Category — Who Knew...?

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.

veggieplatter.blogspot.com

“My people,” that is those of the Levant, have known chickpeas for thousands of years, as have the peoples of Spain and India (and I’m sure I’m leaving someone out, so please do write in and tell me who I’ve missed). But I’d never before heard of fresh chickpeas, that is, garbanzos green and young, still in their pods. I still have yet to see or taste one — not a single store in my area is carrying them. Check out what I found out about these seasonal treasures.

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….