Culinarily Jewish

working at the Jewish week, i’ve become familiar with the phrase “Culturally Jewish.” it’s like people who aren’t religiously Jewish but are into stuff that is considered Jewish, like using Yiddish words and fretting about your daughter not marrying a doctor, i think. lots of non-Jews look for the hook-up on JDate, and go to Jewish singles stuff, too, apparently. anyway it’s a pretty hot ticket, i gather.

so i may not be quite into the Judaism as others, but one thing i have discovered is that i’m Culinarily Jewish. that’s right, i like Jewish food. and some of my favourite Jewish foods are the ones that actual Jewish people i know kind of make “blech” faces at. Matzo? saltines without the salt. Tam Tams? like the box says, they ARE the best cracker on the face of the earth. Latkes? what’s not to like? (OK, the truth is, i haven’t heard ANYONE say they don’t like a latke.) but the foods that these folks MUST eat for religious reasons are strangely exotic and delightful to me. and of course, i have long been a fan of a good bagel.

so today my boss made me gefilte fish. he didn’t really make it for me, he just brought in some that he had made for Rosh Hashanah, but after he heard i hadn’t tried it, he was so proud of his he promised to bring me some. and it was great! it’s like fish meatloaf. my mom used to make a salmon loaf (or was it a tuna loaf?), which it reminded me of... except that it was rockfish and mahi-mahi (according to the chef). you eat it with horseradish, and all in all, it was damn good, and i would consider making it.

of course, i did panic my mom a little when i told her i was trying some kosher recipes... i only tried them because we run recipes in the paper and i got curious. don’t worry mom, i like lobster, shrimp, and bacon cheeseburgers waaaaaaay too much.

i haven’t had every Jewish food (but heck, i’m certainly trying), so there may be lots i don’t like. but so far, i think they’ve got a pretty good menu going on.