Of course you do. Stupid question. Everyone likes Italian food because it’s almost alarmingly delicious. Do you like Jews? Do you think Jews are also alarmingly delicious? Well then—have we got the program for you!
MyJewishLearning frequent contributor and generally awesome person Leah Koenig is presenting a discussion of Roman Jewish food culture, in the past and present. Here’s the lowdown:
CULTURE IN THE CUCINA
How Rome’s Jews are Cooking up the Past and Future
While Jews have lived in Italy since the 2nd century BCE and are credited with popularizing staple ingredients like eggplant, fennel and pumpkin, the notion of an “Italian Jewish cuisine” is difficult to define. Still, a handful of traditional dishes – like Carciofi alla Guidia (deep fried artichokes) and Pizza Ebraica (a fruit cake-like dessert) – have managed to endure over time.
Food writer, Leah Koenig, will discuss how certain traditional recipes have attained iconic status in Italy’s oldest and largest Jewish center, Rome. She will also explore how today’s urban Jews relate to their culinary heritage. New York’s Jews have their bagels, knish and egg creams. What dishes do Italians turn to when they need a nosh, and how do these foods connect them to their past and their future?
*Bonus! Italian Jewish Chanukah recipes and tips on where to find Jewish Italian food in NYC.
Sunday, Dec 13 – 2:00pm
Park East Synagogue 164 E 68th St.
$5 admission
Presented by the Jewish Historical Society of New York
It’s guaranteed to be an awesome event. See you there!
