Comments on: Don’t you ever call me names, stupid!

By: Lévana

Lévana — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 12:51:25 +0000

Ha! Only smells, from longer ago than we care to remember. Of course this cook is not surprised. We never forget the smell of the foods we love!

By: Brianna Lovenbury

Brianna Lovenbury — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 12:15:22 +0000

Thank you so much, this was very interesting. I was actually born in Madrid ( not telling when though!) but moved around various parts of europe and lastly settled in England when I was 7. I dont remember an awful lot of the few years I was in spain, but the delicious smell of spanish food always seems to get me going or something. Funny, how I dont remember anything except the smells,isn't it! I actually found a website dedicated to spanish recipes, which gave me great delight and thought I ought to share. Anyway, thank you again. I'll get my son to add your website to my rss app...

By: Lévana

Lévana — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 03:00:14 +0000

I absolutely agree with you: I couldn’t make a move without help with the larger meals: I keep the smae helpers years, and we have the best dealings, so putting up with the mistakes is unavoidable, and as you saw in my story, they can say the exact same for us, their employers: We’re no angels either!

By: Linda Essner

Linda Essner — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 02:53:23 +0000

It is always difficult when you have someone helping you in the kitchen Not only is there a language and cultural divide, the person CANNOT read your mind.
But we must always be mindful that we could not be able to do all that we do in the kitchen for Yom Tov without the help of these ladies. So all of us must first and foremost be grateful that we have the help and we must be able to “suck up” their mistakes, because their help is greater than their errors.
Enjoy the rest of the Yom Tov.

By: Lévana

Lévana — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 19:14:52 +0000

Hi Lynda, of course you can be Jewish without my help, but it just wouldn’t be as fun or as delicious!
Lost my gravy, and my temper, big time, but I’m making it (the dish!) again next week, sans fiasco! PS: isn’t it just too bad you live so far away from us? I would be so delighted if you could join us at some shabbos or yomtov meals: any chance? Love, Bonne et heureuse annee! Levana

By: Lynda

Lynda — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 18:55:36 +0000

Dear Levana,

Wow! Your fabulous recipes and kitchen skills are exceeded by your insightful and open sharing in the story you relate in “behind the kitchen scenes”.

Thank you so much for all that you teach.

I thought of you often during Rosh Hashanah – I am grateful to you for helping me learn how to master the holidays and feed my family and friends. I have not told you enough, and I want you to know that I do not see how I could be Jewish without your help.

Thank you, Levana.

Love,

Lower East Side Lynda

PS – We had leftover open faced Levana sweet and sour brisket sandwiches for dinner last night – with lots of greaseless gravy, of course! Sorry you lost your gravy! I replace the 1 cup ketchup with 1/3 cup wine, 1/3 cup agave and 1/3 cup Coke – works great! I will probably make it again for Sukkot.