This week's episode of Taste Matters focuses on Jewish cuisine in all it's different forms. Mitchell's guest is Devra Ferst, food editor at The Forward, the longest running Jewish daily newspaper in America. Devra breaks down the differences between Ashkenzai, Sephardic and Israeli food and discusses the relevance of culture, history and religion in Jewish cuisine. Learn how Kosher food evolved, discover delicious Shabbat meals and find out more about family traditions in Jewish cuisine. This program was sponsored by Fairway Market.

"Jewish food is...linked to Jewish customs and ideas that go way back in history."

"I think pork is a huge challenge, because it has such a distinct flavor and bacon is so pervasive in the food movement right now. Recreating that flavor is very challenging."

"There are people in the Kosher world who are excited about change, and there are people who are still hesitant."

--Devra Ferst, food editor at The Forward on Taste Matters

Chef Michael Solomonov takes his birthright to heart. Born in Israel, raised in Pittsburg, it wasn’t until his late teens that Michael returned to his homeland and his inner cuisine spoke to him. He didn’t speak Hebrew, so he learned to bake burekas (spinach pies) innately. Eventually making way to Philly, Michael opened Zahav restaurant, his ode to modern Israeli food. Plentiful of hummus, mezzes, and kebabs, all inclusive of the “Mesibah” (Party Time), which highlights a whole roast lamb shoulder, grilled over coals, braised in pomegranate juice, and served with crispy Persian rice. Michael finally found a way to celebrate his place in the world. Thanks to our sponsor, Whole Foods.

"In Israel, you could go to the store and buy beer whenever you wanted- it really wasn't a big deal. And staying up and eating is a big deal." [9:45]

"We want the menu and experience at Zahav to be sort of living and breathing, and when you start getting absolute, it doesn't work out as well." [25:15]

-- Mike Solomonov on THE FOOD SEEN

Vivian Lehrer Stadlin is a founding director of Eden Village Camp in Putnam Valley, New York. She grew up in Jewish and outdoor camps and believes in camps’ power for good. She graduated from Columbia University and Columbia Law School, carried out a two-year legal fellowship at the Urban Justice Center, served as adjunct professor at Boricua College, and led Jewish service-learning trips for teens in Israel and New Orleans. Her interest in wellness led her to attend the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, and she brings a holistic perspective to Eden Village. She is thrilled to help create an experience for campers and teens that is fun, dynamic, and, just maybe, life-changing. Today's episode has been brought to you by HeritageRadioNetwork.org.

"One of the tenets of Judaism is that all people are created equally...and if we take that seriously, we think, 'Wow, we really need to do something about this climate crisis.'"

"One thing that we often say here is that we're using Jewish means for universal ends."

-- Vivian Lehrer Stadlin on Greenhorn Radio