When we wake up in the morning, we say a simple prayer of gratitude called Modeh Ani (I am thankful), here performed by an Israeli duet Pumpidisa: A couple of weeks ago, while walking by the New World Symphony Garden, my almost-thirteen grandson Ariel was entranced by the rehearsal of Tchaikovsky’s 5th “Winter” Symphony projected…
Tag: Mushrooms
Mushroom Barley Soup
We are not done with holidays yet, Beautiful People! On Sunday, we start Sukkos (Sukkot), the Holiday of Booths, that lasts for eight days and concludes the High Holidays. Throughout next week, I will be repeating some of my Sukkos recipes. Traditional Jewish comfort food, with history more ancient and undoubtedly more venerable than the…
Longan Soup: It’s Love!
Once upon the time, there was a princess who suffered from misandry – fear and hatred of men. She had a good reason for it, too. Let’s hear it from her: That was an inimitable duet of Eva Marton and Placido Domingo at the Metropolitan Opera. Princess Turandot was originally written by Carlo Gozzi as…
The Little Foxes in Sour Cream
If you want to see most of the burning issues of today expressed in a play written in 1939, you can go no further than The Little Foxes by Lillian Hellman, acclaimed as the classic American drama. You have the rights of women, or, rather, lack of rights thereof, the plight of the so-called emancipated…
The Rivers of Exile: Nine-Day Pie
I repeat this post every year at this time, and with it, I wish all those of you, Beautiful People, who observe this tragic day of mourning, an easy and meaningful fast. Traveling through the streets of Paris with his entourage, Napoleon passed a synagogue and heard heart-wrenching wailing from within. “Why are my Jews…
Magic Curried Mushrooms
Why did people in Ancient Egypt call mushrooms “the plant of immortality”? Did they truly believe that eating mushrooms would make them immune to human frailties, deceases, and ultimately, departing this world? Not really. They never had a chance to see for themselves because the pharaohs loved mushrooms so much that they declared it royal…
Mushroom Barley Soup
Traditional Jewish comfort food, with history more ancient and undoubtedly more venerable than the ubiquitous “Jewish penicillin” – chicken soup, Mushroom Barley soup was served in my family during the holiday of Sukkos, the final one of the series of High Holidays. The end of October – beginning of November was already pretty chilly, so a…
Don’t Blame the Chard!
I had the honor of being a guest on fabulous Renard’s World, Beautiful People, and I am giving you an offer you can’t refuse!
The Rivers of Exile: Nine-Day Pie
Traveling through the streets of Paris with his entourage, Napoleon passed a synagogue and heard heart-wrenching wailing from within. “Why are my Jews crying? – asked the emperor, – What happened to them? “Sire, – rushed an aide-de-camp, “they are lamenting the destruction of their Temple.” “What? Their Temple was destroyed and nobody told me?…
Only Good Words for Savory Cupcakes
In a wonderful Russian play of the 60’s about love, kindness, and caring, there was a line that bothered me: “Even a cat appreciates a good word.” I could never understand the word “even” in this phrase – why “even a cat”? What about dogs? Birds? People, after all? My grandmother, may she rest in…
Florentine Omelette for an Unlucky Queen
I hope you had a hot breakfast this morning, Beautiful People, as https://foodimentary.com informs us that February is a National Hot Breakfast Month. If you didn’t, you can start by making this delicious royal breakfast for lunch! What an unlucky queen Mary Stuart was! Having lost her father when she was only six days old,…
Divine Tenor’s Favorite Dish
Enrico Caruso was born in Naples at the end of 19th century. He is considered by many “the greatest tenor ever lived.” His divine voice an exquisite presence on stage captivated opera audiences all over the world. This is an excerpt from The Great Caruso, a biographical film made in 1951, starring Mario Lanza, a…
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