Spring... a time of hope & new beginnings
a round up... one year on
With lighter evenings, days of warm sunshine intermingled with April showers and the leaves dancing in the breeze, it seems Spring has arrived, and with it the hope for new beginnings, rejuvenation, and a longing for peace.
This time last year, I started our culinary journey across the rich biblical landscape, on this Substack platform. It was lush and green following the winter rains, wild flowers carpeted the terrain, green sheaths of wheat stood proudly upon the rolling hills and the citrus groves were laden with fragrant fruits… there was undoubtedly the sweet scent of Spring in the air, and a land overflowing with food and wine. All this, together with the indigenous produce and the traditions, flavours and producers of an eclectic cuisine, was my inspiration behind Cultural Bites, and to creatively bring a virtual feast to each post, to excite your eyes, palate and senses.
It was not quite to be as expected, with the past year challenging the heart and soul of Israel in ways that are beyond all comprehension, and which has undoubtedly impacted on how I write to you now. This is a country that I love, with its culinary and viniculture, a diversity of traditional tastes and aromas from all four corners of the globe and the local, seasonal and wild edibles that are turned into the tastiest delights from innovative chefs and home cooks. My vision was to simply share with my readers and supporters, the topography and agricultural bounty that feeds this gastronomic Middle Eastern culture, which sadly has taking a battering, since the catastrophic events of last October 7th.
It was my inherent Jewish culture, that feeds in times of joy, grief and hardship that gave me a purpose, at a time that without a focus would have made me feel impotent. I spurred into action as did the rest of the country, and with a warm band of women volunteers, we cooked warming, nourishing, soul food with love, giving comfort to those that we fed, as much as to ourselves, the feeders. This was more than enough inspiration I required for my next title, Feeding Memories, giving me food for thought as to how the Jewish culture and identity comes alive with the need to feed, at every turn of events. As my book gets seriously underway, I intend to give you more of a flavour of its contents as the chapters get written, and I will share recipes and food memories with you, in the hope that you will share yours with me…
Despite the change in atmosphere and inability to visit restaurants, wineries and producers both north and south of the country, I continued writing. My most popular posts throughout this first year, for those that have recently joined us, have included a sensory feast in some of Israel’s finest food markets, the ubiquitous date biscuit the mammoul, and recipes for my ‘orange’ soup, labane and spiced cauliflower latkes.
For anyone who missed my last post, there are still the places to join me and Masterchef Champion Irini Tzortzoglou on our Peloponnese Culinary Retreat at the beginning of November. Please message me directly for a brochure and more information.
In just under two weeks, Jews around the world will celebrate the Passover, one of the three major pilgrimage festivals, which this Spring brings uncertainty, mixed emotions, and a yearning to be free from the challenges that lie ahead, as our ancestors longed for a life free from slavery. The one certainty we have, is the tradition of the Seder meal and the symbolic plate that takes centre stage on our table, and the eating of unleavened foods, synonymous with the Passover. Next week I will give you a taste of some of the symbolic Passover culinary delights from the Ashkenazi, Sephardi and Mizrachi cuisines, with traditional recipes from legendary and contemporary cooks, for the week of feeding and feasting, and in keeping with the dietary practices of this Spring festival.
So a year on, this sapling of an idea, has grown in both its free and paid subscribers and Substack followers, and has really started to bloom with interaction and genuine support. The aim of this platform is to grow a community of readers, and a personal media empire, which thanks to you all and your generosity, has started in earnest and will hopefully, continue to go from strength to strength.
Like the pink almond trees swaying in the Galilean sunshine, I hope Cultural Bites will continue to blossom this coming year, and for which I thank you in anticipation.
