Two months after I started to date my future husband, I asked him, “Am I more Israeli, Australian or American?” His answer surprised me. “You’re more Iraqi.” My parents were born in Iraq but they met and married in Israel, where my older brother, Rafi, and I were born. My mother’s family moved to Australia…
One of the greatest treasures I possessed as a child was a brightly colored book called Bible Stories for Jewish children. It faithfully recounted every Parsha of the five Books of Moses. And I faithfully read each story from the Torah over and over. The illustrations by Laszlo Matulay were captivating and distilled the essence…
While the rest of the world anxiously awaits the end of 2020, the Jewish people are saying goodbye to 5780 and looking forward to a healthy and happy, peaceful and prosperous New Year. Nothing gladdens the heart more than a deliciously sweet treat. We baked these in the hope that they portend a year of…
Rachel’s Family Arroz Con Pollo Recipe 6 tablespoons olive oil, divided1 3 1/2-4lb chicken, cut into 8 pieces1 large onion, diced2 garlic cloves, finely diced1 cup finely sliced celery2 medium carrots, diced1 medium zucchini, diced1 red or yellow bell pepper, sliced1 cup long grain rice, rinsed and drained1 1/2 cups saffron water (or 1 teaspoon…
Iraqi Chicken Shorba 5 tablespoons olive oil1 large onion, diced6 tomatoes, diced10 cardamom pods, gently crushed1 teaspoon sweet paprika1 teaspoon turmeric1 teaspoon allspice2 large chicken breasts with bones8 cloves of garlic, chopped2 medium potatoes, diced6 tablespoons tomato paste2 cups of jasmine rice, rinsed and soaked for one hour8 cups waterSea SaltFresh ground black pepper Fry…
When my twin nephews Luca and Nico were little boys, they loved Matbucha. At Friday night dinners, they would chime together “Maman, can we have Moroccan ketchup?” It was so cute and so heartwarming at the same time. Throughout the years, I would make Matbucha the traditional way. The way that my mother and our…
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea.
What is it about friendships that intertwine and connect generations? As a young man, my grandfather was sent from the bustling city of Baghdad to the sleepy village of Al-Azair, the mystical burial place of the prophet Ezra. A pilgrimage site that is holy to both Jews and Muslims, the large compound sits on the…
Recently, Rachel and I were picking up some flowers at the French Florist on the corner of Bedford and Pico Boulevard in the ‘hood and we noticed the bright blue exterior of Star Juice. We wandered in and discovered an oasis of fresh juices, fruit smoothies and açaí bowls. We met the young owner Yitzchak…
It was late June and one of those perfect Israeli Summer days, with clear blue skies. My friend Judy and I were strolling through the old and beautifully restored Sarona Market. The old stone buildings built by the German Templars in the late 19th century and early 20th century were bathed in a gorgeous golden…
I met Rachel when she was a sophomore at Beverly Hills High School and I was a junior at YULA Girls High School. Brigitte, Molly and Shira were all friends in high school. Brigitte married Jonny who was in my graduating class. He was also good friends with Yosi. Esther married Yosi, who’s grandmother was…
Crispy, golden and delicious, Moroccan cigars are a traditional favorite of the Moroccan kitchen. Served as appetizers at celebrations or holiday meals, cigarim have become especially popular in Israel. They can be found on the menus of Mizrahi restaurants, freshly fried and ready for take out in the Shuk or in the freezer section of…
Every good food story starts with a grandmother: one of Leonardo Nourafchan’s earliest memories is standing on a chair, stirring a huge pot of polenta in the kitchen of his Italian grandmother. Nowadays, you’ll find Chef Lenny in his own industrial kitchen, overseeing a dozen busy cooks chopping and grilling for Lenny’s Casita and Lenny’s…
Every Friday afternoon, the entire student body of Vaucluse Primary School would walk up the hill to Christison Park, a huge green reserve high atop a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. We would play cricket or softball or run around the grass, under the shadow of the splendid white Macquarie Lighthouse, Australia’s first and oldest…
Sharon’s Turn: Hanukkah commemorates the miracle of the little crucible oil that lasted eight days and nights in the rededicated Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Hanukkah is a celebration of our continued faith in G-d and our dedication to Judaism. Hanukkah lights up our life when the days are short and the nights are darkest. There…
Sharon’s Turn: I started reading Seventeen Magazine as a young girl in Sydney, Australia. I was fascinated by the glimpse into American culture, American products, American marketing, American celebrity and American fashion. I learned that it was chic to wear pearls with a basic white t-shirt and to pair grey clothing with a pop of…
Little 7 year old me arrived in Los Angeles from Casablanca one week before Halloween. My uncle took me to get a costume and off we went trick or treating at the home of Elvis Presley. Lucille Ball handed me a Hershey’s Chocolate bar and I was convinced: America is paradise. Little did I know…
My best friend’s wedding was a joyous celebration. Friends and family were thrilled that two such amazing people had found each other. The bride was beautiful in her stunning white lace gown and the groom was handsome in his bow tie and tuxedo, the bridesmaids wore lavender, matched by the pretty pinks and purples of…
Every culture has a great recipe for chicken soup, but nothing beats a really fluffy matzo ball floating in a rich golden chicken broth. In these tumultuous times, one of the most overused phrases is “comfort food.” But truly, is there any dish more comforting than a hearty Chicken Soup? Could there be a better…
White beans cooked in a tomato broth and served over rice are the quintessential Sephardic comfort food. And they are the perfect food to cook for these crisp, cool, short Autumn days. Domesticated in the New World, white beans soon became beloved staples in the Old World cuisines of the Mediterranean, North Africa and the…
