Nothing compares to fall in New England. While we lived there, we were able to experience the explosive fall colors that painted the landscape from Massachusetts to Maine. In New England, they take Thanksgiving pretty seriously. After all, it is where it all began. The holiday feast dates back to November 1621, when the newly…
When the popular Gonzo Falafel and Hummus food cart closed, customers missed its shawarma fries. Israeli-born chef Tal Caspi used to operate Gonzo outside of a brewery, but as so often happens in the food-cart world, he was forced to move. After a brief and unsuccessful relocation, Tal decided to focus his energy on new…
Open since 2005, Nostrana is one of Portland’s most beloved Italian restaurants. On any given day, the large, airy dining room is packed to the gills; it’s impossible to get a same-day reservation. Young people flock to the late-night happy hour, large parties celebrate birthdays and couples share wood-fired, thin-crust pizzas. When asked why Nostrana…
When I became engaged, I made the decision to convert to Judaism. I attended weekly meetings with our rabbi for several months, leading up to my conversion ceremony when I officially became a Jew. However, it wasn’t until a trip to Israel a year later that I made the decision to become a b’nai mitzvah….
As a columnist, my deadline runs about a month before this magazine goes to print. As I begin to pen this article about the warm days of summer, I am sitting in front of my computer wearing a fleecy sweatshirt and sweat pants with a comfy blanket wrapped around my legs. It’s a damp and…
For many years, Chef Jenn Louis has been known for her handmade pasta and flavorful New American cuisine. But a recent trip to Israel left her so spellbound that she did a culinary 180. Jenn explains, “There’s this one restaurant I went to just outside of the Old City in Jerusalem. We sat down, and…
Physical activity has always been an important part of my life. Over the years I have benefited from everything from aerobics to Zumba. As I get older, I realize how valuable regular exercise is to my overall well-being. Along with making me physically stronger, it helps me mentally by reducing stress and promoting a more…
Noah Bernstein first became enamored of bagels as a child in Burlington, VT. The chewy, round breads were often part of his Jewish family’s meals. “I have a bagel-eating background, I guess,” he says with a laugh. “I grew up eating them. In Burlington there was, and still is, a handful of really great bagel…
I love entertaining, therefore the task of having a large group to share a Passover seder is never a daunting one. Whenever we entertain, my husband pleads with me to “just keep it simple.” He tells me that it’s perfectly fine that everything isn’t made from scratch, and I don’t need to serve several courses…
Poke, which might be considered Hawaii’s take on ceviche, has long been a staple on Hawaiian restaurant menus in Portland. Noho’s Hawaiian Café, Ohana Hawaiian Café and the Woodstock location of Ate-oh-Ate all offer different versions of this delicious dish. But until recently, there were no Portland restaurants solely devoted to poke. Now we have…
