Tag: Israel
The Unknown Jewish Culinary Connection to the Barely Edible Etrog
Most people don’t eat etrog (citron) these days. There is not a lot of edible pulp inside, and while the rind is sometimes pickled or preserved in other ways, it remains fairly uncommon as a food item. Historically, however, we uncover an interesting culinary connection between Jews and the etrog, but not for its own use and not for reasons […]
What is Kubbeh?
Kubbeh, also known as kibbeh, kobeba, and any number of other variations, is less a food than a class of foods. It encompasses a whole host of different dishes that are mostly related to each other, but still very different. All are very beloved to the people who eat them, and while some types are strongly associated with Jews, others […]
Episode 8 – Meorav Yerushalmi (and Three Other Jerusalem-Named Foods)
In honor of Yom Yerushalayim – Jerusalem Day – this episode looks at four different foods, all of which have the word Jerusalem as part of their names. I also explore the cuisine of Jerusalem in general, and by extension, that of Israel overall. Interview: Joe Korson Episode Notes
Israelis Respond to War’s Pain With Food Love
In light of the horrific and ongoing pain and losses that Israel (and the Jewish people at large) endured over the past month, we are all trying our hardest to do what Jews have always done in the face of adversity: persevere. And perhaps not surprisingly, food has played a large role in how we have coped and supported each […]
Five Metaphors for Israeli Cuisine
Many people argue that there is no such thing as Israeli cuisine. I find that argument ridiculous, and driven by ulterior motives, rather than a desire to actually uncover truth. Every country has its own cuisine (or cuisines), and Israel is of course no different. When I give my food talk “A Land of Milk and Mufletta: At the Crossroads […]
Q&A: Why Can’t I Find a Good Bagel in Israel?
The question above, or the similar one that replaces “bagel” with “pastrami,” “knish” or something else of the sort, is one of the most frequent I receive, both as an American-Israeli food researcher, and as a tour guide specializining in culinary tours. When I received some form of this question on a recent tour in Machane Yehuda Market, I answered […]
Jewish Food That Bugs You
So those burgers in the picture are not your standard type. But more on that a drop later. I want to focus on a topic that might bug some of you, but really shouldn’t. Kosher edible insects! For those who don’t already know it, hearing about kosher bugs might be somewhat surprising. We don’t eat pork or lobsters, but locusts […]
Traditional Jewish Foods for Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is an interesting holiday for the Jews. Certainly we are quite familiar with the concept of a thanksgiving feast; in Hebrew it is called a seudat hoda’ah, and it is commonly done for personal reasons by Jews around the world. But since, in America, it is one of the most widely observed holidays, yet does not come with accompanying […]
Jewish Food Trivia Quiz #2
It’s time for my next Jewish Food Trivia Quiz! After the feedback on the last quiz that it was too difficult, I consciously tried to make this one somewhat easier, though still challenging. Let me know if I succeeded! By the way, the answers to most of the questions can be found in various blog posts and/or articles I’ve written […]
Shavuot Foods – Deeper Than Dairy
When I first started this blog, over two years ago, one of the earlier posts I wrote was about the significance and meaning of eating dairy foods on Shavuot (the holiday that Jews will be celebrating this coming weekend). I reread that post last week in relation to a few interview requests I received, and since many of my current […]
