fbpx
[additional-authors]
May 1, 2013

Is Galilee the next Tuscany?  

This month Saveur magazine has a beautiful (and beautifully written) feature on the food and cooking of the Galilee region of Israel, by Gabriella Gershenson.

Galilee is indeed one of the world's great undiscovered food regions– rich in culture, produce, cuisine, even wine.  

In writing about the food, she of course must write about the people and their connection to that very special land, and, of course, their recipes. 

Gabriella wisely spends time with Erez Komarovsky in Mattat– Erez, whom I've written about before here–  is the Richard Olney of Israel, and Gabriella paints a picture of her visit to his secluded farm/cooking school that will make any sane person want to get on a plane, fork in hand, and head there now.  Here's a sample:

When everything is ready, Erez and I dig in. The cherry and herb salad is zesty and sweet. The recipe is from the Turks, Erez says, who occupied this land for centuries. The roasted eggplant, meanwhile, tastes smoky and fresh, the combination of nutty tahini, hot chiles, and garlic one you'd find all over the Middle East. “In the Galilee, the influences are not from abroad but from the Druze and Arabs living here,” Erez explains. “The richness of the culinary knowledge that I get here is unparalleled to what you get in the big city.” Here, Erez picks mushrooms with Jewish Moroccans and Kurds, makes goat cheese out of milk from a Druze neighbor, and buys the foods they forage. Because of the divisions inherent in modern Israeli life, and the tensions between Arabs and Jews, his culinary curiosity feels like a political act, one that emphasizes the way the land connects the people. Before I leave, Erez tells me, “Borders are politics. Borders do not cut the food.”

Did you enjoy this article?
You'll love our roundtable.

Editor's Picks

Latest Articles

Life Without A Security Blanket

Israelis are living life without a security blanket. It is frightening. But like Jacob, they still dream of something better.

One Day in October

We are all post-October 7th Jews, none more so than our Israeli brethren who have lived and breathed the pogrom, the war, and the hostage crisis for the past 15 months.

Breaking Barriers ft. Zach Sage Fox

Marla and Libby are back with maybe their most exciting, fun and intriguing episode yet., (00:00:00 – 00:04:00)With the upcoming holidays, they share their suggestions for gifts for that special someone in your life, whether you’re just starting to…

More news and opinions than at a
Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.