Majestically perched at the northwest tip of Africa, Morocco is blessed with more than 1,000 miles of sparkling coastline and an expansive desert interior. Its proximity to the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and the Iberian Peninsula put it at the crossroads of ancient civilizations. The Berbers, Phoenicians, the Carthaginian state, the Romans, Muslims, Spanish,…
Christopher Columbus set sail in August 1492, three days after the deadline set by the Alhambra Decree for the expulsion or forced conversion of the Jews in Spain. This has fueled persistent, but unproven, rumors that Columbus was a Jew. However, there was one Jew who was instrumental among the crew: Luis de Torres, a…
Ambrosia is the food of the gods; we mere mortals are blessed with the sweet richness of baklava. The transcendent delights of a single bite include thin, flaky phyllo pastry layered with crushed almonds and walnuts delicately spiced with cinnamon and cardamom, doused in a rose water and lemon juice infused honey syrup. In the…
I was born in Casablanca, Morocco. Fearing rising anti-Semitism, my family moved to Los Angeles in 1973. I was 8 years old and I didn’t know any English; we spoke Spanish and French at home. I started school at Beverly Vista and graduated from Beverly Hills High School. My closest friends were a mini United…
Narrow streets choked with cars. Loud honking and thumping, exotic music. Littered sidewalks teeming with people of every age and ethnicity. Shady money-changing operations, Yemenite bakeries, tiny makolets with owners and friends sitting on cheap plastic chairs, barbershops with posters of Wella hair models on the walls, and little hole-in-the-wall stalls selling gold chains. And…
Nestled among rocky inlets on the French Riviera is a beach enclave with bright blue waters, white sand and 20 kosher restaurants and cafes. You’ve probably never heard of Juan les-Pins (pronounced Juwan le’Pan), a small town that boasts two synagogues, gourmet kosher markets and patisseries offering the finest French delicacies. Bordered by glitzy, ritzy…
The bright azure and gentle waves of the Mediterranean beckon from beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows but there is a more tempting challenge from where a visitor stands: to navigate the breakfast buffet of the Sheraton Tel Aviv. The gastronomic extravaganza is endless. Freshly baked loaves of bread with butter and preserves, flaky sweet pastries and…
It was a sacred tradition. We would load up our minivans with lots and lots of food and our kids and head to the desert to celebrate Z’man Matan Tora’teinu (the Time of the Giving of the Torah). We all looked forward to our annual Shavuot Palm Springs pilgrimage, a reunion of friends who had met as…
With its colorful array of brightly colored salads, savory dips, exotic finger foods and freshly baked breads, the mezze (or maza) is a feast for the senses. While this selection of small dishes serves as the appetizer course of the Sephardic Shabbat meal, the mezze is common to all the lands of the former Ottoman…
Crust for 1 large galette2 3 /4 cups all-purpose flour1 tablespoon sugar1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt10 ounces unsalted butter6-8 tablespoons ice water Pulse flour, sugar and salt in food processor fitted with blade attachment until combined. Add butter and pulse until flour resembles a coarse meal. Slowly add ice water and pulse until dough holds…
2 large onions, thinly sliced3 tablespoons olive oilCrust dough for 1 galette3 tablespoons Dijon mustard1 cup Gruyere, white cheddar or kashkaval cheese, shredded4 large heirloom tomatoes, cut in thick slicesSalt and pepper to taste1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese1 egg, beaten1/4 cup basil, thinly chopped Sauté onions in olive oil over low flame for 30 minutes until…
16 ounces frozen spinach, defrosted and completely drained of liquid7 ounces frozen artichoke hearts, defrosted2 large onions, thinly sliced3 tablespoons olive oil2 large eggs1 cup Gruyere, white cheddar or kashkaval cheese, shredded3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese2 tablespoons breadcrumbs or matzo meal2 green onions, thinly sliced1 tablespoon dill, finely choppedSalt and pepper to taste1/2 teaspoon nutmeg…
In Times of Uncertainty, Try Drinking Tea In this time of change and uncertainty, creating a tea ritual is the perfect way to enhance our physical and mental well-being. Americans are brewing tea. In this time of change and uncertainty, creating a tea ritual is the perfect way to enhance our physical and mental…
Rachel’s Moroccan Fish 3 lbs of branzino, fileted and cut into 8 pieces 1/4 teaspoon salt, for salting fish 1/4 cup of olive oil 4 to 6 garlic cloves, finely sliced 1 tablespoon cumin 1 tablespoon sweet paprika 1 teaspoon salt, for sauce 1 teaspoon white pepper 1 red pepper, sliced in long thin strips…
Galette Recipes We Got From Our Mamas Galettes are a French pastry that can be filled with any topping, sweet or savory. Someone wise once said, “Life doesn’t come with a manual, it comes with a mother.” Rachel’s turn: With time, I see how the lessons that I learned from my mother have influenced…
Am Yisrael Chai Falafel Fest Is any Israeli Independence Day celebration complete without falafel? Well, not for Israelis who celebrate with a “mangal,” a Middle Eastern-style outdoor grilling feast. But for us, no food is more Israeli than the golden falafel. During our last visit to Israel, the most memorable, most delicious, most reminisced-about meal…
Rachel’s Tortilla de Patata 1 large onion, finely diced 8 large Russet potatoes, peeled and quartered 1 dozen eggs 1 bunch fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped 1 tablespoon turmeric Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste 1/2 cup vegetable oil, for frying Squeeze of lemon, for serving Boil potatoes and coarsely mash, leaving a few…
The Mediterranean Sunshine in a Jar that Boosts Immune System Our group of young friends was enjoying Shabbat lunch alfresco. Rachel was a newlywed and already proving to be an amazing cook and hostess. I still remember taking a bite of her Israeli salad and thinking, “What is that incredible flavor?” The citrus tang was…
Sunny-Side Up: Egg Recipes Packed With Sephardic Flavor There’s nothing more delicious than eggs enhanced with sautéed onions, bright green herbs and fresh vegetables. Moroccan megina, Tunisian ma’akoud, Spanish tortilla, Persian ku’kuu, Iraqi aj’a, frittata. Whatever you call it, there’s nothing more delicious than eggs enhanced with sautéed onions, bright green herbs and fresh…
2 cups kumquats3 cups water1 1 /2 teaspoons baking soda2 cups fine granulated sugar2 cups water4 teaspoon cinnamon2 teaspoon cardamom2 teaspoon clove powder Place whole kumquats in glass bowl and cover with the water. Sprinkle in baking soda and soak for 10 minutes. This will remove any mold and dirt. After soaking, rinse kumquats under clean, running water and dry…
8 egg whites1 3/4 cups sugar1 teaspoon vanilla4 teaspoons cornstarch or potato starch2 teaspoons white vinegarPinch of salt2 cups heavy creamPint of strawberries, sliced Preheat oven to 350 F. Beat egg whites slowly and add sugar very gradually until egg whites are thick and glossy. Gently fold in vanilla, cornstarch, vinegar and salt. Spoon mixture onto…
