Ghormeh Sabzi Soup, Persian Green Herb Soup

Living in Beverly Hills affords me the opportunity to be up close and personal with many Iranians.  There is a very large Persian population

Lucy’s Picadillo Soup

OK, I confess I have help in my home with all the house work and especially before a party.  A wonderful women originally from El Salvador

Rice, Beans and Kuftes, Thursday Night Dinner

  If you speak with anyone from the Sephardic community in Seattle, Washington, you will find that virtually everyone, me included, ate avicas con arroz or beans and rice on Thursday nights for dinner.  Usually this dinner also included

My Best Brisket

  Brisket was a dish I became familiar with after I was married.  My Sephardic mother never served this ultimate pot roast when I was growing up.  I loved brisket the first time I tasted it.  The juicy, melt in your mouth, savory-sweet meat is an easy dish to make for everything from Shabbat and [...]

California Dreaming and grilled steak

Pool at the Alhambra, Spain Nothing is as tranquil as an empty luminescent blue pool in the early morning light.  The ambient temperature water envelops my body as I swim, methodically slicing through the placid liquid with the sides of my hands like a hot clean knife through chocolate cake.  Classical music is entering my [...]

Bamya With Stuffed Kooba

BAMYA WITH BEEF STUFFED KOOBA Okra Stew with Ground Meat Dumplings   My vivacious friend  Nina is an Israeli American whose family was originally from Romania.  Her husband is originally from Iraq.  As a result, Nina knows how to make all of the most amazing Israeli, Iraqi, Romanian, and Sephardic dishes. Nina’s recipes are in her head, [...]