Chanucah is coming: on November 27 the LJCC is hosting a children’s cookery masterclass including edible menorahs for the festival. Fabienne Viner-Luzzato is running this workshop and also arranging a doughnut decorating at the Ivy House Chanucah Fair on November 24. See www.ljcc.org.uk for details.
On the same day, at the French ambassador’s residence in Tel Aviv, Eli Ben-Zaken, proprietor and winemaker of the Domanie du Castel Winery, will be presented with the decoration of the French “Ordre du Mérite Agricole”. The French Minister of Culture has awarded Mr Ben-Zaken the prize for his contribution to the improvement of the quality of Israeli wines which in 20 years “has reached a level comparable to that of France”.
Forget the broigus around the Chief Rabbi visiting Limmud: for once it might be the food that gets people talking. The Limmud team has been courting top chefs and cooks, including JW3’s Eran Tibi and Josh Katz, Kosher Roast and Italian-Jewish cook Silvia Nacamulli. Each has been invited to work with Jason Millan and take guest catering spots at the December gathering. Watch this space for more details.
Holy Smoke! The programme for next year’s Jewish Book Week will be announced in December. Director Hester Abrams has revealed the two food offerings. First, Gefiltefest patron Claudia Roden will be talking about the new edition of her book The Food of Italy. Second, the festival will be hosting two “Kings of Smoked Fish” — Mark Russ Federman, grandson of the founder of New York’s oldest herring purveyor will be chatting to Lance Forman of Forman & Field, Britain’s oldest salmon smokery.
A newly-published history of New York’s Katz’s Delicatessen, made famous by the film When Harry Met Sally, recounts three visits by President Bill Clinton. On his third trip an unmarked SUV double-parked in front of the deli and a Secret Service agent ran in to order. He raced back to the car, waited until the tinted backseat window rolled down and Clinton’s outstretched hand grabbed the bag.
Michael Leventhal is the founder of Gefiltefest, www.gefiltefest.org
