous. Their restaurant is open daily for breakfast and lunch, and now also for dinner on the weekends. The food is really good and definitely ask for one of their unique cucumber cocktails from the local distilleries to go with dinner.

Novo is another crowd favorite restaurant located in downtown San Luis Obispo. The food is locally sourced and outstanding, and the hand selected craft cocktails are delicious, as is the award-winning wine list. I loved the ambiance and intimate friendly environment. Definitely recommended.

There are many activities to enjoy in SLO County. You can visit the Hearst Castle which has just reopened, if you are an ATV fan head over to the Oceano sand dunes, go kayaking, or attend surf camp at the Central Coast surf school. You could go whale watching at Avila Beach and the best months depend on which kind of whale watching you want to do. For those in need of rest and rejuvenation, there amazing wellness retreats. SLO County and SLO Wine country has so much more to explore and that will take another few trips up the Central Coast. Cant wait!

SLO County has more than 250 wineries spread among two wine grape-growing regions, San Luis Obispo Wine Country and Paso Robles, so there is no shortage of tasting experiences to be had. There are one and two-day wine tasting trails including my favorite bubbly tasting trail. More than 40 wine grape varieties grow in SLO CAL, and these can be sampled at over a 100 tasting rooms, each with its own character and vibe.

If you are into wine bars, then the new Region Bar in the SLO hotel is not to be missed. They serve some of the communitys best kept secrets and hard-to-find, independent wines. You can enjoy over 100+ wines by the taste, glass, or bottle.

Paso Robles is a gorgeous destination for wine aficionados, and known for its world class wine and food. You will find a variety of beautiful lodgings from historic Inns to luxury resorts and rustic vineyards, yet still with that small town charm. If having a wedding at a winery is on one of your must-do lists, head up to Paso for a look see. You wont be disappointed. Paso will be another post I look forward to writing.

The drive from San Francisco is about 3 hours and about the same from Los Angeles. If you forgot to pack something, there are several large chain stores that will have whatever you need. However, do support the smaller shops with locally made items where you can.

If you are heading up to the stunningly beautiful Central Coast of California, take some time to plan your trip HERE and for SLO wine region information tap HERE. There are several other beautiful towns in SLO Cal County such as Morro Bay and Avila Beach, so follow me here for more travel inspiration.

I want to thank Micki from Pismo County for showing me the beautiful Chapman Estate and Eric and Jacqui from the SLO Chamber and SLO County, as well as Nataly from Turner PR who all jumped in and gave me a lot of really helpful info. Much appreciated.

Thank you for spending time with me. Feel free to reach out with questions to [emailprotected] Warmly; Dahlia

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Don't Miss the Beauty In Your Own Backyard! - Jewish Journal

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Posted By admin on May 18, 2022

To support our local dining scene, Peninsula Restaurant Week is back for its second year, May 13-21, featuring special dishes from favorite local eateries. For the final story in our Q&A series with participating restaurants, we caught up with The Refuge, which has locations in Menlo Park, San Carlos and San Mateo.

The Refuge aims to serve the best of Belgium, New York and Philadelphia through its extensive beer list, hand-sliced pastrami sandwiches and gooey cheesesteaks. Led by the husband-and-wife team of Matt Levin and Melanie Roth along with executive chef Michael Greuel, The Refuge reflects Levin's passion for pastrami. The menu unexpectedly draws inspiration from Michelin-starred kitchens in Paris as much as it does from New York City. The Refuge's first location opened in San Carlos in 2008, followed by Menlo Park in 2013 and Hillsdale Mall in 2021.

Wondering how French haute cuisine influenced The Refuge and how they make pastrami they're willing to put up against titans like Katz's and Langer's? We spoke with Levin to learn more.

This conversation has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Peninsula Foodist: It was a little surprising to see on your website that the roots of The Refuge were strongly tied to French cuisine and your kitchen experiences in France. Could you tell me a little more about that?

Matt Levin: It's a good question. It doesn't seem like it makes sense. I grew up Jewish, I'm still observant. But back then, especially in the '90s, I was a Francophile. I had gone to France before and was just transfixed. I couldn't believe that people cooked like this.

Also, I went to New Orleans and ate at K-Paul's back when Paul Prudhomme was still alive. (Like The Refuge), it was a first-come, first-served type of place. I really got into New Orleans-style cooking. I bought Paul Prudhomme's "Louisiana Cookery," and I made everything. It's a perfect cookbook. I learned a lot about French cooking through that lens.

My wife was working for a French company, and she got transferred to France. I worked in Michelin-starred restaurants and learned French. The problem with those kitchens is that they're very militaristic, they're hard. You can't make a mistake. The chives have got to be like, half a millimeter. And then if one gets on the edge of the plate, you have to replate.

It wears on people, and it wore on me. And I didn't eat that type of food. I was eating duck confit, a lot of charcuterie, but I never tasted anything as good as really good pastrami. And I'm like, "Why don't they have that? It's very similar. It's a cured meat."

When I came back to the United States, I was thinking, there's a place for the casual connoisseur out there. So that's how The Refuge came about. There's actually (a restaurant named) The Refuge in France. It was such a cool name, because a restaurant (becomes a refuge) over the years.

Peninsula Foodist: Could you speak a bit more about the pastrami-making process?

Matt Levin: The process starts with the cut of meat. We use the beef plate, which is from the beef belly. We use the heart of the navel. There's this little corner that's perfectly marbled. It's very hard to get right now. It's used for hot pot a lot.

It's all in the brine. What makes ours different is the freshness of the spices. Garlic, you can use a few different types of sugars: brown, cane, beet so you're adding different dimensions, not just sweetness.

After three to five days, it's rubbed with coriander and black pepper, that's traditional. We catch all the drippings, we make what Guy Fieri (who featured The Refuge on "Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives") called a lacquer and after we trim, we'll dip the meat back in. We put very little smoke on it, you don't want to be like Texas barbecue. The rest of the game is steaming until tender.

Peninsula Foodist: People have really strong opinions about their regional foods like pastrami and cheesesteaks. Do you ever feel any sort of pressure making them?

Matt Levin: Yeah, I would never have put pastrami on the menu if I didn't think it could compete with the big boys.

I love it when people can have a lively discussion about food. People should be passionate about their regional foods because a lot of them don't make it out to the West Coast. I provide protection for the East Coast out here, it's safe in (The Refuge). I try to do things as authentically as possible.

Peninsula Foodist: Is there anything else you want the diners coming for Restaurant Week to know about?

Matt Levin: I made the pastrami combo (half of a pastrami sandwich, fries and a beer) our special because I don't think the pastrami market's saturated yet. There are still people who come in and have never had pastrami. I want guests to be open to a snapshot of what The Refuge can offer.

You have to really travel to get the stuff we serve. It's the ultimate eclectic restaurant even though we employ classical technique. You have the opportunity to try all these things in their authentic state in one place: Belgian beers, pastrami, house-ground burgers and cheesesteaks. The meat we use for pastrami isn't getting any cheaper, but it's worth preserving.

The Refuge, 1143 Crane St., Menlo Park; 650-319-8197, refugesc.com. Instagram: @refuge_menlopark. Additional locations in San Carlos and San Mateo.

Enter to win up to $850 in gift cards to local restaurants! Visit peninsularestaurantweek.com/about for more details.

Dig into food news. Follow the Peninsula Foodist on Instagram @peninsulafoodist and subscribe to the newsletter to get insights on the latest openings and closings, learn what the Foodist is excited about eating, read exclusive interviews and keep up on the trends affecting local restaurants.

This story was originally published on TheSixFifty.com, a sister publication of Palo Alto Online, covering what to eat, see and do in Silicon Valley.

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How the Peninsula's pastrami experts at The Refuge were inspired by French fine dining - The Almanac Online

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Posted By admin on May 18, 2022

Monday, May 16

ART: Dominic Benhura, Krohn Conservatory, 1501 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams. One of Zimbabwe's most recognized visual artists displays sculptural exhibition of recent works. Runs May 7-June 16. cincinnatiparks.com.

LITERARY: Steve Rosen: "Lost Cincinnati Concert Venues of the 50s and 60s," 7 p.m., Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 2692 Madison Road, Norwood. Author discusses and signs books. 513-396-8960.

MUSIC: Jazz at the Park, 6-9 p.m., Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Live musicMondays through Sept. 26. May 16: Five Little Bears. Free. washingtonpark.org.

COMEDY: Medium Cindy Kaza, Funny Bone Comedy Club, 7518 Bales St., Liberty Township. liberty.funnybone.com.

COMEDY: The Hi-Fi Comedy Showcase, 8 p.m., 941 Pavilion St., Mount Adams. Featuring Blake Hammond, John Hays and Hannah Ljungholm. Free.

DANCE: Dance Theatre of Harlem, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday, Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut St., Downtown. Founded in 1969 at the height of the civil rights movement, Dance Theatre of Harlem delivers a powerhouse vision for ballet in the 21st century. The multi-ethnic company performs forward-thinking repertoire of treasured classics, neoclassical works and innovative contemporary works to celebrate Black culture. $35-$104. cincinnatiarts.org.

HEALTH: Workout on the Green, 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday, Washington Park. 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Free workouts on the great lawn. Runs April 5-May 31. washingtonpark.org.

MUSIC: May Festival Live at Lunch, 12:10 p.m., Christ Church Cathedral, 318 E. Fourth St., Downtown.

MUSIC: Foy Vance Signs of Life Tour with Lee Rogers and Gareth Dunlop, Memorial Hall.

SPORTS: Florence Y'alls vs New Jersey Jackals,Thomas More Stadium, 7950 Freedom Way, Florence. Runs May 17-19. florenceyalls.com.

ART OPENING: Ben Brabson: The Science Behind the Art, Studio Kroner, 130 W. Court St., Downtown. Brabson discusses the science of global warming through the lens of David Young's paintings. Free.studiokroner.com.

HEALTH: Yoga on the Levee, 6 p.m., Newport on the Levee, 1 Levee Way. Sage Yoga Hot + Pilates leads classes at Aquarium Plaza. Runs Wednesdays April 6-Oct. 26. Free.

MUSEUMS: Period Dinner, 6-8p.m., Heritage Village Museum, 11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville. Sample 19th-century cuisine and learn the history of each dish. $35. Reservations: 513-563-9484.

ART: New Moon: Pay Me in Equity, 5:30p.m., Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E. Sixth St., Downtown. Panel discussion hosted by Fashion Illustration Professor and DAAP Diversity Inclusion Liaison Randall Wilson, with sisters Asha and Ayam Ama Bias-Daniels.Free. contemporaryartscenter.org.

COMEDY: Drew Lynch, Funny Bone Comedy Club, 7518 Bales St., Liberty Township. Runs May 19-21. liberty.funnybone.com.

COMEDY: Sally Brooks, Go Bananas Comedy Club, 8410 Market Place Lane, Montgomery. Runs May 19-22. gobananascomedy.com.

FAMILY: The Science of Pixar, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday-Sunday, Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate. This popular exhibit has been extended to infinity ... and beyond! Well, at least through mid-August.The interactive exhibition showcases the boundless limits of STEM, imagination and curiosity, letting you come face-to-face with favoritecharacters, including Buzz Lightyear, Dory, Mike and Sulley, Edna Mode and Wall-E. $19.50, $15.50 ages 3-12. cincymuseum.org.

FESTIVAL: Cincinnati International Wine Festival, Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Downtown. Runs May 19-21. winefestival.com.

LECTURE: Dr. Elizabeth Hinton: America on Fire, 6 p.m., National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 50 E. Freedom Way, Downtown. In conjunction with museum's current exhibition "Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration," museum hosts one of the nation's leading experts on criminalization and policing. Free, but registration required. freedomcenter.org.

MUSIC: CincyJams, 7 p.m., Hard Rock Casino, 1000 Broadway St., Downtown. This workplace "Battle of the Bands" is an extension of ArtsWave's popular choral competition CincySings. Winning bands receive prizes and the opportunity to perform at Blink. Free. artswave.org/cincyjams.

MUSIC: Rockin' the Roebling, 6 p.m., Schmidlapp Event Lawn, 115 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown. Live music every Thursday through Sept. 1. $1 for every beer sold by Moerlein Lager House's Moer To Go concession window benefits Cincinnati Parks Foundation. Event located within The Banks' Dora.May 19: 500 Miles to Memphis. Free.

MUSIC: Third Thursdays on the Trail: The Low Country Boil, 6-9 p.m., Hometown Cafe Patio, 111 Railroad Ave., Loveland. Free.

MUSIC: Janis Ian, Memorial Hall. With Tom Rush.

MUSIC: Haim, Andrew J. Brady Music Center. With Faye Webster.

CHARITY: Garbage Bag Gala Fashion Show, 6-8 p.m., Salvation Army, 235 Ludlow St., Hamilton. Fashion show, dinner, door prizes and more. Designers, design students, seamstresses and fashionistas create outfits from recycled materials that include a garbage bag. $20. eventbrite.com.

FAMILY: Coasterstock, Friday-Saturday, Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason. Roller coaster aficionados from the US, Canada and Europe gather to ride some of the world's best coasters. Features exclusive morning and night ride times, behind-the-scenes video and photo opportunities, guest speakers, contests, catered meals, FunPix, unlimited soft drinks and more. $101, $61 for park gold and platinum passholders. visitkingsisland.com.

FESTIVAL: Our Lady of Victory, 6-11 p.m. Friday, 3-10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, 810 Neeb Road, Delhi Township. 513-922-4460.

MUSIC: Big River Get Down, Friday-Saturday, RiversEdge Amphitheater, 116 Dayton St., Hamilton.

MUSIC: May Festival, 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Runs May 20-29. mayfestival.com.

MUSIC: Tears for Fears, Riverbend Music Center. With Garbage.

MUSIC: Al Stewart, Ludlow Garage.

MUSIC: Spring Concert Series, 7-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown. May 20: Noah Smith's Crooner Circus. May 21: Siri Imani with Eugenius and Deuces II. Free. myfountainsquare.com.

NEIGHBORHOOD: May Fest at Alms Park, 6-9 p.m., Alms Park, 710 Tusculum Drive, Columbia Tusculum. Food trucks, games and fun, craft beer and frozen treats. Live music by Moonshine Drive. Free.

SPORTS: Florence Y'alls vs Ottawa Titans, Thomas More Stadium, 7950 Freedom Way, Florence. Runs May 20-22. florenceyalls.com.

THEATER: Pride and Prejudice, Cincinnati Shakespeare Co., 1195 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine.One of the single most cherished stories of all time returns to the CSC stage in a fresh and funky new adaptation which critics are calling delightfully different, fizzy and festive, and unlike any adaptation of Jane Austen one has seen before. Sweepingly romantic, with a good dose of the tongue-in-cheek, Pride and Prejudice follows the love stories of the Bennet sisters, as they find that the path to true love can lead to the most unexpected of places.Runs May 20-June 18. cincyshakes.com.

THEATER: A Walk in the Woods, Falcon Theatre, 636 Monmouth St., Newport. Two arms negotiators stroll through a wooded area above Geneva, Switzerland, away from the tensions of the negotiating table. One is a Soviet diplomat, the other an American negotiator. Despite their obvious differences, they find common ground.Runs May 20-June 4. falcontheater.net.

ART OPENING: Oliver Kroner: Climate Action in Cincinnati, noon-5p.m., Studio Kroner, 130 W. Court St., Downtown. Kroner, sustainability director for Cincinnati, discusses climate action in Cincinnati. Free.studiokroner.com.

CHARITY: A Night FOR the Museum,7-11 p.m., Mill Race Banquet Center, 1515 W. Sharon Road, Sharonville. A 1940s-themed gala benefitting Heritage Village Museum. Includes music, dancing, hors d'oeuvres and dessert buffet, silent auction, raffles and more. $40. heritagevillagecincinnati.org.

CHARITY: Team Sickle Cell Golf Outing, 1:30-6 p.m., Avon Fields Golf Course, 4081 Reading Road, North Avondale. Benefits Children's Hospital Sickle Cell Anemia Research. Shotgun start, golf, dinner and awards. $75 per person. eventbrite.com.

COMEDY: Helltown Comedy Showcase, 7:30 p.m., The Comet, 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside. Aaron Putnam, Alaina Bamfield, Karen Jaffe, Iso Radio, Alex Schubert. bombsawaycomedy.com.

COMEDY: No Cap Comedy Tour, Heritage Bank Center. With DC Young Fly, Cinco Bean, Karlous Miller, Lil Duval, Michael Blackson, Blaq Ron and DeRay Davis.

COMEDY: David Spade, Taft Theater.

CRAFT SHOW: Arts and Crafts Show, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sycamore High School parking lot, 7400 Cornell Road. 70 artists and crafters sell wares. Musical performances by students. Raffles, concessions. sbob.org.craftshow.

CRAFT SHOW: Craft & Vendor Fair, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Real Life Assembly of God, 2300 Old State Route 32, Batavia. Crafters and vendors, food trucks, silent auction. Star 93.3FM visits.

CRAFT SHOW: ArtsConnect Artisan Fair, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., ArtsConnect, 9158 Winton Road, Springfield Township. Free admission.

EXPOS: Geo Fair, Saturday-Sunday, Sharonville Convention Center, 11355 Chester Road.

EXPOS: Cincinnati Women's Health & Wellness Expo, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Ault Park, 5090 Observatory Ave., Mount Lookout. Free health screenings, yoga on the lawn, meditation session, other fitness classes and more. Free. eventbrite.com.

FAMILY: Laurel Park Family Fun Days, 3:30-6p.m., 500 Ezzard Charles Drive, West End. Food trucks, live music, bounce houses, face painters, balloon artists, family-friendly activities and more. Free. cincinnati-oh.gov/cincyparks.

FAMILY: Wreaths Across America Mobile Education Exhibit, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Cincinnati Museum Center, 1310 Western Ave., Queensgate. The national tour stops here courtesy of the Cincinnati chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution. Exhibit is open for tours in the south parking lot.

FESTIVALS: Oxford Wine & Craft Beer Festival, 2-10 p.m., Uptown Memorial Park, High St., Oxford. Live music, beer garden, art, vendors, food and family fun. $30 ticket includes wristband, 5 tasting tickets and souvenir glass. Additional tickets available $5 for 2, $10 for 5. oxfordwinefestival.com.

MUSIC: Kentucky Symphony Orchestra: Return to Studio 54, The Disco Era, Newport Car Barn, 1102 Brighton St., Newport. Final performance of the 30th anniversary season. $35. 859-431-6216; kyso.org.

MUSIC: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, 7:30 p.m., Fitton Center for the Arts, 101 S. Monument St., Hamilton. fittoncenter.org.

OUTDOORS: Community Day: Kids to Parks Day, Great Parks of Hamilton County. Free entry at all Great Parks without the need for a motor vehicle permit. greatparks.org.

RECREATION: Cincinnati Beer Run & Luau Party, Hofbrauhaus, 200 Third St.,Newport. $35-up. active.com.

SHOPPING: Hosta and Plant Auction, 10 a.m., Gil Lynn Park, 203 Greendevil Lane, Dayton. Sponsored by the Hosta Society of Greater Cincinnati.

SPORTS: FC Cincinnati vs New England Revolution, TQL Stadium, 1501 Central Pkwy, West End. Soccer In the Community Night. fccincinnati.com.

ENDING: Two by Two, Arts Center at Dunham, 1945 Dunham Way, Westwood. Inspirational and hilarious retelling of the Biblical story of Noah. It seems that the building of the ark was only the first of Noah's many challenges. Being chosen by God isn't always smooth sailing.Runs May 6-21. sunsetplayers.org.

THEATER: Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens, 3 and 6p.m., ARCO, 3301 Price Ave., East Price Hill. Shares the stories of 31 people from all walks of life who are affected by HIV/AIDS. This celebration of lives lost to the epidemic is told through free-verse monologues and songs with a blues, jazz and rock score.Free.

TOUR: Cincinnati Suffrage Walking Tour, 1 p.m., Harriet Beecher Stowe House, 2950 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills. Walk in the footsteps of the city's own influential suffragists.. $12, $7members.

VOLUNTEER: Valley View Cleanup, 9 a.m.-noon, 5330 S. Milford Road, Milford. Help with trail maintenance, gardening, structural repairs and more. info@valleyviewcampus.org.

FAMILY: Cincinnati Local Soap Box Derby, 8:30 a.m., Ault Park, 5090 Observatory Ave., Mount Lookout. Ages 7-17 compete in two levels of gravity-powered racing cars built from kits. soapboxderby.org.

MUSIC: Miranda Lambert & Little Big Town, Riverbend Music Center.

MUSIC: Concert in the Park Series, 6-8 p.m., Nisbet Park, 126 Karl Brown Way, Loveland. May 22: Harmonics. Free. lovinlifeloveland.com.

PETS: Paws in the Park, Simmonds Family Dog Park, Miami Whitewater Forest, 9001 Mount Hope Road, Harrison. Local pet services and businesses will be on hand to offer goods and services to four-legged friends. Food trucks. greatparks.org.

NIGHTLIFE: Indian Heritage Night, 5-7 p.m., Esoteric Brewery, 918 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills.aapiheritagecincy.com.

ENDING: The Odd Couple, Mechanic Street Theater, 10 S. Mechanic St., Lebanon. Runs May 13-22. ltcplays.com.

ENDING: Mission: Possible, Loveland Stage Company, 111 S. Second St., Loveland. Runs May 6-22. lovelandstagecompany.org.

THEATER: Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens, 2p.m., Burnet Woods Bandstand, 3251 Brookline Ave., Clifton. Free.

TOURS: Covedale Cemeteries Tour, 1:30-3:30 p.m., 5370 Sidney Road, Green Township. Join Jewish Cemeteries on walking tour in celebration of 200th anniversary of Jewish Cincinnati. Free. eventbrite.com.

CHARITY: Heroes Honky Tonk Benefit Concert, Nov. 12, Lori's Roadhouse, West Chester. Live music by Varner Netherton Revival and Vance Lee Perkins. Benefits Operation Open Arms. $20-$50. backtheheroesrumble.com.

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Things to do in Cincinnati this week: Events and concerts planned for May 16-22 - The Cincinnati Enquirer

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Posted By admin on May 18, 2022

Without written recipes to rely on, Natalie Nandram learned to cook her mothers Jamaican dishes, including brown stew chicken, ackee, salt fishand plantains, by watching her make them and asking questions. Photo by Lisa Helfert

My daughter, Anna, and I are looking through my mothers recipe collection, and its a mess. Packed in the small binder are clippings torn from magazine and newspaper food sections, handwritten recipes jotted down on fragile pieces of paper, plus a hodgepodge of notes tucked in betweento-do lists, witticisms she liked, even a letter she wrote to my dad postmarked 1950.

With entries such as Rozs Broccoli Salad, Margies Swedish Meatballs, and dishes made with Minute Rice or Bisquick, its far from cutting-edge cuisine. Its a lot more.

Reflecting decades of the publications she read, the people she knew, the family dishes she cooked and the random stuff she loved to accumulate, its a time capsule, a historic trove of my mothers life. She passed away four years ago, and every time I thumb through this chaotic chroniclewith her personal comments and food stains in the marginsI feel a warm instant connection to her and the past.

I, too, have my own paper recipe collectionadmittedly better organizedbut I worry that future generations will not be handing down these tactile treasures. Its not unlike whats happened to family photo albums. Anna, 26, and her friends find and file recipes online and cook with their phones beside their frying pans.

The modes and means of documenting recipes have changed over time. Weve come a long way from Wikipedias description of the earliest known recipesrecorded on cuneiform tablets in Mesopotamia in 1730 B.C. Jump ahead a few thousand years to the era of New World settlements and many of the early recipe collections were not published books but handwritten household journals, passed from mother to daughter, according to The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America. Kind of like my mothers jumbled journal.

So maybe were at a turning point. And its certainly not just millennials who are bypassing paper.

My friend Georgia Guhin, 68, is a devotee of Paprika, one of several recipe apps that enable users to upload and file recipes into categories, as well as compile grocery lists and meal plans. Georgia, who lives in Chevy Chase and up until about two years ago had gone the paper recipe route, now has uploaded nearly 600 recipesincluding re-creations of the dishes her grandmother, who was born in the country of Georgia, and her mother preparedand says the Paprika app makes it much easier to search, easier to share and easier to follow a recipe than from a stained piece of paper.

This seems to confirm Annas perspectivethat in the digital era, family recipes arent being lost; theyre just changing format. The most meaningful part of a passed-down recipe is that its a cherished dish that a loved one once made and ate, she tells me.

In fact, she would be afraid to damage the handwritten recipe for Great-Grandma Fannys cabbage soup. Theres only one of it, she says as we find the recipe written in my mothers distinctive penmanship, but technology affords infinite copies.

Great-Grandma Fanny was my mothers grandmother, a Romanian immigrant and fabulous cook who lived with my mother and her family in Mount Vernon, New York, and would prepare steaming plates of her Old World dishes for relatives who might drop by for Sunday supper. She never learned to read or write English, and cooked by memory. My mother grew up watching her, and at some point jotted down the cabbage soup recipe from her recollections.

Of course, learning how to cook a special dish from a relative is the way many family recipes have endured, and still do.

Vastine Nandram, 86, of Rockville, a Jamaican who immigrated to the Washington, D.C., area in 1981, brought with her the knowledge of how to make sweet potato pudding, sorrel, cornmeal porridge, ackee, rice and peas, and other dishes she learned from her grandmother back in Redwood, a town about 20 miles northwest of Kingston. We dont use recipes. We just cook, she says about her culinary practices, then and now.

Same goes for her daughter, who immigrated to Maryland when she was 15, and now lives in Silver Spring. When it comes to the Jamaican dishes she grew up on, Natalie Nandram, 54, learned to re-create them from watching her mother and asking questions. By memory, she prepares Jamaican dishes daily now, using the internet to look up recipes that arent part of her culture, such as lasagna or dishes made in a slow cooker. Her own two daughters have grown up watching her, their grandmother, and their Jamaican father cook.

Natalie Nandrams daughter Tenay Graham, 24, says a lot of people who had a hand in raising me were Jamaican. As she got older, they would let her help in the kitchen. Now she reproduces her familys dishes by remembering their taste, aroma and appearance. But the part that really draws her to the kitchen is knowing how food brings people together. We love to host. I want to keep that same tradition, Graham says.

Like my mothers grandmother, the roles of maternal gatekeepers in passing down recipes cant be underestimated. In her Introduction to Nutrition class at Montgomery College, Sara Ducey, collegewide chair for Integrative Studies and director of the Paul Peck Humanities Institute, asks students to write a food memory essay that tells the story of this one special food and your relationship with it. Students are asked to describe the food, the basics of its preparation, and the story of how it contributes to their identity and place in their familys culture. Students from more than 150 countries attend the college.

In the essays, the role of grandmothers is discussed most frequently. Afterward, students often tell Ducey that they are so grateful for the assignment because they had to describe the preparation of a special dish. What if my grandma died, and I didnt know how to make this? This food is so important to me, Ducey says they tell her.

Some of the reasons family recipes are so important are described by Valerie J. Frey in her book Preserving Family Recipes: How to Save and Celebrate Your Food Traditions. Frey notes that aside from illustrating stories, personalities and what life was like for ancestors we never met, family recipes prevent the legacies of loved ones from fading. And finally, we want to see our own lives in a kinship context, sharing experiences and knowledge with family members now and also creating a personal legacy as a gift for generations to come, she writes.

Nellie Thompson of Silver Spring and her husband, Brian, whose mother is from Grenada and father is from Jamaica, are currently creating a legacy for their children. They are experimenting in the kitchen to re-create his familys recipes, as there are no records. The couple hopes to pass down a written collection to each of their four kids, now ages 14 to 20.

Similarly, Gaithersburg resident Rivka Alvial intends to photocopy and distribute her grandmothers recipe collection to her siblings someday. The oldest of nine children, Alvial, 31, has strong connections to her familys food cultures and the celebrations around them. Her mother is from Venezuela, her father from Chile, and both are Jewish. While Alvial has memorized the preparation of many family dishes, her maternal grandmother kept track of them in written form. To rewrite them or type them wouldnt do them justice, she says, adding that her grandmother passed down the habit of writing recipes on paper. I always have a notebook out in front of me, says Alvial, a pastry chef who has worked in numerous area restaurants and now runs the beverage program at miXt Food Hall in Brentwood in Prince Georges County.

Lisa Auerbach understands the power of the handwritten word, although she doesnt practice it herself. Auerbach usually copies a recipe from a website, puts it in a Word document and then saves it to a file on her computer. If she finds a recipe in a magazine or cookbook, shell take a photo of it with her phone and save it to the file. Her iPad is on her kitchen counter in North Bethesda, and she reads from it as she cooks. However, Auerbach writes via email, None of these ways compare to pulling out one of my mothers recipes and trying to see what is written underneath a stain from one of the ingredients. Does that say butter or bitter? Is it 1 ounce or pound? I dont know because what might be chocolatethat by now is over 50 years old, is staining the print. While I use modern ways of saving recipes, I get a sweet feeling of nostalgiawhen I pull out an old written and stained recipe from my mother .

While its hard to generalize about how certain age groups hold on to family recipes, an example of the transition from spoken to written word to digital archiving comes from Timothy Yu, a third-generation member of a Montgomery County restaurant family. Yu, 29, is one of the sons of Janet Yu, the owner of Hollywood East Cafe in Wheaton; he lives with his mom in Olney. He tells me that at China Royal, the Silver Spring restaurant his maternal grandparents owned, they cooked dishes by memory. His mother, who worked at the restaurant as a teenager, re-created the recipes on paper. She carried two notepads, one for taking orders, one for writing down recipes, Timothy Yu says, adding that she eventually tested the recipes, too.

And now he has converted all the ingredient measurements to the metric system and filed the recipes in documents on his computer.

As for me, I dont see going digital with my recipe collection. Anna will have to weed through my bulging accordion file folder to find the recipe for the ice cream cake I used to make every year for her birthday and my Thanksgiving squash casserole or corn pudding. Thankfully, the best way to make a grilled cheese sandwich, a technique I learned from Francois Dionot, the owner of the former LAcademie de Cuisine cooking schools in Bethesda and Gaithersburg, is in her head.

As for my mothers collection, the fact is that aside from the cabbage soup recipe, I never use it. I just love having it.

In a world saturated with technology, theres value and meaning in the physical thing, at least for me. And maybe for future generations.

When I ask Anna whether someday she will want her grandmothers and my paper recipe collections, she doesnt hesitate. Without question, she answers.

Makes 4 arepas

This recipe comes from Rivka Alvials grandmother, Walkiria Torrealba, who taught Rivkas mother, Carmen Delia Alvial, how to make it. In turn, Carmen has shared it with Rivka and her siblings, and the family prepares it often, usually at least once a week. The recipe is slightly adjusted from the original.

For the poached chicken: 1 quart water2 chicken breasts2 bay leaves1 teaspoons black peppercorns1 tablespoon kosher salt yellow onion, chopped2 garlic cloves, crushed

For the reina pepiada filling: Shredded chicken(from the above poached chicken)2 ripe avocados, mashed cup mayonnaise teaspoon salt teaspoon cumin teaspoon black pepper1 lime, juiced1 jalapeno, seeded and diced (optional)

For the arepa:2 cups water teaspoon salt1 cups P.A.N. brand harina de maz blanco (white cornmeal)2 tablespoons flaxseed or wheat germ (optional)

1. To make the chicken, combine all ingredients in a 2-quart saucepan and bring to a simmer. Let simmer for 20 minutes or until the chicken reaches 165 degrees. With 2 forks, shred the chicken. (Rotisserie or other cooked chicken can be substituted.)

2. To prepare the filling, combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix well.

3. To make the arepas, place water and salt in a big bowl and gently combine with a wooden spoon. Slowly add the P.A.N. harina and optional flaxseed or wheat germ little by little, working out any lumps. Once the dough is combined, let sit for about 5 minutes. Separate into four equally sized balls and then gently flatten in the palms of your hands to create a disk about - to -inch thick. In a lightly greased skillet, cook the arepas over medium to medium-high heat for 6 minutes. Flip and let cook on the other side for about 5 to 6 minutes until lightly golden.

4. Cut the arepa horizontally and fill with the reina pepiada filling.

My Great-Grandma Fannys cabbage soup is such a memorable (and delicious) family dish that my brother had the recipe printed on a wooden cutting board and gave it to me as a birthday gift a few years ago. He ordered it online from Etsy, whose craftspeople offer numerous vehicles for memorializing family recipeson plates, tea towels, coffee mugs, casserole dishes, serving platters and more.

For those who still like the written word, Amazon and other online sites offer unique and interesting recipe files, folders and special keepsake collection notebooks.

A tip from the Culinary Historians of Washington, D.C., steered me to Constance Carter, the retired head of the science and reference section at the Library of Congress, and a font of knowledge on historic cookbooks. When it comes to family recipe collecting, two of her recommendations are Preserving Family Recipes: How to Save and Celebrate Your Food Traditions by Valerie J. Frey, and The Keepsake Cookbook: Gathering Delicious Memories One Recipe at a Time by Belinda Hulin.

Carole Sugarman, a longtime food writer who lives in Chevy Chase, has also saved the handwritten letters her mother wrote to her.

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Preserving recipes helps families mantain their history and traditions - BethesdaMagazine.com

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Posted By admin on May 18, 2022

Following a weekend of pro-choice rallies that drew hundreds of thousands of people nationwide, several thousand American Jews gathered on Tuesday morning at a rally with a similar message that was organized by the National Council of Jewish Women.

The Jewish Rally for Abortion Justice, which capped off NCJWs first in-person conference in three years, had been planned for months well before Politico published a leaked draft of a Supreme Court opinion overturning Roe v. Wade earlier this month, and before the weekends events that saw a groundswell of abortion activism.

But that didnt stop the more than 2,000 people who showed up Tuesday in front of the U.S. Capitol, many of whom also attended rallies on Saturday, to protest in a Jewish context.

We did want to have a particular Jewish rally for our abortion justice, because we feel that for too long, Jewish voices have been left out of the national conversation on religion and abortion, NCJW CEO Sheila Katz told Jewish Insider after the rally. It was important for us to have this set and to have a unified voice, and to make sure we had every denomination of Judaism represented.

Speakers included members of Congress and Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist and Orthodox rabbis, as well as lay leaders and non-Jewish abortion advocates and religious leaders.

I come here as a decisor of Jewish law, of halacha, to tell you that halacha does not believe that life starts with conception. Halacha believes that full life and personhood begin at birth, said Rabbi Dov Linzer, president and rosh yeshiva of the Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School. Banning abortion treats women like children. Banning abortion prevents women from acting as responsible moral and religious agents.

Jews support abortion rights more than any other single religious group, according to a 2014 Pew Research Center poll that found that 83% of American Jews think abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Different Jewish denominations approach abortion differently, but even many Orthodox interpretations find that it is acceptable in certain situations. A small group of ultra-Orthodox Jews protested the rally, holding signs claiming Jewish law opposes abortion.

Speaking after Linzer, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) told attendees, As the rabbi said, abortion access is a Jewish value, she said. Banning abortions is an issue of religious freedom in the Jewish faith. One of our most important tenants is Ldor vdor, from generation to generation, and this fight more than any other is a generational fight.

Other congressional speakers included Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Andy Levin (D-MI) and Haley Stevens (D-MI). Levin and Stevens are facing off in a heated congressional primary that has divided Detroits Jewish community.

Our people showed up today, said Rabbi Jonah Pesner, executive director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. Dozens of other Jewish organizations partnered with NCJW on the event, including synagogues around the country and the Anti-Defamation League, Hillel International and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs.

Synagogues in Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania arranged buses to bring in supporters for Tuesdays rally, and others flew in from Ohio and Michigan. It felt really special that people got on cars, buses [and] trains to come here, said Katz. There were also a lot of kids with their parents, and gender and racial diversity. It felt like, when we looked out, we saw the full diversity of the Jewish community.

Abortion access was a major focus at the NCJW Washington Institute conference, which drew 450 attendees to the Capital Hilton near the White House. One of the most popular offerings, Katz noted, was a workshop that trained people to talk about their own personal experiences with abortion. It was really beautiful to get to see the word abortion not have stigma in our space, she said.

Donations to NCJW have increased since news of the Roe v. Wade draft opinion broke, although Katz declined to offer specific figures. The organization also announced this weekend the launch of a fund that will support women who want to get abortions.

People are fired up and want to know how they can help right now, Katz said. The Jewish Fund for Abortion Access is a partnership with the National Abortion Federation, a national organization that pays for abortion procedures for women who cant afford it and helps them travel across state lines when the procedure is outlawed in their state. We hope to raise as much money as humanly possible to be able to help people get abortion care in this country, said Katz.

This years conference marked the first time NCJW, which is primarily focused on issues relating to women, children and families, held a session on antisemitism at its Washington conference. Speakers included Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Kristen Clarke, Rep. Kathy Manning (D-NC) and Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Deborah Lipstadt, who addressed the group in one of her first public appearances in her role.

It was important for us to have a session on antisemitism because were experiencing so much in the progressive spaces that were in and and generally as Jews in the world, said Katz.

One of the sponsors for the conference was Ben & Jerrys, a company known for its longtime support of progressive causes. The ice cream maker was criticized by many leaders in the U.S. Jewish community last year after vowing not to sell its products in what it called Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Katz said Ben & Jerrys has sponsored NCJWs conference for the last five years, and that she has not talked to the company about its stance on Israel. Theyve been ongoing supporters from the corporate side, said Katz. We didnt not do stuff on Israel because of Ben & Jerrys, she said. Katz pointed out that every workshop had sessions about Israel and building a feminist field in Israel, so thats important work for us. Its one of our core issues.

Jewish Insider Capitol Hill reporter Marc Rod contributed reporting.

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Jewish women gather in Washington as Roe reversal looms - Jewish Insider

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Posted By admin on May 18, 2022

The spiritual leader of Israels Druze community made two puzzling claims Monday. In an essay published Monday on Hebrew news site Ynet, Sheikh Muafak Tariff wrote that [Israels] Druze citizens are not mercenaries in the service of the state, nor are we visitors here. He added that the community demands an amendment to the nation-state law because we are born-and-bred residents of Israel. The claims are puzzling because they are so self-evident, as if he sought to argue I am human because I am human.

But the puzzlement is even greater because Tariff knows full well that a Druze (or Muslim, Christian, Armenian or Bahai) citizen of Israel is not like every other person in the Jewish state. Its not enough that he was born and bred here. Not even his military service or his economic contribution to the states existence and prosperity can give him equal status. He must meet a nonnegotiable, fundamental condition to be Jewish. No other interpretation of the nation-state law is possible, even if it is fixed up to give the Druze special status, as Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman has proposed.

That proposal is actually a sign maybe more so than any of the provisions already included in the law of its inherent distortions. Because this law destroyed the equality granted to all Israeli citizens by the Declaration of Independence, any deviation from it, even if its meant to improve the status of a particular community or sect, redefines equality as at best a reward for good behavior or, in the context of the Druze, for their military service. After all, had it not been for the disclosure of the identity of Lt. Col. Mahmoud Kheir el-Din, a Druze officer who was killed in a covert military operation in the Gaza Strip in November 2018, its unlikely that Lieberman would have been moved at this particular moment to suggest amending the law and admit that a mistake was made in its wording.

This equation is patently ridiculous, because in theory, it also allows Muslims, Christians, Bedouin and non-Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union who are currently serving or have previously served in the Israel Defense Forces to demand the same equality given (or to be given) to the Druze. When the criterion for granting the equality reward to non-Jews is military service, or a share purchased in the covenant of blood, then it should seemingly be possible to obtain equality on an individual basis rather than as a community or a sect, as if it were a prize awarded to a persons contribution to national security.

The absurdity of Liebermans proposal can of course be extrapolated endlessly. But at the same time, its impossible to ignore the Druzes own contribution to bolstering the lack of equality in Israel. When Tariff wrote that In his life, as in his death, [Kheir] el-Din was the essence of a Druze Israeli patriot. He was proud of his ethnic affiliation and of his country, he reinforced the power of the blood and equation and contradicted his own, correct, statement against promoting a law that ignores the Declaration of Independence, which advocates for equality for all citizens of the state. The Druze community together with the Jewish people celebrated Israels founding on the basis of the Declaration of Independence, and answered the calls of its founders to take part in building its future based on full equality.

But even in that statement, Tariff tread too cautiously. Because anyone who accepts the Declaration of Independence must wholeheartedly reject the nation-state law, which abolishes the very principle of equality on which the declaration is based. And that remains true even if his community is granted some benefits, such as construction permits or increased government funding.

Yet the argument over the status of Israels Druze community about more than a particular religious and ethnic community that is harmed by the nation-state law; it is evidence of just how hollow the states definition as Jewish and democratic really is. When the states national agenda and raison detre are its Jewishness, it will always seek to diminish the status of those who are not Jewish.

This definition views every minority, even if its members serve in the army or were killed in daring operations on the states behalf, as a threat to its identity. Such a state, by its very nature, must practice discrimination, because it fears that without it, its reason for existence will disintegrate. Such a state cannot permit itself to be democratic. It cannot even allow itself to be fair.

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'Jewish and democratic': A hollow definition - Haaretz

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Posted By admin on May 18, 2022

Who's Jewish? Pete Townshend, circa 2000. Image by Getty Images

By Seth RogovoyMay 18, 2022

Editors Note: In honor of Pete Townshends 77th birthday, we revisit his bands Jewish history that we first looked into in 2015.

The Who, the English rock group, is in the midst of yet another tour, one that they say may be their last a claim they have been making since at least 1982. On this tour, the Who are mostly performing their best-known hits and fan favorites, including songs like Pinball Wizard from their rock opera, Tommy.

If the groups visionary songwriter and guitarist Pete Townshend had had his way, Tommy an allegory about a traumatized messiah would not have been the bands first rock opera. Following a visit to Caesarea, Israel in 1966 with his first wife, Karen Astley, and the subsequent outbreak of the Six-Day War, Townshend began work on Rael, a song cycle loosely based on Israels struggle to survive despite being massively outnumbered by its enemies. Rael short for Israel got sidetracked, partly due to the demands of the Whos record company for faster delivery of more hit singles, and Rael was consigned to the shelf. The only song that has surfaced from that project is called Rael and appears on the late 1967 album, The Who Sell Out.

A deeper examination of who Pete Townshend is, which he provides in his aptly titled autobiography, Who I Am, reveals a man who, while not Jewish himself, has great empathy for the Jewish people and who sees the world very much through the eyes of a Jewish-influenced character.

The son of musicians with a tempestuous marriage, Townshend in his early years was shuffled around among relatives, friends and neighbors while his parents came and went, carrying on relationships outside of their marriage. In his autobiography, Townshend waxes nostalgic not for the comfort of his family, but for the Jewish world that protected him: We shared our house with the Cass family, who lived upstairs and, like many of my parents closest friends, were Jewish. I remember noisy, joyous Passovers with a lot of Gefilte fish, chopped liver and the aroma of slow-roasting brisket.

After a stint being raised by his grandmother, a period during which he was abused by her and the parade of boyfriends tramping in and out of her flat, he returned home to his parents. Again, his surroundings gave him the most security and happiness: I was seven, and happy to be home again, back in the noisy flat with a toilet in the back yard and the delicious aroma of Jewish cooking from upstairs. It was all very reassuring.

The Who evolved from a band called the Detours originally led by vocalist Roger Daltrey, who played guitar at the time. The band included bassist John Entwistle, a high school chum of Townshends. When the groups lead guitarist quit the band, Entwistle recommended his friend. As Townshend tells it, the audition went something like this:

Daltrey: Can you play Hava Nagilah?

Townshend: Yes.

Daltrey: Youre in. See you next Tuesday night.

And so began The Who, a unique group of misfit musicians, none of whom played their instruments in conventional fashion. Drummer Keith Moon was no mere timekeeper; his was more of a textural, orchestral approach, and if you listen to the groups early singles youll be surprised to hear drum solos where there would typically be guitar solos, which Townshend rarely played. Bassist John Entwistle filled the musical mid-range with soaring arpeggios and riffs, more like the work of a keyboardist than a bassist. And Townshend approached the guitar purely as a vehicle for sound and impact. In rock n roll the electric guitar was becoming the primary melodic instrument, performing the role of the saxophone in jazz and dance music, and the violin in Klezmer, Townshend wrote.

In recent years, Townshends thoughts have once again turned back toward the concerns he expressed Rael. As he told an interviewer for Rolling Stone in 2006:

Last week, I was reading about this book thats just come out. Its about the Polish Jews who got out of concentration camps and went back to their homes, which had been taken over by Christians who assumed the Jews werent coming back. What happened was another wave of anti-Semitism in which dozens were slaughtered by Christians in Warsaw. The premise for it was that there was witchcraft going on. The Jews, of course, drank the blood of children. Been there, done that. Fking hell. And I asked myself, Why am I so heated up about this f-king story? But its because, as a kid, my best friend, Mick Leiber, was a Jew. We grew up in a community that was about a third Polish. We lived in a house that divided in two, and in the top part lived a Jewish family who were quite devout. Polish Jews were the kids I played with. They were my people. I remember saying to my mother, Arent Polish people from Poland? And she said, Yes, they were Britains first ally in the war. Id say, But theyre not like foreigners. Theyre just like we are. And she said, Yes, theyre just like we are.

Unlike other fellow British rockers, most notably Roger Waters and Elvis Costello, who are vocal supporters of a cultural boycott of Israel, Townshend holds a pro-Israel stance, as he told the same Rolling Stone interviewer regarding the Whos album, Endless Wire, a 10-song mini-opera about kids forming a rock band in the post-9/11 world.

And where are we today? Were in the same anti-Semitic apologetic denial its a dishrag of a policy. Trying to blame Israel for defending a country we created. And Im not even Jewish! Jesus fking Christ. And lets start with him! Sweet Jesus. This album absolutely had to have several songs about Jesus the man, Muhammad the man, but not modern Christianity or Islam. They are both potentially anti-Semitic today. And I think the fact is that, when I was working on this album I just thought, Its fking about time that I completed my story. At this time in my life, with nuclear threats coming from Iran and Korea, I am becoming so impatient with the ex-hippies all around me. I am suddenly thinking like an extreme reactionary, right-wing, warmongering Fking hell, come inside my brain! The incredible numbers of dead in the last war make it clear that we cant afford to wait to be hit again. Thats my opinion. Thats my story. Peace is something that has to be made. It doesnt come from passivity.

Incidentally, Endless Wire also includes a song called Trilbys Piano, a song about the hidden, forbidden love of a Jewish man named Hymie, sung by Townshend.

Apparently, Townshends immersion in all things Jewish has rubbed off on his longtime musical partner , Roger Daltrey, who, when asked a while back if the band would really stop touring, groaned like an old Jewish man, We will always do shows for charity, when we can, because its of enormous value to people and Pete [Townshend] and I love to play. But we wont do long, schlepping tours. Its killing us.

Seth Rogovoy frequently writes about the intersection of popular culture and Jewishness for the Forward. He has often been mistaken on the streets of major metropolitan areas for Pete Townshend.

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The Secret Jewish history of The Who The Forward - Forward

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