In this World Service programme, which aired at the end of October, Ruth Alexander speaks to three women who have written cookbooks relating to the turbulent past of Hispanic Jews.
We discover how Spanish and Portuguese Jews were persecuted by the Spanish Inquisition and that the recipes cooked by Jews accused of practising their religion were often cited at trial as evidence against them.
Also in the broadcast are Stella Hanan Cohen, author of Stella’s Sephardic Table (inspired by the cuisine of the Sephardic community who settled on the island of Rhodes) and Genie Milgrom who was born in Cuba but moved to Florida (with no idea she was Jewish) and discovered her family were Conversos (Jews who had converted to Catholicism) later finding a box of handwritten recipes passed down by generations of women in her family which she has now published as ‘The Recipes of My 15 Grandmothers’.
Fascinating and the perfect listen while you cook up a Separdic feast.
Another perfect podcast:
Oded Oren's podcast was a true taste of Tel Aviv Photo: Issy Croker
Olive: Food and Drink podcast: Oded Oren on 10 things you need to know about Tel Aviv food and cooking
If you’re heading to Israel any time soon, a recent podcast from Olive Magazine is a must-listen.
Chef Oden Oren shares his top 10 foodie tips for eating out on Tel Aviv. Secret spots, his favourite foods and where to find them. The Tel Aviv-born chef was born to Ashkenazi parents but is a passionate lover of Sephardi-style food. His London restaurant serves up Tel Aviv-style treats, and he has just published his first cookbook which is packed with gorgeous recipes and images of the White City. Worth a listen with a pita in your hand.
Find it wherever you get your podcasts or click here.
I'll be eating at:
Photo: Ollie Grove at Tony Grove
Miznon, Notting Hill
If Oded’s tips leave you challashing puffy pita and the banging flavours of an Israeli kitchen, head for W11 this weekend and the opening of Miznon’s second London restaurant.
Eccentric uber chef Eyal Shani’s latest offering, which opens on Friday November 11, will serve all the same off-the-wall pita fillings — think fish and chips and spaghetti Bolognese — as well as the trademark bag of green beans and whole roasted cauliflower.
We’re told it is smaller than the Soho branch, that opened this summer, but still offers 40 seats plus a terrace. I’m off to the opening later this week so will share more detail asap.
Miznon.co.uk 14 Elgin Crescent, W11
