Tam Tam vs. Tum Tum: A tale of two feuding Canadian matzah bakeries
What company comes to mind when I say matzah? Chances are you thought of Manischewitz. Since its founding by Rabbi Dov Ber Manischewitz in Cincinnati in 1888, the Manischewitz brand has become nearly synonymous with Passover, dominating the matzah market. This was certainly true 75 years ago, when in 1948 the company made a big […]
The secret behind the ‘Challnuts’ made by Leah and Moshe Appel of My Way Bikery—the only kosher bakery on Vancouver Island
British Columbia’s lieutenant-governor didn’t mention anything about kosher food when she made a speech from the throne in February 2023 to outline government priorities for the year ahead. But, later that day, members of the province’s Jewish community made a point of presenting a box of kosher pastries known as “Challnuts” to Premier David Eby. […]
The only city where you can still find a Grodzinski family member still running Britain’s most historic kosher bakery is Toronto
England’s Jewish community marked the end of an era in September. Grodzinski, the storied kosher bakery founded in 1888, was sold—which meant, for the first time in 134 years, a member of the namesake family would no longer be at the helm of the original business. Now, the only place where the family is still […]
Montreal and New York bagels faced off in a friendly match at Canada’s newest Jewish museum
Right off the top, those crowded into the Museum of Jewish Montreal’s (MJM) funky new digs in Mile End were put on notice that they were there for “a celebration not a competition.” A Tale of Two Bagels: Tasting Montreal and New York’s Best was touted as a friendly consideration of the merits of each […]
A journalist in Winnipeg investigates how that city’s rye bread became the best in North America
What makes the Manitoba formula so special?
The Saucy Soprano: Melina Schein’s ride from being a singer stuck in lockdown to cashing in with her Jewish cooking skills
“Melina, working on a rose water and cardamom whipped cream…, ” announces Noah Cappe, doing the play-by-play for Wall of Bakers. The host of the Food Network Canada show was watching Melina Schein of Vernon, B.C., compete as one of the four contestants in the inaugural episode. While this amateur baker was whisking the soft […]
Four questions about the quirky Canadian affection for Passover Coke
Jeff Dobro pushed his empty grocery cart toward the very back of a Toronto-area Metro supermarket in March, looking for a two-litre object that only appears once a year. The businessman had actually been calling around to stores in his area for weeks beforehand, hoping to secure sufficient supply of his favourite soft drink. “I […]
After two years of seders on Zoom, it’s time to serve brisket to a crowd
After two years of Zoom seders, my siblings and I are gearing up to celebrate Passover in person. Most of our children have partners and there are grandchildren now so we will be a sizeable group at the seder. I will spend a couple of days making two very large pots of chicken soup. It’s […]
The traditional Hanukkah doughnut has become an over-the-top treat. Just ask the Kosher King
The classic Hanukkah sufganiyah—a fried doughnut filled with strawberry or raspberry jam and sprinkled with powdered sugar—has been transformed into an over-the-top dessert with a seemingly infinite number of fillings and toppings. Kosher bakeries across Toronto are offering all kinds of sufganiyot from sweet to savoury, including some filled with deli meat, said Shlomo Assayag, […]
Flavorbomb, celebrity chef Bob Blumer’s latest book, is filled with tips and hacks for home cooks
Bob Blumer, whose latest cookbook Flavorbomb: A Rogue Guide to Making Everything Taste Better was up for two food writing awards this year, is one of Canada’s first celebrity chefs who launched his career from a trailer dubbed the “Toastermobile.” Flavorbomb garnered a nomination from Gourmand International and won the gold medal for best general […]
