This Evening’s Radio Show – A conversation with Rabbi Asher Girshberg

After an all too long hiatus, we are restarting our BlogTalkRadio show, we will be on twice a week, every Wednesday and Thursday at 10:00pm (Eastern Time). Our guest this evening is:

Rabbi Asher Girshberg, owner of De La Rosa Real Foods, a company that scours the globe to find top quality oils (and introducing a new line of artisanal oils from Morocco), the world’s first kosher organic wines from Austria and more…

Rabbi Girshberg‘s wide variety of interests, including a movie script and movie project in progress are mere details in his incredible life’s journey. Please listen in this evening at 10:00pm (Eastern Time) at  BlogTalkRadio/kosherscene for an interesting talk with a fascinating personality. We’ll be waiting for you! 

CS

A Night of Art, Wine, and More – Part 2

Last evening, May 7th, Igal Fedida‘s gallery (1482 First Avenue, New York, NY – Tel: 310.466.3916) was filled with people, delicious cheeses, fruits, and good wine. People were coming in throughout the evening, enjoying the art, talking or listening to Igal explain what his art expression is about, and tasting the food and wine.

Details from three of the paintings in the gallery.

Among those visiting the gallery were people of every age group, in many cases you would never have expected these individuals to have much in common with each other, yet all were attracted by Igal’s art. At moments there were as many as 60 people filling the narrow gallery.

Eli Shemesh, from Anderson Foods International…

Eli Shemesh, surrounded by art and cheese

…presented two of Anderson’s lines of cheeses – the brand new Sincerely, Brigitte. and Natural & Kosher. Three of the six Sincerely, Brigitte flavors were represented (Garlic Basil, Tomato Olive, Parsley Chive); while I loved all three, but, my favorite was the Parsley Chive because of the subtle flavors herb flavors. The majority of the people, however, seemed to prefer the Tomato Olive. All three flavors disappeared as the gallery visitors gobbled them up, together with Natural & Kosher‘s selection of three goat cheeses; my favorite, among the latter, was (you guessed it!!) Fine Herbs.

The wine selections consisted of Ben Ami Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Alfasi Cabernet Sauvignon; the eight bottles did not last very long, a fitting testimony to their delightful flavors.

Partial views of the gallery, before the start of the evening and at one point when Igal Fedida spoke about his creations.

It was a wonderful evening of art, wine, cheese and superb conversation.

CS

RELATED POSTS

A Talk With Igal Fedida

A Night of Wine and Art

A Night of Wine and Art – Part 2

A Night of Art, Wine and More

A Night of Art, Wine, and More

This coming Tuesday, May 7th, Igal Fedida Fine Art (1482 1st Avenue, New York, NY) will host an evening of presentation and conversation. Igal Fedida will talk about his art and his vision. Kosher wine, kosher cheese, fruits and more will be served. Igal’s art, fuses his Torah and mysticism knowledge and combines them into a painting, which (while abstract) is easily understood as a vision of the various facets of creation. As I wrote in these pages before:

He is a modern painter with a message that extends beyond time. His colors are bold, Hebrew letters appear almost invariably, his brush strokes reveal a lot more about the subject matter than do the works of far more photo realistic artists. In short, though he paints Jewish art, his paintings speak to Jew and non-Jew alike, his works stir up emotions beyond what the eyes can perceive. While looking at his creations, you see the colors dance, you see the colors explode; no definable shape is discernible, yet everything that exists or ever existed is in them.

He recently moved his gallery to New York’s Upper East Side, after many successful years in Miami, Florida. Below is a video of the artist creating, one of many on his youtube channel.

Hope to see there!

CS

RELATED POSTS

A Talk With Igal Fedida

A Night of Wine and Art

A Night of Wine and Art – Part 2

This Evening’s Kosher Scene Radio Show

Our guest this evening at 10:00pm (Eastern Time), on our BlogTalkRadio show, will be Estie Wartenberg US sales/brand manager for Israel’s Recanati Winery. Among other subjects we will be talking about next week’s exciting Night of Wine and Art at the Igal Fedida Gallery.

Who is Ms. Wartenberg, what qualifies for her current position? In her own words:

I began my wine journey at the Royal Wine Corp in 2001, where I was hired as a sales representative for Queens, NY. In 2005 I was the first salesperson ever at Royal Wine Corp to receive the “Sales person of the Year” award. In 2007 I left Royal to go to The Beverage Network Publications and worked as the Sales and Marketing Manager out of their corporate office on John Street in NYC. I also wrote articles on Kosher wine for their industry magazines; The Beverage Media and The Beverage Journal. While I was working for the magazine, I got a call from Palm Bay International, the US importer for Recanati Wines. They were looking for someone with a background in Kosher wine to manage their Kosher brand in the US. (Palm Bay International mainly imports Italian non Kosher wine.) Palm Bay hired me in February 2010 to be the US Sales/Brand Manager for Recanati Winery.

Meanwhile, in case you missed it, why not listen to last week’s broadcast with Allison Josephs from Jew in the City?

Don’t forget to tune us in this evening at 10:00pm (Eastern Time), on our BlogTalkRadio show, will be Estie Wartenberg US sales/brand manager for Israel’s Recanati Winery. We’ll be wait’n for ya!

CS

Jew in the City

Last Thursday eve, at Manhattan’s Kehilath Jeshurun, Allison Josephs – blogger extraordinaire at Jew In the City – launched her video (JITC’s Orthodox Jewish All Stars)  featuring 10 Jewish Orthodox celebrities. The event was proudly sponsored by Freeda Wigs, The Patchke Princess, Gift of Life and this very blog (The Kosher Scene), among others.

Allison was interviewed by Marshall Hyman from The Wall Street Journal…

Allison Josephs and Marshall Hyman from The Wall Street Journal.

…as well as by Atara Abersfeld from The Jewish Press, Tammy Marks from New Jersey’s Jewish Star and more.

A delicious latke bar (with lots of topping choices), was presented by mother and daughter catering team of Michicas, as well as a donut fondue bar and a superb selection of Israeli wines by Shlomo Blashka (from the Royal Wine Corporation).

Sara Lasry (The Patchke Princess and Kosher Street) this event’s main organizer, followed Dimitry Salita. She explained the significance of this event and what made it important to the media.

Sara Lasry

A member of the Maccabeats lit the candles for the sixth night of Chanukah…

No event of this kind could be complete without lighting the Menorah.

After the lighting, Allison herself gave an emotional speech about her 7 year journey of breaking down stereotypes about Orthodox Judaism. In describing the occasion and her video she said:

This video celebrates freedom – Chanukah is about freedom and contrary to popular belief, Orthodoxy is freedom – it is freedom to seek our path in an elevated way, to become what we are meant to become, the best possible version of ourselves — in a way that is true and fine and full of substance.

The video features nationally known figures from the world of politics, arts, entertainment, sports, publishing and more. It was not only an enjoyable evening with delicious food and wine, not only was a video launched, but the close to 200 people present saw proof positive (as will anyone else watching it) that being an Orthodox Jew does not in any way shape or form preclude following one’s dreams or reaching the highest pinnacles in one’s profession. Nothing of importance is closed to an Orthodox Jew, and neither does he or she need to sacrifice one’s beliefs.

During immediately after the speeches, a interesting and enjoyable music ensemble took over, The Brooklyn Jazz Warriors

Y.A. Gootblatt, vocalist and keyboard player – Brooklyn Jazz Warriors

Bravo, bravissimo Allison! I’d be remiss if I did not again mention Sara Lasry’s herculean efforts, the driving force, in putting together this beautiful event in just two weeks.

CS

Prime Grill, Revisited

It never ceases to amaze me how you think you know someone and then you get to experience them under a new set of circumstances, which amplify strengths, or identify weaknesses you had never seen before.  Last Tuesday evening, it applied to our restaurant experience. Chef David Kolotkin (check here, as well) of Prime Grill – a culinary virtuoso in taste and presentation – was refreshingly unpretentious and warm as he personally treated CS and I to a side of Prime Grill we had heretofore not experienced.

It’s through no fault of Prime Grill (60 East 49th Street; New York, NY 10017; Telephone: 212.692.9292) that we had such tunnel vision, in fact it is because their steaks are so consistently fabulous that we gravitate with Pavlovian/Flinstone salivation straight to the beef every time we are there. Last Tuesday was different;  we broke from the habitual to the unexpected and in some cases extraordinary dishes on the menu.

We started with a platter of sushi and sashimi which included lean tuna, yellowtail, organic Irish salmon and Prime Grill roll- grilled yuzo-miso glazed black cod, cucumber, sesame-teriyaki sauce, topped w/tuna & avocado.

The quality and freshness of the fish was so good, it needed nothing more than the traditional ginger wasabi and soy sauce for accompaniment.

When it came to taste enhancing sauces sushi Chef Wibi did not disappoint us with his Yellowtail “Carpaccio” with yuzu ponzu and jalapeno, with togarashi – a citrus based sauce that greatly enhanced the yellowtail.

Now if you’ve been regular readers of our blog, you know that we are not from the big fish lovers and I was hoping they’d roll out the big side of beef soon that would set our four stone wheeled skin covered jeep off  kilter, and we were thrown off balance, astonishingly so by the House Smoked Wild Organic King Salmon and by all things a Maryland Style Fish Cake

The salmon circumferenced the poached egg on a crunchy toasted bottom that burst with noble flavors worthy of a king’s fare.

And the Maryland Style Fish Cake a whole grain mustard veloute, black bean & corn salsa- was sapid perfection; delicate, perfectly done! I almost didn’t want to share… fake crab? What’s happening to me?

The Atlantic Salmon Tartar with avocado capers and yucca chips was very tasty, a lovely mingling of flavors, though I would have preferred it served on a toasted or crunchy base.

Salad came next,  Bresaola Carpaccio, thin parchment like rectangles of cured beef filet served with arugula, roasted pepper, toasted pine nuts, shitake chips, crispy onions and a reduced port-wine drizzle. Superb!!! Ahh, the drizzle! That drizzle was especially good

We followed with the beef slider assortment was a mouthful of perfection. Each slider a world onto itself Kobe Beef with Pickled Chips & Ketchup, Moroccan Lamb with Arugula & Mint Yogurt, Brisket with Whole Grain Mustard Aioli, Buffalo Chicken with Fresh Herbs & Spicy BBQ Sauce and Black Angus with Mushrooms and Porcini Aioli. Woooow.

We segued with a Delmonico Steak; it came with tobacco onion rigns and a marrow bone.  CS was aching to remove the tiny fork and suck the bone dry, but… ettiquette prevailed.

Finally we got to the desserts, we started with the Tropical Vacherin…

…with mango/coconut sorbet, pineapple compote and salty macadamias macarons – my friends I’ve had macarons and I have had macarons, but the macadamia macarons served were in a class by themselves. How can a macaron be as light as air and so densely flavoured, at the same time?!? Only Solo‘s Chef Felenciana knows how!

We followed with their heavenly…

…Chocolate Cake.

We finished this royal repast with a Honey and Rosemary Apple Galette…

…with rosemary infused honey, savory dough and “butter” pecan ice cream. Delicate tasting, beautiful to look at, the plethora of flavors emanating from this dessert can satisfy just about everyone’s palate.

The Cappuccino was among the best I’ve tasted, a worthy crown to this superb and satisfying meal!

As you can tell by the pictures every dish was artfully presented, engaging all the senses.

During the meal we each had 2 glasses of wine. I sipped a Binyamina Bin Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, while CS had a Goose Bay Pinot Noir 2010.

My Cabernet Sauvignon opened in the glass to reveal black berries, wild berries and blackcurrant. Not a complex wine, but very easy and pleasant to drink. CS described the Pinot Noir, thus: Incredible flavors of black cherry and strawberry with buttery overtones. While neither of the two wines proved to be an ideal pairing, they nevertheless nicely complemented this feast.

Although we didn’t get to taste it, it was already late and we both bursting from all the food, CS could not resist photographing the first ever kosher caviar ever served at a restaurant…

All in all a meal we will long remember!

SYR

This Evening’s Radio Show

Our guest at 8:00pm (Eastern Time) this evening on BlogTalkRadio.com, will be Alec Borenstein, Esq., Success Coach and powerful Motivational Speaker.

Who is Alec Borenstein? He’s an award winning speaker and coach who partners with clients to take massive action in their lives.  Alec’s mission is to ensure that every speech or coaching session is replete with practical strategies to ensure immediate change for both individuals and organizations.

Whether it’s the real estate broker who grew his business 40% in a down economy, or the teacher who discovered his greatest passion, or the woman who finally took control of her finances, Alec has the background, experience, and talent to help all of his clients create powerful goals and break through any barriers that might be in the way.

This evening, we will have the pleasure of learning from his wisdom we will hear what motivates him and how he can motivate others.

Meanwhile, in case you missed it, please listen to our archived special from this past Monday on Gotham Wines & Liquors 9th Annual Kosher Wine Extravaganza. We spoke with Gotham‘s resident wine connoisseur and walking encyclopedia, Costas Mouzouras, as well as various wine makers, food manufacturers, wine distributors, and attending wine lovers. You may may also want to watch our video, where Costas explains the fine art of wine tasting.

Please listen in this evening at 8:00pm (Eastern Time), for an interesting and inspirational show. We’ll be waiting for you!

CS

This Evening’s Radio Special

On March 4th, Costas Mouzouras and his staff from Gotham Wines & Liquors (2517 Broadway; New York, NY 10025 – Tel: 212.932.0990) held their 9th Annual Kosher Wine Extravaganza, featuring 300 wines and liquors, at the West End Institutional Synagogue in Manhattan’s Upper West Side.

Costas Mouzouras - Gotham Wines and Liquors

Shiki Rauchberger, Chief Winemaker for Teperberg 1870 Winery, started the private tasting, he introduced us to several selections which are already on the market and some which will not be available until shortly before Passover 2013.

Shiki Rauchberhger - Teperberg 1870

There were some very interesting wines, Shiki selected, wines that clearly showed why Teperberg 1870 is one of Israel’s top wineries.

A partial view of the Teperberg bottles we tasted...

Costas followed Shiki‘s presentation with his own. He demonstrated new wines and old favorites (we will write about them…), he also gave us some very interesting pointers on how to appreciate wine.

We then proceeded upstairs to the general admission area where we met old friends, made new ones, tasted superb wines from all over the world, as well as a great selection of cheeses from Anderson International Foods and some delicious chocolates from Chocolate Works NY. In the center there was a table laden with dips, salads and crackers as large tables laden with wines circled the room.

This is the third extravaganza presented by Gotham Wines that we attended, and frankly, they keep getting better and better!

Please tune as in this evening at 8:00 pm (Eastern Standard) on BlogTalkRadio.com for a special pre-taped show with Costas Mouzouras, winemakers, food purveyors, and more. Listen in to learn about the latest wines for this Passover.

In case you missed it you can listen to our archived show with Brent Delman, from The Cheese Guy.com. Brent regaled us with his knowledge of cheese while being in an informative but entertaining manner.

Please tune us in this eve, we’ll be waiting for you!

CS

Sukkot Wine Pairing

[I have the pleasure of introducing you to my good friend Jeff Ingber. He lives in Providence, RI. A trained Chef and graduate from Johnson and Wales in RI, one of America’s top culinary schools, Jeff graciously agreed to share his menus and pairings. CS]

Rosh Hashanah is behind us and most of us Jewish households here in the North East are preparing to dine “al fresco” for a week, while enjoying good company in the Sukkah.  The change in temperature and the observance of the holiday offer us a chance to snuggle up to some bigger and bolder wines on these cooler nights. For over 20 years now here in Providence, people have long anticipated seeing and tasting what wine gems would be served in my Sukkah.

At the beginning of the Israeli Wine Revolution, I was still a student in college. I remember traveling to New Jersey on Sundays to pick up as many varietals of Kosher Wine I could get my hands on, at a store in Teaneck. I would arrive at 11:00am and the clerk would remind me that I could not complete a purchase until after 12:00 in Bergen County. I do not think she knew I had just driven 175 miles and 10 more minutes would not kill me.

Today, I manage a small Wine Store that is located inside my children’s school.  Yes, that is not a typo.  We are the largest retailer of kosher wine in Southern New England.  We carry over 100 labels and sell over 500 cases a year.

This morning I reviewed my menus to ensure some great pairings.

I am not a huge fan of wasting print with personal reviews. It is too refined a process for me.

I have become a huge fan of kosher wines coming out of Spain and Argentina.  Israel is running right behind them.  I try to do my pairing at this time of year with those countries offerings in mind so here goes.

Over the next 1o days or so I will be serving the following:

Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Chorizo and Jicama……….. Elvi Adar (Spain)

Arugula Salad with Sweet Potato Crisps and Dried Cranberries……….. Capçanes Peraj Petita (Spain)

Grilled Asparagus with Roasted Garlic Slivers……….. Arco Nuevo Shiraz (Argentina) $9.

Garlic Soup……….. I must say, this is a good time for my favorite Bourbon.  (Willet’s or W. H Harrison)

Jeff Ingber showing one of his catches

Black Sea Bass Ceviche (I catch it myself)……….. Barkan Classic Pinotage OR Carmel Shaal Gewürztraminer  (Israel)

Grilled Southwestern Style Salmon……….. Flecha De Los Andes Gran Malbec (Argentina)

Chicken with Apple and Fig Chutney……….. Or Haganuz Amukah (Israel)

Chicken with Roasted Sweet Chilies and Cilantro……….. Segal’s Single Vineyard, Dovev, Merlot (Israel)

I know , this is a wine Blog not a food blog but it is important to know what we are pairing with here.

There are many other super wines for the season.   Wines from the Dalton Winery like their Shiraz or Tepperberg Meritage a big and bold are just the thing on these cooler nights to keep your senses on high alert. Other great wines like Bynyamina’s Yogev  Cabernet Zinfandel blend or Binyamina Choshen label Ruby Syrah are dancing with a mouthful of Mediterranean flavors of mineral dark fruit.  Elvi’s EL26 Priorat and Ramon  Cordova Rioja remind you that you can sit in the sukkah with tapas, fine wine and great friends for a night under the stars. And, as my wife walks by and takes a look at my musings, she reminds me that Baron Herzog’s Late Harvest Chenin Blanc is her favorite accompaniment to fresh berries and custard. These wines are all in the $7.00 t0 $28.00 range, except for the bourbons which are around $40.00 Everyone can get in on the season of rejoicing!!!

Jeff Ingber

Last Eve’s Wine Tasting, this Evening’s Show

Last evening there was a superb wine tasting at the West Side Synagogue’s Zanger Hall (347 West 34th Street) in Manhattan. The Kosher Wine Society presented New Wines for the New Year. I’ve been to many a wine tasting in my lifetime, but this one was truly different; unlike most kosher tastings, it included a cookbook author, food products, painters and a musical trio.

June Hersh, author of Recipes Remembered – featuring recipes and incredible stories from 80 Holocaust survivors – and the brand new Kosher Carnivore was our first interviewee of the evening. You must hear the eloquent words with which describe her passion for Jews and her love of food.

Bass, violin and tsimbl

From nostalgic old shtetl tunes to Hungarian czardasz we were regaled with klezmer sound that meshed Jewish nigunnim with Gipsy soul!

Aleks Veyg's Natural Flavored Honey

I tasted Veyg’s Natural Wild Flower, Lemon Zest and Peanut Butter honey flavors. All three were great, but, the Lemon Zest was my personal favorite!

A small sampling of Arianna Santoriello's paintings...

Arianna Santoriello, whom we interviewed, is a young mixed media artist who markedly shows the growing fires of inspiration

Rabbi Mikhael Cohen of the French Jewish Cultural Center of New York (67 Wall Street; Phone: 212.202.1448 – Cell: 917.796.0680), was instrumental in bringing the artists and musician to the tasting, thereby, greatly enhancing this event.

Aron Ritter and his father

Aron Ritter, President and Founder of the Kosher Wine Society, and his staff made it a superb evening so different, so delicious. SYR and I met old friends and made new ones, so many wines, so many fascinating people, so little time… truly a tasting to remember!

This evening at 7:30pm (Eastern Time) on our internet radio show, we will feature some of the pre-taped interviews. Meanwhile, if you missed our two broadcasts last week, you can listen to our delightful talk with David Mintz – CEO of Tofutti Brands, Inc. and our conversation with Geila Hocherman, the French trained Chef/author of Kosher Revolution, a beautifully executed cookbook which we’ll review on these very pages.

CS