Never Say This is the Final Road for You…

The Kosher Scene is far more than just food and wine, our Internet Radio guest tomorrow evening will be Irving Schild, Professor Emeritus and former Photography Department Chairman at New York City’s prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology and Chief Photographer for MAD Magazine. During his more than four decades in his chosen field he has traveled to many near and remote, familiar and exotic parts of the world, for his clients as well as his own creative pursuits. We will discuss his current book project on the rebirth of many Jewish communities in Europe, reborn in spite of Hitler’s (Yimach shmo!) attempts to permanently destroy them. He will show us, as the Partisans Song (Zog nisht keyn mol – Never Say) went, that in spite of the odds, in spite of the number of murderous attempts on the Jewish Nation, the Jewish Phoenix always rises from the ashes, from the blood, from the pain, from the tears!

Last week’s show featured the Puah Institute, we spoke with their Director General, Rabbi Gideon Weitzman, in Jerusalem and Mrs. Leah Davidson, Director of the American branch. We talked about their work on behalf of infertile couples, their free counseling services, their supervision services and more. If you missed it, you can hear the archive here: What is the Puah Institute?

Please listen to our conversation with Irving Schild, photographer extraordinaire. Tune us in at 8:00 pm, tomorrow evening – Wednesday, the 18th of May. You can find us right here: Talking with Irving Schild . Irving is a fascinating personality, this show promises to be interesting, informative while filling every Jewish heart with pride at our quiet revenge against those who would have annihilated us.

CS

Noi Due

Noi Due – Us Two (143 W 69th St New York; NY 10023; Telephone: 212. 712.2222)… aah, the memories it brought back! Having traveled extensively through Italy, having taken in the aromas, this restaurant made me feel I had somehow magically returned to il bel paese. With its authentic decor, softly played romantic Italian songs… SYR and I knew almost from the moment we stepped in that the food would also have that authentic, simple, fresh taste. We were not disappointed!

As soon as we sat down they brought us a basket of home made foccaccia bread, with an oil dip. The bread had that fresh delicate scent that easily succeeded in whetting our appetite for what would come.

SYR stated her meal with a Minestrone, while I had a Zuppa di Pomodoro con Ricotta (Cream of Tomato Soup with a Ball of Ricotta).

Minestrone

The aroma of both soups, the simple country look, the freshness… mmmmMMMmm mmmMMmm! My tomato soup was a slight bit more orangeish than I had expected and that made it a greater feast for the eye. The combination of hot soup and the cold ricotta, brought two different flavors to perfectly complement each other. Somehow the contrast brought out both the soup’s and the cheese’s flavors in full force. The aroma of the fresh basil only enhanced the culinary experience.

SYR‘s Minestrone cooked to perfection, allowed her to taste each individual piece of vegetable. She loved it!

She followed it with a grilled Salmone which sat on a bed of potatoes and asparagus, it was topped with onion rings. Between the presentation and the aromas emanating from it it looked very enticing. She described the potatoes as very buttery, the salmon as delicate and not “fishy” tasting in the least, and the onion rings as just perfect.

Salmon with potatoes and onion rings

I had the Carcioffi Ripieni – Stuffed Artichokes. They came with artichoke bottom stuffed with fresh vegetables served in a lemon caper sauce. The flavor was just tart enough to enhance the vegetables without overpowering them.

We then shared a dish of Cheese Ravioli.

Cheese Ravioli with Gorgonzola and Parmigiano

The ricotta filled ravioli came with Gorgonzola, cream, walnuts, sprinkled parmigiano and spices. Being a cheese lover (wifey used to joke that I must have been an Italian mouse in another gilgul) the combination of the three cheeses was – as my mother used to say in yiddish – ta’am fun ganeiden, the taste of paradise!

The dishes went well with a delightful 2008 Goose Bay Sauvignon Blanc.

No meal at an Italian restaurant could be complete without a good cappuccino for me, and an espresso for SYR. Again, the aromas seduced us, and at least in my case this was one the best cappuccinos I ever enjoyed!

By six o’clock, this 40 seat eatery was filled to the gills. Service was prompt, the staff was friendly and enthusiastic, the portions were fair, the prices surprising low. Noi Due‘s motto is “poco ma buono – little but good.” They more than lived to it! We both enjoyed our experience there. We know we’ll be back, we have to!

CS