Monday, April 30, 2007
This and That, Plus Strata Recipe
SCHEDULE REVERSAL
There’s been a slight change in scheduling for my interview of Sheila Lukins and Julee Rosso, authors of The Silver Palate Cookbook, who are celebrating the 25th anniversary of their book’s publication.
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Saturday, April 28, 2007
Siracusa, Sicily
I never got to tell you about Siracusa, Sicily, when I was staying there, and it was my home base for a week. I rented an apartment, what it is called a “holiday apartment,” meaning no one lives there. It has been set up for travelers. I found it on the internet, then corresponded with the owner-manager a few times. He was so accommodating in answering all my questions, including measuring the shower so I would be sure I’d fit in – sometimes Italian showers have very small openings -- that I knew it was going to be fine. And it was. It was new and immaculately clean. It had a spacious bedroom with a very comfortable double bed, a smallish but totally adequate and very attractive bathroom, and a large living room/kitchen/dining area with a very comfortable sofa-bed, a dining table and four chairs, satellite TV (although only the BBC in English), and a kitchen equipped with cook-top, a combination microwave-convection oven and broiler, pots, pans, dishes … everything you might need for about $700 a week for three people. It was also in the best possible location, right in the heart of Ortigia, which is the most historic, interesting, and atmospheric part of Siracusa.
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Tuesday, April 23, 2007
Kashruth Controversy and Cooking Steak
While I was away in Italy, a small storm brewed over the kashruth observance at Le Marais, a kosher steakhouse at 150 W. 46th St. in the Theater District that is supervised by the Orthodox Union (OU is the symbol or hecksher that it is known by).
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Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Schwartz of the Month
There is a magazine called HEEB, aimed at young Jews. It has well-written, provocative and often very funny editorial content. I only discovered it myself when one of the magazines writers asked me for an interview. The magazine has a feature called “Schwartz of the Month,” she said. It ends up the feature is called “Battle of the Schwartzes” and you only get to be Schwartz of the Month if you, the Schwartz, wins the battle.
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Thursday, April 12, 2007
Home With Rome on My Mind
I’m home and happy to be here, but boy am I pooped. I returned just before Passover with the worst jet-lag I have ever had, and then I needed to prepare for a Seder at my house. When it was all over I knew why my grandmother had heart attacks right after Passover. Passover is a lot of work, huge stress. By the time you sit down to the Seder table you’re ready for an ambulance, not the four questions and four cups of wine.
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