Food

The History of the Latke-Hamentash Debate – Alive And Well Since 1946

For 72 years running, some of the country’s foremost scholars have gathered in one of the University of Chicago’s most Gothic halls to debate one of the most challenging questions of our time: what is superior, latkes, the Hanukkah fried potato special, or hamentashen, the triangular Purim pastries? To paraphrase 2018 debate moderator Joshua Feigelson,…

At Brooklyn’s Latkefest, A Short Rib Latke Wins 1st Place

At the 10th annual Latkefest, taking place at the Brooklyn Museum, 26 different versions of the latke, from deconstructed to overstuffed, were being studiously examined by judges and over 500 participants, in a continuation of a decade-old New York tradition. All proceeds went to benefit the Sylvia Center, a non-profit dedicated to teaching children nutrition…

Manischewitz Donates $100,000-Worth Of Grape Juice To New York’s Neediest

Alexander Rapaport, owner of Masbia Soup Kitchen, is not a fan of “food rescue,” but when a tractor full of $100,000 worth of Welch’s-Manischewitz grape juice pulled up to Masbia’s Queens location, even Rapaport couldn’t deny that this Hanukkah gift was a worthy one. The grape has a sell-by date at the end of January…

How A Holocaust Survivor Made The Four Seasons The Home Of The “Power Lunch”

I only ate at Manhattan’s old Four Seasons once, but its history – and its place in the firmament of New York City dining – always fascinated me. So I’d heard the names Thomas Margittai and Paul Kovi, who bought the failing restaurant from its original owner in 1973. I knew the pair had transformed…

Toronto’s King Of Comfort Food Is Bringing You “The Last Schmaltz”

According to the dictionary, schmaltz can refer to melted chicken fat, or to excessive sentimentality; overly emotional behavior. So how much schmaltz is too much schmaltz? Anthony Rose, a chef who swears by schmaltz, would know. Rose owns 5 successful restaurants, including diner-turned-deli Rose and Sons, as well as Middle Eastern-themed Fat Pasha, and a…

Israel’s Humble Doughnut Glams Up for the Age of Instagram

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Roladin | רולדין ? (@roladin_il) on Nov 12, 2018 at 1:58am PST Sufganiyot, the humble Israeli doughnut eaten at Hanukkah, is humble no more. The traditional treat: a round spongy doughnut, not enough jelly, too much powdered sugar–has in recent years evolved into an extravagant pastry…

Oprah Chooses Kosher ‘Popinsanity’ Popcorn As One Of Her ‘Favorite Things’

One of the hardest things about creating a kosher food is the difficulty of it crossing over into the mainstream and achieving the national and not-just-Jewish appeal a food needs to remain on the market. But with Oprah’s help, that’s not kosher artisanal popcorn company Popinsanity’s problem anymore. The Airmont, New York-based company was founded…

WATCH: The Secret Ingredient For Perfect Hanukkah Brownies Is Olive Oil