Guest: Boris Fishman

Novelist, Memoirist, and Hard-working Home Cook

Photo Credit: Stephanie Kaltsas

Boris Fishman is a wonderful writer providing a unique immigrant perspective to his work. My new favorite book by Boris is: Three Generations, Two Continents, and a Dinner Table SAVAGE FEAST, A Memoir with Recipes. Even from the prologue you are drawn into the book by the character profiles and of course, the food. He was so generous with his time for our interview that we talk about lots in addition to food. Our conversation moves from his early life in the USSR to his youth in NY with a lot of insight into his family and his grandfather’s home aid — the inspiration for Boris’s cooking life and for SAVAGE FEAST. I hope you enjoy listening in. BTW, the recipes in his book are mouthwatering for sure. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself in need of cooking up some Russian cuisine while reading this book. 

Guests: Alexandra DeSorbo-Quinn & Caitlin Arens

Alexandra DeSorbo-Quinn, Executive Director

Caitlin Arens, Food Education Support Manager

I had a great time talking with Alexandra and Caitlin of Pilot Light in Chicago. It’s an amazing food education organization founded by a team of chefs in Chicago. They share many food resources for families and teachers that we can use anytime but especially now. Please do check out their website and find out more at: pilotlightchefs.org.

Guest: Graphic Artist & Writer Ben Katchor

Who knew there would be so much to say about the history of the dairy restaurant? Ben Katchor begins the story for us during biblical times in the Garden of Eden (the first restaurant) and takes us on an amazing world-wide ride through his new book, The Diary Restaurant.  Our conversation is the perfect way to dig into the holiday; so sit down with a pot of tea, some cheesecake and listen while Ben gives me insight into his book and the world of dairy. Chag Sameach to all.

Guest: Amanda Dell

My guest on this episode is Amanda Dell, Program Director from The Jewish Food Society. The work they are doing to capture and archive Jewish family recipes and recipe stories from around the globe is critical to our understanding of our history. Amanda talks here about the many programs available through The Jewish Food Society and includes information on the pivot they’ve done since COVID-19. A great example is this program with Hila Alpert for Shavout: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/from-the-kibbutz-to-tel-aviv-conversation-shavuot-cooking-w-hila-alpert-tickets-104987873556. 

I hope you enjoy the episode AND the recipe which is accessible through the link above.

Guest: Sonat Birnecker, President Koval Distillery

Koval Distillery Founders:  Dr. Sonat Birnecker & Dr. Robert Birnecker, Master Distiller & CEO

I am talking with Sonat Birnecker from my favorite distillery, Koval. These days they aren’t just producing their excellent whiskeys – they’ve pivoted; big time. They are now in the new business of producing hand sanitizer! It turns out that helping in a crisis is not such a simple matter. Sonat describes this new focus in a most humble and thoughtful way. I hope you enjoy listening to our conversation.