Category — Uncategorized

Still Life, Pastrami with Kosher Dill/Charles Haynes

Oy vay! Who knew there were no Jewish delis in Israel?!

Ruben, dubbed Israel’s first authentic Jewish deli by the local press, recently began serving up heaps of pastrami on rye — with harissa!! — to the befuddled masses. Why befuddled? As with so many culinary traditions, giant matzo balls and sky-high sandwiches were New World creations. And it took them six decades to make it to Israel.

Check out this fascinating story in The Forward.

Maybe it’s because I’m obsessed with the Steig Larsson novels (”Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” etc), but this video from Scandinavian chef Andreas Viestad really caught my eye. He’s on a boat, the crisp, northern waters behind him, proffering the most interesting preparation of springtime asparagus I’ve seen a great long while. Makes me want to rebook that trip to Stockholm (which was cancelled by a certain volcanic eruption.) The fourth season of his show, New Scandinavian Cooking, is currently airing on public television.Check it out!

Lost in translation? According to the sign, this sandwich at a Starbucks-like coffee shop in Mumabi is a calzone. But it’s not shaped like a calzone, nor are its contents encased in baked pizza dough like a calzone. So….not a calzone. The sign also suggests that it is a “kothambir vadi” — a steamed fritter full of coriander and chilis. Perhaps that’s them stuffed inside. Hard to tell, though I don’t see a lot of coriander. I do see some cheese though….