During the nine days leading up to the fast of Tisha b’Av, it is traditional to eat lentils. In 2007, Tisha B’Av fell on the evening of July 23, which happens to be Alan’s birthday. My extended family, including my grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins were in Israel for the upcoming wedding of my brother…
Rosca have a texture that is similar to challah, but the flavor is unique. At the henna party beforE our wedding, Neil and I were dressed in the traditional Moroccan costume — embroidered caftans. Neil wore a red fez and I wore an elaborate bejeweled crown and neckpiece. A special moment of the celebration was…
No matter where you’re born or how you were raised, one thing is certain — the more vegetables you place on the table, the more your family will learn to love them and expect them My Nana Aziza was in her late 20s when she and my grandfather landed in the ma’aborot (transit camps) of…
Pairing the tender fish brochettes with the vibrant herb sauce and crispy potatoes reminded us of eating by the sea with the scent of saltwater in the air. The sepia engagement portrait of my beloved Nana Aziza and Aba Naji is legendary. He sits leaning in to her, looking off into the distance, dashingly handsome…
Bright, earthy and deeply refreshing, this salad brings together the forest-like aroma of fresh herbs with a sweet and nutty crunch. The deep bond between my mother and her sister Mercedes endured despite decades of living on different continents, with my mother living in Los Angeles and my aunt in Haifa. Luckily for me, the…
The meatballs are light and fluffy because they are filled with grated onion and potato starch. The addition of chili oil, paprika and cinnamon lends them a sublime, flavorful taste. You cannot imagine how surreal it is to be stuck in Israel during this time of war. All the places that make Israel iconic are…
Nothing says summer better than biting into a ripe peach. Peaches are sunshine, sweetness and home. Last Wednesday, Alan, our youngest daughter Shevy and I arrived at LAX, only to discover that the Amsterdam to Tel Aviv leg of our flight had been canceled. Somehow, the amazing supervisor on duty arranged for us to fly…
There is nothing better in the world than a fabulous, old fashioned meat and potatoes dish like shepherds pie. One night, on our recent trip to Jerusalem, Neil and I wandered over to Mahane Yehuda. The bustling, vibrant food stalls of the Shuk were closed, but the nightlife was already buzzing. The bars were open,…
We offer this week one incredible recipe to honor two incredible fathers. When my brother Rafi and I were little, we loved hearing stories of my father’s life growing up in Baghdad. He would tell us about his father’s wholesale food business and his silly Arab workers who would try to cheat him and how…
This rustic cheesecake has a burnt top that imparts a delicious caramelized flavor. The interior is smooth, soft and sweet, with a creamy custard flavor. This past week, I had the rare pleasure of a private tour of the Mach’ne Yehuda Market. The Shuk, as it is affectionately known, is the bustling heart of Jerusalem and…
This week’s recipe is exactly the kind of fish dish that is perfect for eating by the seaside in Tel Aviv or Greece. The other day, Neil and I were in a taxi headed to the Tel Aviv train station, where we would take a train to visit my cousins in Haifa. The driver was…
Since opening Molino, the restaurant has taken off like fire. In 1973, when my family left Casablanca for the United States, my aunt Clara and uncle Menasse moved to Barcelona, then joined his extended family in Paris.In 1983, they decided to move to Los Angeles, with the hope of giving their kids a better chance…
A Mother’s Day brunch is the perfect occasion to showcase all the wonderful fresh new produce in the market. Last year, I was blessed with the best present when our first grandchild, Raquel Luna, was born the day before Mother’s Day. Soon after her birth, my son Sam decided that Raquel would call me Maman. …
Over the years, whenever I have to entertain a sizable crowd or a birthday party or a graduation celebration, I go with a Mexican fiesta. I have to express my gratitude. The nanny that looked after my children was Nena, the most loving and wonderful person. She became part of our family. When my children…
While challah takes effort and time and patience, it is the ultimate reminder that we reap what we sow. For me, challah baking is a labor of love. The magic of proofing the yeast with sugar and warm water to form a creamy, bubbly foam. The powdery white cloud and soft fluttery feel of the…
For me, Mimouna will always be the joyous Moroccan celebration of springtime, friends, family and good fortune. In North Africa, after the sun would set on the last day of Passover, Muslim neighbors would bring flour to Jewish homes. The flour would be transformed into the first heavenly taste of chametz — freshly fried mufleta…
Over the years, I have given this dish my own Sephardic twist by layering the eggplant, zucchini and tomatoes on a bed of fennel and onions, as well as enlivening the sauce with Silan and pomegranate molasses. My cousin Daniella (follow on Instagram @daniellawolfcatering) and her husband Yakov had just hosted their son Alon’s bar…
When I think of Passover, I’m no longer frazzled. I focus on feeling the joy and the new memories we will create as our family grows. The Pesach seders I spent as a young child at the home of my grandparents Aba Naji and Nana Aziza will always be the gold standard. I will always…
This week Rachel and I share two wonderful Passover (and all year round) cake recipes. When I was a little girl, I had no idea that the “Farm,” where I spent so many wonderful sunny Sundays was actually Glenfield Farm, a historic, heritage-listed homestead. The old farmhouse was a classic Colonial Georgian building with stone…
With Pesach so close, we decided on a menu that is perfect for a casual Passover lunch or as appetizers for a holiday meal. It was a hot, humid summer’s day in Naples and my family was stuck in a most disorderly and cacophonous traffic jam. My father was in the driver’s seat and my…
For my family, one of the favorites is a Moroccan olive chicken, a dish I only ever cook in honor of Shabbat. There are always some classic recipes that simply say “Shabbat.” The dishes that make it to the table every Friday night. It might be chicken soup or a brisket or special dips. For…
