All posts tagged: #culture

Winner of Gourmand Cookbook Peace Award

Published by Ruth Nieman

The 24th Gourmand World Cookbook Awards will take place from 3rd – 7th July 2019 in Macao in conjunction with the Beijing International Book Fair, with the focus of this year’s fair being Gastronomy. Macao is part of the UNESCO world network of creativity in Gastronomy, encouraging collaboration and peace universally through food. At this year’s awards, The Galilean Kitchen a cookbook with a difference encompasses the diversity of cultural flavours and culinary influences from the Arabic communities of rural Galilee. Authored by Jewish food writer Ruth Nieman, her cookbook takes the reader on a journey from the land to the plate, through generations of recipes and stories of local, modest Druze, Christian, Muslim and Bedouin women, whose religious beliefs, eclectic tastes and passion for cooking is showcased through their delicious creations. Through the cultural inclusiveness of Ruth’s writing and unique flavours of these communities homely dishes, The Galilean Kitchen caught the attention of the judges in the category of Culinary Tourism, winning not only the prize for Israel, but also being awarded a special …

The Galilean Kitchen Launch & Signing

Published by Ruth Nieman

On Saturday 10th March 2018, Ruth Nieman author of recently published The Galilean Kitchen, will be in Waterstones, Enfield promoting and signing first edition copies of her beautiful cookbook. Full of cultural flavours from the Arabic communities of Northern Israel, together with personal stories from the local women whose recipes have been handed down through the generations, these recipes from an untapped Middle Eastern region are now available, for you to cook in your kitchens. Mouth-watering treats from The Galilean Kitchen, including spiced biscuits known as Malateet, will be available to taste on the day, before trying to cook these delicious morsels for yourself. With stunning photographs on each page and Mother’s Day fast approaching, this is an original and interesting present for any mum who not only loves to cook but also read about the culinary cultures of Druze, Muslims, Christians and Bedouins in this bountiful region. Visit Waterstones, Enfield on Saturday 10th March & take a look inside The Galilean Kitchen …

great reviews so far …

Published by Ruth Nieman

Published just over a month ago by Flavoured Books, The Galilean Kitchen is already being well received online, through articles and book reviews in The Jerusalem Post and Hadassah magazine. The focus of each article is on the cultural flavours that ooze out of the kitchens where Ruth Nieman, author of the cookbook, spent a year gleaning how to replicate these Arabic dishes, using authentic spice blends and fresh, seasonal, local produce. “There are no cookbooks in these kitchens” Ruth tells both interviewers, “all the recipes are handed down through the generations and by adding a touch more za’atar, a pinch of baharat or an extra clove of garlic or two, the recipe becomes each cooks own”. Ruth then painstakingly deciphered the ‘handfuls’ into cups, grams or tablespoons and puts pen to paper, allowing the reader to create these delicious Middle Eastern recipes from the Druze, Muslim, Christian and Bedouin communities, in the comfort of their own kitchen. Red Magazine has now published on line Amira’s Cauliflower Sinye from the cookbook as part of ‘Veganuary’ with social media feeds, trending about …

Chicken, Potato & Garlic Soup from The Galilean Kitchen

Published by Ruth Nieman

Warm up this winter with a hearty chicken, potato and garlic soup, from The Galilean Kitchen. This fragrant soup, laced with medicinal spices and deep flavours of garlic and lemon juice, is a firm favourite from Nawal’s kitchen, where ‘shorba’ the Arabic name for soup is easy to make and deliciously satisfying to eat on a cold day. Nawal’s Shorba (chicken, potato & garlic soup) for basic broth 2 chicken breasts, chopped into large cubes 1 piece of ginger, peeled & sliced 3 –4 bayleaves 1 teaspoon ground cardamom 11/2 litres cold water 1 teaspoon salt for chicken, potato & garlic soup 2 large potatoes, peeled & cubed 6 garlic cloves, minced or crushed 3 lemons, juiced 11/2 tablespoons flour, mixed with 250mls water 1/2 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon baharat 1 teaspoon black pepper place the chicken cubes, ginger, bayleaves, cardamom, salt & water in a saucepan & boil for 20-30 minutes to create flavour add the potato cubes, lower the heat & simmer for a further 15 minutes mix the flour & water into a paste …

The Galilean Kitchen … a cookbook with a difference

Published by Ruth Nieman

This time last year, the groves of the Galilee began their annual production of organic olive oil and I started writing this beautiful cookbook, The Galilean Kitchen. It has been a year in the making (involving lots of writing and LOTS of tasting) and it is with great excitement, I am proud to announce, that it is now ready to bring you the best of this lush region’s dishes, full of cultural flavours. A cookbook with a difference, The Galilean Kitchen is full of recipes for family meals, using Middle Eastern staples, vegetables and spices, with each page containing tips and easy to find ingredients to cook these dishes in your own kitchen. It tells the stories of the women who have parted with their family recipes, as well as the regions seasonal produce. First edition copies are now available to order here, and you can look forward to cooking from an untapped cuisine that is waiting to be unleashed into every kitchen and at the same time read about the culinary cultures of the …

The Galilean Kitchen…..a cookbook in the making

Published by Ruth Nieman

Within the rural region of the Galilee, home to a diverse ethnic population, culture and flavours mingle together in the local kitchens where traditional dishes are cooked. Through the eyes and palates of home cooks, The Galilean Kitchen will immerse you in authentic cooking from a social, cultural and culinary perspective, allowing you to re-create the delicious flavours in your own kitchens. Inspired by my love of Middle Eastern food and the beautiful Galilee of Northern Israel, I am writing a book that enters into the untapped area of Druze villages, surrounded by olive and citrus groves and where with local seasonal produce alone, Sinye, Hubeza & F’tir are prepared from recipes that have been passed through the generations. Coupled with the stories of the local home cooks, their heritage and passion for food, The Galilean Kitchen will be a cookbook with a difference and one to look out for, when it reaches the shelves at the end of the year…. As part of the social element of this project, a crowdfunding campaign has been set up to raise funds for producing, publishing …

dedicated to the humble chickpea….

Published by Ruth Nieman

May 13th is marked on the calendar as International Hummous Day, a whole day dedicated to the humble chickpea. A popular dip throughout Israel and the Middle East, hummous has recently been elevated to becoming one of Israel’s ‘national foods’, appearing on menus in restaurants and cafe’s throughout the country. Chickpeas are legumes and rich in nutrients. They are considered to be a popular source of vitamins and minerals in the diet of both vegetarians and vegans. It popularity follows the dietary laws of Kashrut and therefore hummous can be eaten with both meat and milk meals. Hummous is directly translated from the Arabic meaning ‘chickpeas’ a staple ingredient in Middle Eastern cuisine dating back to ancient times, although widely used in stews and tagines, rather than as a cold dip. Hummous in it’s simplest form is made from cooked, mashed chickpeas and combined with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, crushed garlic and salt, however, many combinations of spices can be added for extra flavour with cumin, coriander or smoked paprika being the most popular and garnishes including whole chickpeas, pinenuts, flat leaf parsley or paprika. Other versions include using …

it’s a wonderful, culinary world out there…..

Published by Ruth Nieman

I have two passions in life….food and Israel….but not necessarily in that order… Israel Good Food Guide is my way of combining my enthusiasm for both and giving you a taste of the eclectic cuisine of Israel, through news, reviews and delicious pictures of plates of art. With tips on where to buy and eat wonderful produce, both on and off the beaten track, great recipes to try and recommendations for experiencing the coffee culture, culinary tours and workshops, you will see for yourself how exciting the food of Israel really is. I will introduce you to great restaurants as well as the inspirational chefs and creators of exquisite food, so join me in meeting the ‘foodies’ of this wonderful, diverse culinary world.

food culture in the galilee…..

Published by Ruth Nieman

Israel has an eclectic population with diverse cultures; however food is a culture that can be experienced by all. Israel’s northern region is a beautiful mountainous range, separated and known as the upper and lower Galilee. A lush land full of food that has matured from small beginnings into the fruit bearing trees, vines, wild herbs and edible flowers synonymous with the area and grown, foraged and picked by the locals for its freshness, taste and nutritional value. A world apart from the culinary capital of Tel Aviv where highly acclaimed chefs produce gourmet food as works of art on the plate, the food from the north is rustic, homely and cooked straight from the ground. Galileat, the brainchild of an Australian chef, Paul Nirens, who moved to the north of Israel over 30 years ago. Paul trained in one of Israel’s leading culinary schools before managing commercial kitchens in a competitive profession. Whilst selling locally crafted gourmet foods, he found an opportunity in the untapped market of intercultural activities in the Galilee, through food. …

the ethos is simply….ice cream

Published by Ruth Nieman

Ice cream, common throughout all cultures, is being heralded as the new language, with the sound of a lick… “Buza” a luxurious ice cream parlour in the Western Galil is the venture of Adam Ziv, a Jewish kibbutznik from Sasa and Alaa Sawitat, an Arab Muslim from Ma’alot Tarshiha. Taken from the Arabic word ‘meaning ice cream, this new shop opened in Tarshiha shuk last July and although attracts a mixed clientele, they are all only interested in the homemade new flavours of ice cream on sale that day. During a gap year in Europe and Africa, Ziv apprenticed at gelaterias in Italy, with the aim of returning to Israel to set up his own store. Seeking the advice of his old family friend Sawitat, an experienced restauranteur in Tarshiha, they decided to join forces and open Buza, a partnership that allows Ziv to create the ice cream and leaves Sawitat to run the business. They currently have four ice cream outlets, as well as running a workshop on Kibbutz Sasa, teaching the art of making this sublime creamy dessert. …