Adios NYC: Passover at the Litwaks

Two weeks have passed since my return from the New York, and here comes the sixth (!) and final post from what really was an unforgettable trip. For our last supper in the city, we painted the town red in a very unexpected way - with a non-traditional Passover dinner at our friends house, with lots of wine, a bit of vodka and plenty of history and culture.

Jessica Litwak and her two daughters, Emma and Sophie, had invited us to dinner. By no means a traditional bunch of ladies, this was a Passover dinner with a twist. We were greeted with vodka cocktails to get the party started.

My mum and Jess, friends since school, kicking off our Passover dinner with some vodka cocktails

Seeing the table all set, I got very excited for the dinner ahead. Turns out there was quite a wait before the meal, as we first needed to read the Haggadah, a text that retells the story of the Jewish liberation from Egypt. The Litwaks used an alternative Haggadah, which was compiled by the youngest daughter Sophie. Our text explained why our Seder Plate, which traditionally has 6 items on it, each of which represents a different part of the story of Passover, had two extra items: an orange and some olives.

Seder Diner plate, with a few additions

The orange represented the desire for a non-discriminative Jewish community which includes and welcomes women, queer and transgender people with open arms. The olives held their significance in representing the oppression of the Palestinians in Israel. Sadly the destruction of Palestinian olive trees by the Israeli army is just one way that Palestinians are suffering due to the current conflict. Adding in these two items highlighted the similarities between the liberation of the Jews from Egypt thousands of years ago and issues we are facing today. It was a great point for discussion and reflection - debates did spark up! But all in good spirit and it was a hugely enjoyable part of the night.

Charoset - a kind of an apple cinnamon oatmeal taste, with the tangy addition of horseradish

Although there was still a while to go until the main meal was served, soon came time for a snack in the form of the Charoset. This apple and walnut mixture made with red wine and honey represents the mortar that the Israelites used to make bricks while they were slaves in Egypt. I was told to put it on my matzah bread with some fresh horseradish - a seemingly odd combination, but actually the contrast of flavors was quite delicious.

Gefilte fish. Now this, you don't have to try...

Before the dinner, my mother, a Jew who spent some of her childhood in Israel, told me I had to try the gefilte fish. When someone tells you something is a 'must try', it's either totally delicious or a bit weird. I can confirm this odd fish formation falls into the latter category. Gefilte fish is ground fish mixed with various other ingredients such onions, carrots, eggs, and seasonings. The delights of this Jewish delicacy were a little lost on me - the strong fish flavors and almost pulp-like texture of it all didn't really go down well. Skipping past this odd tasting fish dish, and finally it was time to eat! Our meal was served: a delicious roast chicken dinner, with herby roasted veg and fresh leafy salads.

A good ol' roast chicken dinner, with roasted sweet potato and red onion

Lastly, it was onto dessert. As the Passover story goes, the Israelites left Egypt so quickly that their bread did not have time to rise. It is from this story that the rule of only eating unleavened food (food without wheat ) during the eight-day long Passover period originates. No leavened goods also means farewell to flour and baking powder - essentials in tasty sweet treats. Does this mean we just skip dessert?

Gluten free kosher biccys

Of course not! Macaroons made with ground almonds and coconut are a popular sweet nibble, along with chocolate covered matzo bread and some apparently much-loved chocolate covered jelly rings. These gluten-free goodies, along with a rich chocolate tart, were all part of our dessert, making me think there could be something to this lack of leavened goods after all. 

Chocolate heaven accompanied by some of the best ice-cream in the city. Not too shabby!

While we were all curious to try the macaroons, jelly rings (a no-no) and chocolate covered matzah bread (surprisingly very good), the star of the dessert was a flourless chocolate cake, bought at the epic Whole Foods Market. This was accompanied by some of NYC's finest ice cream, bought at Talenti gelato e sorbetto. I can vouch for this being some seriously good gelato, and we were able to sample the toasted almond and also black cherry flavor - the perfect creamy compliments for the dense, rich chocolate cake.

Smiling faces all round after a wonderful evening spent with friends

We left the Litwaks filled with food, wine, and memories of a great evening shared with some incredible women. While I have never before really felt any affiliation to my Jewish blood, after my first Passover dinner I felt a real connection to all the history and stories I had heard. You might not catch me headed down to Hebrew school anytime soon, but this experience definitely sparked an interest into Jewish culture for me.

Sadly the next day it was goodbye to the Big Apple, but not so terrible as I was headed back to the sunny Barranquilla and my beloved Colombian coast. As my leaving date is now in sight, I am determined to try all the local delicacies before I leave. Cow eye soup is next, so stay posted for that typical treat!

Orgasmic eats at another NYC classic - Katz Deli

Jewish Deli food is a serious must for anyone staying in the Big Apple. Chicken noodle soup, creamy chopped liver and sky-high pastrami sandwiches are all typical dishes in these much-loved NYC institutions, perfect for a quick bite during the day or a sobering snack at the end of a long night out.

The Classic NY Deli, Katz

Katz Deli, year upon year, tops lists as the number one deli in New York. Their pastrami sandwiches draw in locals and tourists the world over, who come in the hope of leaving as pleased as Sally was in the famous scene from the well-known and loved rom-com, When Harry Met Sally.

 

While I refrained from reenacting the scene, it was fair to say my pastrami sandwich was, well...pretty orgasmic. Flavorsome, soft rye bread encapsulates the two-to-four week cured beef, which is salty, soft and filled with flavor.

The famous Katz deli sandwich, and me working how quite how to conquer it

The beef used to make these serious sandwiches has been cured, rubbed, smoked, boiled, and lastly steamed for ultimate flavor and texture. The results of this laborious process? Some absolutely beautiful meat covered in a peppery skin with a melt-in-your-mouth softness for texture. The selection of pickles which come along with your sandwich add a great vinegary tang to each bite, and with a touch of mustard I'd say this sandwich reaches its peak of perfection. 

Pickles + pastrami = paradise

Despite the gigantic portion of pastrami I had just confronted, I was eager to try out some of the desserts on offer. New York cheesecake was a no-brainer, but I was left curious about a noodle pudding, also know as a  kugel or lokshen pudding. My mum told me it was a traditional Jewish dessert made up of cooked pasta, and that she had only ever know herself and her own mum to be fans. Given that it got the thumbs up from none other than mama and grandma Bidmead, I felt it was only right to give it a go, despite how weird it sounded. 

Kugel or Lokshen pudding, and the classic NYC cheesecake

The noodle pudding was pretty much as described - thick, pasta-like noodles cooked and compacted together, mixed in with raisins and baked. Obviously that isn't all there is to this dish, and the addition of tasty and health-giving things such as cream and butter resulted in what turned out to be quite a tasty dessert. Perhaps I wouldn't jump to order it again, and may potentially prefer to keep my pasta as part of my main, but I did actually enjoy it. As for the cheesecake...it didn't stay around long. With practically no biscuit base, it was a slice of pure, unadulterated cream cheese delight. 

Katz Deli was as much a cultural activity as visiting a New York city museum or gallery. From the packed out dining room to the chaotic ticket system used to pay the bill to the cashier out front, it felt like we were seeing some real New York City action. Who cares if it's mainly filled with foreign tourists staring hopelessly at their 7-inch sandwiches and the fact that the process of getting served is a bit chaotic? Sit down, roll up your sleeves, and have what she had in New York Cities number one deli.