Schmaltzy

By Jewish Food Society

Society & Culture Education Religion & Spirituality Judaism

What's Schmaltzy about?

Schmaltzy, a podcast from the Jewish Food Society explores the intersection of Jewish identity and food through live storytelling. Join us for tales from famed chefs, home cooking mavens, grandmothers, TV personalities, and more. Listen with a nosh at hand — you might get hungry. Host: Amanda Dell. Executive Producer: Naama Shefi.

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Schmaltzy episodes:

06.22.2023
Truth Seeking is Ilana Glazer’s Favorite Part of Being Jewish
We are kvelling! On the season 4 finale, the one and only Ilana Glazer joins us to talk about being Jewish on TV, tag team cooking, channeling her grandma Harriet, and so much more. Don’t miss Ilana this summer on tour....
06.15.2023
Mother Knows Best with Ophira Eisenberg
Ophira Eisenberg (NPR’s “Ask Me Another”) grew up in Calgary, Canada as the youngest of six kids. When her tough as nails mom falls ill, Ophira races home to help out — but rising above being the baby of the...
06.08.2023
How a Puppeteer Made Recess Therapy's Julian Shapiro-Barnum's Dad Cool
As a kid, Recess Therapy creator Julian Shapiro-Barnum was embarrassed by his dad Lorin. But an unexpected friendship changed all of that.
06.01.2023
For Molly Yeh, Home Smells Like Chicken Soup
After moving from New York City to a fifth generation house on a farm in Minnesota, Food Network star and award-winning cookbook author, Molly Yeh, learned how to adapt and make her house a home — with some delicious surprises...
05.18.2023
A Schmaltzy Love Story with Mosheh Oinounou & Alexandra Sall
Two New Yorkers arrived at one of our first ever live Schmaltzy events hoping for compelling stories, great food and a vibrant community. They got that plus so much more: their partner for life.
05.11.2023
Marc Azoulay Has Friends in Unexpected Places
When Marc Azoulay set out to make art in a maximum security prison, he never thought that experience would end with a visit to a tattoo removal clinic and a very unlikely friend for life.
05.04.2023
We’re Still Waiting for a Shabbat Invite From Nicole Enayati
Millions of fans tune in to see Nicole Enayati host her wildly popular show, Mythical Kitchen. But the thought of hosting a family Shabbat dinner gave her stage fright on a whole other level.
04.27.2023
Ari Shapiro is No Stranger to Hosting a Dinner Party
As the beloved host of NPR’s “All Things Considered,” Ari Shapiro has been telling other people’s stories for years. Now he shares a personal story from his new book “The Best Strangers in the World" about a high stakes dinner...
04.20.2023
Jewish Style is in Vogue with Liana Satenstein
TMI? Not for former Vogue Senior Fashion Writer, Liana Satenstein. Tune in to hear about swearing off shellfish for love, Jewish style, thrifting underwear and more.
04.13.2023
Love, Art & Pastrami Sandwiches with Jerry Saltz, Josh Gondelman & Alyssa Shelasky
A sex columnist, an art critic and a comedian walk into the JCC. This isn't a set-up for joke — it's an episode we recorded live at the JCC Manhattan featuring Alyssa Shelasky, Jerry Saltz and Josh Gondelman. Tune in...
04.04.2023
Laurence Jossel's Matzo Ball Journey
Acclaimed chef Laurence Jossel of Nopa restaurant thinks that what makes him most Jewish is his sense of humor. He certainly needed it when faced with an unexpected culinary challenge: making matzo ball soup for a Passover Seder.
03.30.2023
Mike Solomonov Can Host a Seder Anywhere
5-time James Beard award-winning chef Michael Solomonov has one foot in the US and one in Israel. He infuses Israeli chutzpah in everything he does stateside, including Passover, no matter what life throws his way. To find Mike’s holiday recipes...
12.15.2022
Latke Love for Kwanzaa with Joshua Silverstein
Joshua Silverstein wanted to electrify everyone's taste buds at a Kwanzaa potluck party with a cherished dish - his grandmother’s latkes. Little did he know, his attempt at recreating this special recipe would backfire in the most beautiful way possible. For...
06.23.2022
Alison Roman Finally Got Invited to a Bar Mitzvah
Cookbook author Alison Roman shares a personal story about growing up “half Jewish” and finding a meaningful connection with her dad through food. Check out Alison’s recipes for gravlax and matzo brei on the Jewish Food Society’s digital recipe archive.
06.16.2022
How Idan Chabasov Became “The Challah Prince”
Israeli born Instagram star Idan Chabasov, aka The Challah Prince, had never baked anything until he moved to Berlin. Today, he credits making challah with bringing him out of a dark time and staying grounded.
06.09.2022
Koshersoul with Michael W. Twitty
Culinary historian and author Michael W. Twitty shares a preview of his new book Koshersoul: The Faith and Food Journey of an African American Jew — and how he claimed his place at the table.
06.02.2022
The Passport Dilemma with Hillary Reinsberg
Hillary Reinsberg took German classes and later studied abroad in Berlin — even as some Jewish friends balked. But, for her, being a proud German Jew didn’t feel like a contradiction.
05.19.2022
Maira Kalman’s Grandmother Married the Wrong Man
Artist Maira Kalman shares a preview of her upcoming book “Women Holding Things” and how she finds inspiration in everything from chocolate cake to broken hearts. For family recipes and stories from around the world, visit our archive at jewishfoodsociety.org.
05.12.2022
Nancy Spielberg Finds Her (Milky) Way
Nancy Spielberg grew up in Arizona often feeling like she was from another planet. But when her family moved to LA and opened a kosher restaurant, she found a way to fit in. For family recipes and stories from around the...
04.28.2022
Susan Alexandra is Her Grandmother’s “American Dream”
When Susan Alexandra’s grandmother, a Holocaust survivor, passed away, it felt like an earthquake. Susan persevered by channeling her spirit and forging a unique path in New York’s very competitive fashion industry. For family recipes and stories from around the world,...
04.21.2022
The Golden Arches with Robby Hoffman
Comedian and writer Robby Hoffman grew up in a strict kosher home, but after she caved to a McDonald’s craving in college, her relationship with Judaism would never be the same. For family recipes and stories from around the world, visit...
04.14.2022
Stepping Up to the Seder with Emily Schultz
Social media maven Emily Schultz shares a funny and poignant coming-of-age story about Passover — and her very first Seder as an adult. For Passover recipes and stories from around the world, visit our archive at jewishfoodosociety.org.
06.17.2021
Season Finale: All Tied Up with Peter Hoffman
Before becoming a renowned chef and author of a new memoir, Peter Hoffman was just a young cook in the weeds, preparing a special meal for his mom. Was this the moment to finally take some help from his dentist...
06.10.2021
Life, Death and Coffee with Joshua David Stein
Joshua David Stein missed the opportunity to say goodbye to his beloved grandfather because of a mismade coffee. Eventually, he realized there was more to life than a proper macchiato.
05.27.2021
There Was Cheese Parked in Adeena Sussman’s Garage
In the 1970’s, cookbook author Adeena Sussman’s parents knew something was missing from their Jewish community in Palo Alto, California. To fill the void, they opened the most unlikely shop in town. Find Adeena’s family recipe for cheese blintzes on Jewish...
05.07.2021
The Pies That Bind Them with Shifra Cornfeld
After Israeli writer Shifra Cornfeld left the Orthodox community she was raised in, she didn’t always see eye to eye with her father. But one thing that brings them together is pecan pie — if they can find the perfect...
04.23.2021
Yearning for Zion with Restaurateur Beejhy Barhany
As a young child, Beejhy Barhany left her village in Ethiopia and traveled for three years to reach Israel. But, as she grew up, the Promised Land wasn’t quite as she imagined it. Today in New York City, she’s created...
04.09.2021
“This Is the Way We Do It” with Baker Uri Scheft
Acclaimed Israeli baker Uri Scheft grew up in two worlds: a very proper Danish home, that just happened to be located in Israel. Here, there was a particular way to do everything — and it did not include becoming a...
03.26.2021
The Great Matzo Ball Mix-up with Hariette Skidelsky
Hariette Skidelsky’s Romanian grandmother added more water to the soup pot to stretch her recipe everytime she had a new child. As the next generations prospered, the soup grew robust — filled with chicken, vegetables, and matzo balls. That was,...
03.19.2021
Jake Cohen’s Very Blended Passover Seder
When cookbook author Jake Cohen started dating the nicest Jewish boy in 2015, he learned that Seder with his future-in-laws looked totally different than anything he ever imagined. Turns out, there was a lot more on the table than the...
12.22.2020
Season Finale with Gil Hovav + Einat Admony
For Gil’s candied pomelo recipe + Einat’s holiday recipes head to Jewish Food Society's digital recipe archive.
12.08.2020
Midnight Latkes with Liz Neumark
Twenty years ago, Liz Neumark was a mother to four kids under 10 and was just getting her catering company off the ground. One night, the two youngest pleaded with her to abandon bedtime and make latkes. Liz couldn’t resist....
11.13.2020
Liz Alpern: A Gefilte Fish Out of Water
When Liz Alpern arrived at business school, she didn’t exactly fit in. She rocked a carefully styled lesbian haircut, smelled of onions, and professed a deep passion for her gefilte fish company. At her big presentation, she was met with...
10.23.2020
Umber Ahmad’s Superpower
Growing up in Michigan, Umber Ahmad’s family stood out. Immigrants from Pakistan, they were living “1000 Arabian Nights,” she jokes. When Umber brought friends over for playdates, she dreamed there would be Little Debbie Snack Cakes. Her mom had other...
10.06.2020
From MCATs to Katz’s Deli with Jake Dell
Jake Dell, the owner of Katz’s Deli on the Lower East Side, comes from a long legacy of deli owners. So, naturally, he planned to be a doctor. A gap year spent living in his grandfather’s footsteps and a moment...
09.24.2020
Adam Richman Finds Bagels and His Way Home
“Man v. Food” host Adam Richman grew up as a not so typical Jewish kid in Brooklyn. He downed Carribean food, got deep into The Smiths, and rocked a bi-level haircut. Yet, every Yom Kippur, he followed the ritual of...
09.14.2020
A Very Texan Rosh Hashanah with Zoe Kanan
Acclaimed baker Zoe Kanan’s grandmother Helen was an unlikely Texan. A born-and-bred New Yorker, she moved to Houston to be near her daughter and granddaughter — and Jim, not the son-in-law she expected. One year, with a sprained wrist, Helen was...
08.24.2020
Introducing Schmaltzy

What's Schmaltzy about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Schmaltzy episodes:

Truth Seeking is Ilana Glazer’s Favorite Part of Being Jewish

Mother Knows Best with Ophira Eisenberg

How a Puppeteer Made Recess Therapy's Julian Shapiro-Barnum's Dad Cool

For Molly Yeh, Home Smells Like Chicken Soup

A Schmaltzy Love Story with Mosheh Oinounou & Alexandra Sall

Marc Azoulay Has Friends in Unexpected Places

We’re Still Waiting for a Shabbat Invite From Nicole Enayati

Ari Shapiro is No Stranger to Hosting a Dinner Party

Jewish Style is in Vogue with Liana Satenstein

Love, Art & Pastrami Sandwiches with Jerry Saltz, Josh Gondelman & Alyssa Shelasky

Laurence Jossel's Matzo Ball Journey

Mike Solomonov Can Host a Seder Anywhere

Latke Love for Kwanzaa with Joshua Silverstein

Alison Roman Finally Got Invited to a Bar Mitzvah

How Idan Chabasov Became “The Challah Prince”

Koshersoul with Michael W. Twitty

The Passport Dilemma with Hillary Reinsberg

Maira Kalman’s Grandmother Married the Wrong Man

Nancy Spielberg Finds Her (Milky) Way

Susan Alexandra is Her Grandmother’s “American Dream”

The Golden Arches with Robby Hoffman

Stepping Up to the Seder with Emily Schultz

Season Finale: All Tied Up with Peter Hoffman

Life, Death and Coffee with Joshua David Stein

There Was Cheese Parked in Adeena Sussman’s Garage

The Pies That Bind Them with Shifra Cornfeld

Yearning for Zion with Restaurateur Beejhy Barhany

“This Is the Way We Do It” with Baker Uri Scheft

The Great Matzo Ball Mix-up with Hariette Skidelsky

Jake Cohen’s Very Blended Passover Seder

Season Finale with Gil Hovav + Einat Admony

Midnight Latkes with Liz Neumark

Liz Alpern: A Gefilte Fish Out of Water

Umber Ahmad’s Superpower

From MCATs to Katz’s Deli with Jake Dell

Adam Richman Finds Bagels and His Way Home

A Very Texan Rosh Hashanah with Zoe Kanan

Introducing Schmaltzy