It may come as a surprise, but Italy has a long tradition of Jewish cookery. Jews have been living in Rome since ancient times. Jewish communities have long existed in other cities, perhaps most famously Venice, and even in small towns like Pitigliano in Tuscany, known as “the Little Jerusalem”. These communities produced a … Read More
Carciofi alla giudia (Jewish-Style Artichokes)
Carciofi alla giudia, or Jewish-style artichokes, are one of the signature dishes of Roman Jewish cooking and a very popular dish in Rome. I have rarely seen this dish in Italian restaurants in the US, perhaps because it is a bit tricky to make, or because of the quality of … Read More
Carciofi alla romana (Roman-Style Artichokes)
Dear readers, I am back from my travels, at my blogging post just in time for the first day of Spring. Artichokes are back in season! And is there any vegetable more typical of Roman cooking, perhaps of all Italian cuisine, than the artichoke? What better way to get back … Read More
Pollo fritto per Chanukà (Hanukkah Fried Chicken)
Continuing with our Italian Hanukkah dinner, after the first course of riso coll’uvetta, proceed to the second course: Hanukkah Fried Chicken which is, of course, fried in olive oil. This dish is popular in Rome and all over Italy for this Jewish holiday. Ingredients Serves 4-6 One whole chicken For … Read More
An Italian Hannukah: Riso coll’uvetta (Rice with Raisins)
It may come as a surprise to some, but Italy has a Jewish tradition going back not just centuries, but millennia. A Jewish community existed in Rome dating from during the Roman Republic, even before the Empire, in the first centuries BCE. That presence grew during the late Middle Ages, … Read More
