Skip to content
Taste of Jewish Culture

Taste of Jewish Culture

Food History, Plus

  • Home
  • About this Site
    • Who Am I?
    • About the Book
  • Events
  • Food Talk Topics
  • Press
  • Contact
Win These Cookbooks!
September 13, 2023

Win These Cookbooks!

Uncategorized by FunJoel0 comments

As many of you may recall, back in the winter, I launched a website dedicated to the book I am writing. ChulentBook.com is designed to be a one-stop shop for all things Shabbat stew. The website includes recipes for Shabbat stews from around the world, and includes many that I have gathered throughout my research. But one of the cornerstones […]

Read more
What Are Keftes de Prasa?
September 6, 2023

What Are Keftes de Prasa?

Classic Foods by FunJoel0 comments

Unlike my previous “What is…” post, this one does not look at a sub-community’s cuisine, but at a dish that is widely eaten by many different sub-communities. Keftes de Prasa, in brief, are leek fritters, beloved and eaten extensively throughout the Sephardic diaspora. From the above picture, you can see they look rather similar to potato latkes, but with some […]

Read more
So DID a Jew Invent Fish and Chips?
July 25, 2023July 25, 2023

So DID a Jew Invent Fish and Chips?

Classic Foods by FunJoel0 comments

On more than one occasion in my writing, my Food Talks, and my tours in Machane Yehuda Market, I have repeated the statement that Fish and Chips, the great British favorite, was actually invented by a British Jew. I had read about this in multiple places, and it seemed legit to me. Then, a few weeks ago, I saw a […]

Read more
Wanna Date?
July 12, 2023

Wanna Date?

Articles by FunJoel0 comments

My latest article for The Nosher is out, and in it I discuss the Jewish people’s long and passionate love affair with dates. The fruit, that is. From ancient Biblical references, both literal and metaphoric, to ritual observances and customs, this shriveled brown sweet thing crops up repeatedly throughout our history. When you blend that with modern Israeli daring and […]

Read more
Jewish Food Bookshelf: The Giving Table
June 16, 2023

Jewish Food Bookshelf: The Giving Table

Books by FunJoel0 comments

When is a general cookbook actually a Jewish one? When it is infused with Jewish context and wisdom. In this edition of From the Jewish Food Bookshelf I’m doing a brief review of a fairly new cookbook, Naomi Ross’ The Giving Table. Ross is a kosher cooking instructor, with many years of experience under her apron, and in this book […]

Read more
What is Bukharian Food?
June 9, 2023

What is Bukharian Food?

What is...? by FunJoel2 comments

This post is the first of a new recurring feature on the site. I will be writing short posts to explain specific Jewish cuisines or dishes that may be less familiar to many readers. These will be less about analysis, and more primers or descriptions. So if you want to know what Bukharian food is, this is your place to […]

Read more
Jewish Food that Isn’t Ashkenazi or Sephardi
May 19, 2023

Jewish Food that Isn’t Ashkenazi or Sephardi

Classic Foods by FunJoel1 comment

When I give my tours in Jerusalem’s open-air Machane Yehuda Market, I say something in my intro that sometimes confuses my guests. In discussing the diversity of foods that we encounter in the market, I explain there are foods from Ashkenazi Jews, Sephardi Jews, and “Jews who are neither.” Usually, I get quizzical looks from those who can’t envision Jews […]

Read more
Five Metaphors for Israeli Cuisine
May 14, 2023

Five Metaphors for Israeli Cuisine

Classic Foods by FunJoel0 comments

Many people argue that there is no such thing as Israeli cuisine. I find that argument ridiculous, and driven by ulterior motives, rather than a desire to actually uncover truth. Every country has its own cuisine (or cuisines), and Israel is of course no different. When I give my food talk “A Land of Milk and Mufletta: At the Crossroads […]

Read more
From the Jewish Food Bookshelf: The Angel and the Cholent
April 23, 2023

From the Jewish Food Bookshelf: The Angel and the Cholent

Books by FunJoel0 comments

Okay, so you can probably guess what first drew me to this book, right? Of all the Jewish Food books I own and have read, this one is unique. The Angel and the Cholent: Food Representation from the Israeli Folktale Archives, by Idit Pintel-Ginsberg is not a book of food history, nor is it a cookbook or a book analyzing […]

Read more
The Passover Foods That Unite Us
March 17, 2023

The Passover Foods That Unite Us

Classic Foods by FunJoel0 comments

On Passover, many people highlight the food customs that divide Jews into different groups. One of the “worst offenders” in this context is kitniyot; Ashkenazi Jews have the custom not to eat foods such as rice, corn, sesame, and beans, while many non-Ashkenazim have no issue consuming such foods on the holiday. Still, as I wrote previously, it isn’t like […]

Read more

Posts navigation

Older posts

About

I'm Joel Haber, and I love to talk about Jewish Food History. Learn more about me here. On this blog I explore Jewish Food and its links to Jewish Culture.

Upcoming Talks

Oct 24
7:00 pm - 8:15 pm

A Land of Milk and Mufletta: At the Crossroads of Israel’s Cuisine and Culture

Oct 26
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Chulent and Schnapps: The Most Jewish Combo?

Oct 27
6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

They Tried to Kill Us, We Won, Let’s Eat! Jewish Food Conquers Antisemitism

View Calendar

Mailing List

My newsletter goes out no more than once a month. Stay updated on my writing, speaking engagements and other Jewish food info. (By clicking "Sign Up" you agree to receive periodic emails.)

Subscribe

To get every post from this site when they are posted, CLICK HERE.

Any Questions?

What do you want to know about Jewish Food? ASK ME and I'll try to answer in a future blog post!

Follow Me

Send me a message:

JewishFoodBook@gmail.com

Visit this blog's sister site:

Categories

Tags

Sephardic Food (12)Rosh Hashana (7)shabbat stew (12)chulent (9)Poland (8)hamin (8)Alcohol (7)Jerusalem (7)bourekas (5)kosher (5)America (11)Israel (19)Pesach (8)Germany (6)Hungary (7)Shabbat foods (7)bread (6)Ashkenazic Food (14)bagel (6)cookbooks (7)Greece (7)Passover (10)Italy (11)

Recent

  • Sep 13, 2023 Win These Cookbooks!
  • Sep 06, 2023 What Are Keftes de Prasa?
  • Jul 25, 2023 So DID a Jew Invent Fish and Chips?
  • Jul 12, 2023 Wanna Date?
Proudly powered by WordPress | Theme: Esfahan by OptimaThemes.