AS: Can you tell us a little about your background and your culinary journey? SM: I was born in Israel and grew up in the Moroccan community in Montreal, Canada. My grandparents are from Morocco and Libya. My mother was … Continue reading
AS: With the Three Weeks and Tishah B’Av approaching, we know a lot about “Darkness.” Tell us about “Dawn” — and how the saddest time of the year is filled with hope. RDG: When R’ Akiva saw the success of … Continue reading
Originally posted on The Official ArtScroll Blog:
With Tishah B’Av approaching, we want to help our readers prepare to have a meaningful fast. This week we are sharing two free downloads that will make your Tishah B’Av more meaningful. Kinnos…
ArtScroll: This is your third LifeLines volume, yet the stories are still so varied and intriguing. How do you keep them so fresh? C. Saphir: It’s partly because I’m very selective about the stories I’ll write. I won’t write a … Continue reading
During these challenging times our thoughts and prayer are with Klal Yisroel. For the many people who live in neighborhoods where the shuls are closed for Shabbos we are making this week’s Parshah and Haftorah from six different Chumashim available … Continue reading
You can already feel the excitement in the air. With fewer than 350 blatt left (out of 2,711!), the siyum marking the completion of 13th cycle of daf yomi, scheduled for January 2020, is quickly coming upon us. And here’s … Continue reading
When our ancestors were in the Wilderness, a month after the Exodus from Egypt, they faced a tomorrow with no food. Justifiably, they asked Moshe if he had taken them into the desert to starve to death. Hashem responded that … Continue reading
When I’m speaking with Naomi Nachman, I can almost hear her enthusiasm jumping out over the phone lines! That same zest and passion — for cooking and food, for family and friends, for life! – jumps off every magnificent page of her new cookbook, Perfect Flavors: Creative, easy-to-prepare recipes inspired by my family and travels.
Recipe developer and cookbook author, cooking coach and caterer, Naomi is one busy lady. I caught up with her to discuss her travels, her recipes, and her new cookbook:
AS: So exciting – a brand new cookbook, Perfect Flavors! What are your thousands of eager fans going to find when they flip through those gorgeous pages?
NN: Exciting global recipes — but also tons of quick and easy practical family recipes. There are special recipes for Shabbos and chagim, and also weeknight dinners.
AS: Alaska, Vietnam, India: You’ve traveled all around the world. How have those travels influenced your cooking?
NN: Seeing what and how other cultures eat fascinates me. Going to local farmers markets, seeing seasonal veggies from across the globe and the US has influenced my flavor profiles.
AS: These recipes are inspired “by my family and my travels.” So where does the family come in?
NN: My family often travels with me and we love to go out to eat and they give me their input as feedback. There are reliable kosher restaurants in the most amazing places, and we love to try them out!
AS: How do you start developing a recipe? Where do you get ideas and how do you transform them into doable, successful recipes?
NN: When I travel to different places, I start by going to local food markets, and I also check out their street food. I spend time observing how local foods are made and what ingredients are used. I’ll often chat with the chefs. I then go home and research. Then I take the ideas to my kitchen with pen and paper and develop it into something kosher, delicious, and doable!
AS: Let’s give out some awards to some of the 130 recipes in Perfect Flavors. Most Elegant? Most Yummy? Easiest to Prep? And – Naomi’s Personal Favorite?
NN:
Most Elegant: Hoisin Duck with Mango and Rice Noodles
Easiest to Prep: Sweet Chili Salmon
Most Yummy and My Favorite: Everything! It’s my book!!
