Schmaltzy

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 our archive at jewishfoodosociety.org.

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.

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 dad Jules who always asked: “Can I make a suggestion?”

Peter’s family recipes can be found on the Jewish Food Society digital archive here.

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.

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 Food Society’s digital archive.

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 one.

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 her own Zion at Tsion Cafe.

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 baker...

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, until Hariette tried to make it.

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 food. Cook Jake’s recipe for ghormeh sabzi brisket from the episode on Jewish Food Society’s digital archive.