JTA — For many home cooks, spices are an afterthought, sprinkled on a dish lacking in flavor. Israeli-born, French-educated chef Lior Lev Sercarz wants to change that. “If you want to make good food and beverages you need to know about spices, and I would like to help you know more about it, whether you’re…
Lior Lev Sercarz, the Israeli-born owner of the spice shop La Boîte in New York, is a master at creating nuanced, mouthwatering, mysterious flavor combinations that enhance most any food or drink. He can even transform a Thanksgiving turkey into an inspired, interesting dish. Yes, you read that right. Turkey gets a bad rap: It’s…
ANCHO Capsicum annuum FLAVOR & AROMA There are an endless number of chiles, and each has its own particular notes. I use anchos since they offer complex notes of plum and raisin with mild heat. What I really enjoy is the dark, deep color they get from the drying process; it adds great visual richness…
CHAMOMILE Chamaemelum nobile FLAVOR & AROMA Though mainly associated with teas and tea blends, chamomile flowers are also great in spice blends or in savory and sweet recipes. It is important to buy good-quality flowers. Always look for whole, not ground, flowers with intense color. The aroma, which is sweet, fruity and herbaceous, should be…
Leave the bad bottle of wine at your local liquor shop and pick up one of these Israeli treats for your holiday party host. We promise, they’ll be grateful. Oh, and it would only be right to get yourself one too, right? A Nutty Spread No trip to Israel is complete without a slice of…
The fight over the H&H Bagel name continues to get shmeared. [Grub Street] School lunches are getting a healthy makeover thanks to Michelle Obama’s initiatives. But not so much for students who keep kosher in LA. Katz’s Deli might just be the “manliest” sandwich shop in America, atleast according to Men’s Health Guy Gourmet blog….
Za’atar is an herb. Sorry – it’s not a specific herb, but one of any number of herbs in the hyssop family. Scratch that: it’s a combination of herbs. But wait, sometimes there are sesame seeds. Actually, it’s a paste made with some type or types of herbs, sesame seeds, and lots of olive oil….
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