Purim Thoughts – Realities and Hopes

I wrote the following on February 27th, 2007, most of it still applies:

Starting this coming Saturday night and Sunday until nightfall, Jews around the world will celebrate the festival of Purim. What is Purim and what is its significance today other than the commemoration of a long, long past event? As in those days again the foe is Persia, Iran as it’s currently called. The King’s Vizier wanted to annihilate all the Jews on the day of Purim, instead he was hung and his henchmen killed… The descendant of pigs and apes, that putrid little maggot Mahmoud Ahmedinajad also obsesses about wiping Israel off the map, like Haman of yore he too is a Persian. Like Haman of yore, he is too blinded by his arrogance and hatred to do what is best for his country (whose economy is going down hill, fast), rather than follow his destructive whims…

But, gentle reader, he is unfortunately not alone as an evil creature these days. The list of those who want to build their careers by destroying Israel and eventually vanquish the West is unfortunately, much larger than just this Iranian wannabe world Satrap. You might recall Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah who wants to destroy the fragile democracy in Lebanon and turn it from a secular country into yet another repressive Muslim theocracy. Among the members of this infamous club you will find murderers such as Khaled Mashaal and Ismail Haniye who seem to totally ignore their constituents’ welfare in favor of their personal hatred for the Jews. And then, of course… the Dean of them all, Osama bin Laden (who may still be here on this earth or perhaps already “there” wondering why he didn’t get his 72 virgins and his beautiful valley, filled with fragrant flowers) and his next in line Ayman al-Zawahri, who actually runs the day by day operations of Al-Quaida… and the list goes on and on…

Haman, the vicious Vizier, was ultimately hung and so were his ten sons. They were hung on the very same tall gallows Haman had prepared for his hated foe, the Jew Mordechay. Then it took only one woman, to bring down the mighty Vizier and his minions, today one very brave person could still do a very good terminal job within each organization or country… Do miracles still happen in our day and age, are they as overtly open as they were then? Would it not be nice if they all did the World a favor and these scurges of mankind were eliminated one by one whether on Purim day (Sunday) or Shushan Purim (Monday)… or any other day?

In the days of King Xerxes or Artaxerxes, we are told: Layehudim hayta orah vesimcha, sason viykar – For the Jews there was light and joy, gladness and honor (Book of Esther 8:16). Would today’s world at large (not just dem Jooz!) not rejoice if these murderous terrorists were all given a final taste of their own medicine? Oh, I can just see the joyous headlines, but then I imagine there would be quite a few American bashers who’d bemoan the deaths (whether violent or otherwise) of these creeps. Why would anyone cry at the demise of such poor specimens of mankind, at the destruction of such malodorous pieces of devil’s dung? Why, folks, because it is fashionable to be anti-American, to be anti-West! These marked men are the heroes of the far left! What a tupsy-turvy world we live in where right is wrong, where truth is a lie. And yet, all this could be straightened out if there would be another Purim miracle… even if just one on this long list of vermin would loose his life in the exact way he wishes it on us… the free world might yet feel light and joy, gladness and honor… One can dream, can’t one? Sometimes dreams become reality, don’t they? Oyyy, what a banquet we will have!

There is so much in the above that hasn’t changed three years later… will the West ever wake up or has it given up?!?!?

A freilachen Purim!
Chag Purim same’ach!

CS

Olympic Pita in Manhattan

Olympic Pita(58 West 38th Street; New York, NY 10018; Telephone: 212.869.7482), provides proof positive that a restaurant in Manhattan can provide good, wholesome, food without being expensive.

Olympic Pita, at its Manhattan location

I was there on a recent Sunday and the presentation was simple, the taste very good, the atmosphere warm and inviting.

I started the meal with a very unusual sushi roll, Sabich… It consists of hard boiled egg, pickled cucumbers and eggplant. No fish of any kind! Very tasty and imaginative adaptation of a traditional Iraqi dish.

I also had their 5 Sampler Mezze, it included israeli salad, fried eggplant, tabouli, Moroccan carrot and matbuha. Each of these was excellent.

I followed with a Beef Eye Steak.

Beef Eye Steak

It was tender, juicy, somewhat smoky and absolutely delectable. I also had their Shawarma, which comes wrapped in rice and paper to look like a pair of exotic flowers. These two were succulent.

I also had an Iraqi Style Beef skewer.

Iraqi Style Beef skewer

A very aromatic ground spiced beef, nice tasting, tender and juicy.

I also had the in-house Lafa (an oversized, thin pita) which I managed to photograph while baking.

My Lafa being baked

There, on the left side wall is mine. I got it piping hot! Those middle easterners know what’s good! I washed it all down with a glass of very good red house wine.

Though it is located in midtown Manhattan, the prices are very Brooklyn. The food was unpretentious, but the quality, the taste, went far above their price range. No fancy French or Italian names here, merely standard Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fare. I will most definitely be back.

CS

Purim Special and Beyond

*$35 Three Course Plus Tax & Gratuity*
*Expires March 25th 2010*
*Not Valid With Other Discounts*

*******************

NEW PRESTIGE MENU

(Please select one of each course)

Starter

House Salad
Mixed greens, tomatoes, Julienne cucumber, carrots, onions topped with balsamic vinaigrette.

Minestrone Soup
Clear chicken broth with fresh garden vegetables, chicken, and homemade pasta

Chicken Lollipops
Corn flake crumb crusted chicken drumsticks served with sweet & sour sauce

Entrée

Roasted Boneless Prime Rib
Boneless prime rib cut, oven roasted with steak seasoning served with whipped Yukon12oz. Steak; 16oz Steak (+$7)

Mushroom Chicken
Boneless chicken breast, mushroom gravy sauce, homemade fries

Pan Seared Salmon
Served with fresh lemon & homemade yellow rice

Spaghetti Bolognese
Served with a classic beef marinara sauce

Dessert

Chocolate Soufflé
Freshly baked in premises, served with ice cream

Banana Cream Pie
Homemade Sliced banana crumb pie, vanilla-cream topping

Sorbet
Mango/ Rainbow

*Valid ONLY for the following times:*Sunday through Thursday 5-7pm & Sat. All night*
*Parties Up to 6 Guests*

T Fusion Steakhouse (3223 Quentin Road, Brooklyn, NY 11234 — Telephone 718 998 0002)

****UPDATE****

This menu has now been superseded by the new and cheaper “Dine in Brooklyn Menu“

Hamentashen!!!

I had always made Hungarian Lekvár filled hamentashen, but for this upcoming Purim I wanted something different. So here is my variation on an old theme. These hamentaschen look great and truly taste great.

Peanut Butter Crunch Hamentashen

(Makes about 20 Hamentashen)

Dough Ingredients

2 cups flour
1 large egg
¼ tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
¾ cup sugar
8 TABLESPOONS melted margarine (1 stick)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 3 tbsp. parve milk
1 tbsp. orange zest

Dipping chocolate

2 ounces semisweet chocolate, 3 tablespoons parve cream
2 tbs.p oil or margarine

Filling

Semisweet chocolate chips
8 tbsp. Chunky Peanut Butter
1 tsp. Confectioners’ sugar

Dough prep

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in large bowl. Add in melted margarine, orange zest, parve milk, egg, vanilla. Mix at medium speed in electric mixer for about 1 minute.

Roll out dough to ¼ “ thickness on well-floured surface. Cut into circles with cookie cutter or glass mouth. ( around 3” circumference) Place about 4-5 chocolate chips in center of circle. Pinch three sides, and place on oil sprayed cookie sheets. Bake at 375° for approximately 15 minutes, till golden. Cool.

When hamentashen have cooled, squeeze peanut butter filling into center.

Microwave semisweet chocolate for 30 seconds, then stir, then heat for another 30 seconds and stir till smooth and of dipping consistency. Dip each of the three corners of the hamentashen into chocolate dip. For added color and décor, sprinkle dipped edges with topping of your choice. I used butter crunch, and colored mini chocolate chips. but get a little crazy and creative. Invite the kids to bake with you inventing fun alternative fillings and toppings… Hey it’s Purim. Turn up the music and let your creative and simcha energies flow into the foods you make for family and friends.

A freilachen Purim, chag Purim same’ach!!!

SYR