Taste Buds With Deb

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with Sonya Sanford, author of  "Braids: Recipes From My Pacific Northwest Jewish Kitchen." The child of Ukrainian immigrants, Sanford grew up in Seattle and is the first born American in her family. She is a chef, writer, and podcast host, and has been studying cuisine in the diaspora for more than 15 years. "Jewish food differs i...

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with award-winning culinary historian, food writer and chef Michael W. Twitty. Twitty is the author of Koshersoul: The Faith and Food Journey of an African American Jew , which received the 2023 National Jewish Book Award.  "I've grown up with …African diaspora foodways from the Caribbean, Latin America and foodways from African i...

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with poet Jehanne Dubrow ( JehanneDubrow.com ), author of  "Taste: A Book of Small Bites." Dubrow, professor of creative writing at the University of North Texas, has also written nine poetry collections and a non-fiction book, called "throughsmoke: an essay in notes," about how she came to fall in love with the sense of smell.  "...

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with Amy Steinhaus Kirwin and Rebecca Edana, hosts of "Two Jews Making Food" on ChaiFlicks. Amy and Rebecca love to cook, eat and share their joy of cooking with others! During the half-hour episodes, the duo shares recipes for food and drink, based on their weekly theme; they also have a loved one Zoom in to share the Yiddish Les...

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with Judy Elbaum, founder of Leave it to Bubbe.  A food columnist and author of "Judy Elbaum's Seasonal Delights," Elbaum shares her cooking origin story, along with other food memories and lots of cooking tips. She also talks about her mother's amazing chicken soup and the recipe for Colombian "Penicillin" that is another family...

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with Noah Bleich, founder and artistic director of The TeaBook. The company, founded in 2015, offers organic, kosher teas with punny names and custom art to go with it, as well as a literal "TeaBook" organizer.  Bleich shares his love of tea and the power of PositiviTEA, as well as what goes into these unique creations. He also ta...

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with Dianne Jacob, author of Will Write for Food: The Complete Guide to Writing Cookbooks, Blogs, Reviews, Memoir, and More , now in its fourth edition.  Jacob, who also co-authored two cookbooks: Grilled Pizzas and Piadinas and The United States of Pizza , teaches and coaches food writers.   "If you are trying to write recipes, y...

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with Michaele Weissman, author of The Rye Bread Marriage, as well as other books and hundreds of articles. Rye bread is a beloved foodstuff with a rich history. To author Michaele Weissman, it's so much more.  "What do you do if you're a writer, married to a guy who was born in Latvia, is obsessed with Latvian rye bread and stays...

Food volunteering is a beautiful way to bring people together. It brings joy to the participants, as well as the recipients.  On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with Chaya and Yossi Segelman, founders of Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles (OBKLA). At OBKLA volunteers come together for 2-hour sessions, where they prep, cook, and package meals for Angelenos in need.  The Se...

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with Lisa Brown, illustrator of Lemony Snicket's  The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming: A Christmas Story .  The beloved title, first released in 2007 and now back in print, is about an angry latke, who jumps out of a pan of hot oil and runs away. On his journey, the misunderstood potato pancake encounters various symbols of Chri...

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with Pam Stein, founder of In Pam's Kitchen.  When Hampton Water Wine Co., co-founded by father-son team Jesse Bongiovi and Jon Bon Jovi, started offering virtual Happy Half Hours during the pandemic, it inspired Stein to start cooking and baking with wine. She created a strawberry rosé cookie and sent it to the company; Jesse Bon...

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with CW Silverberg, host of "Schmoozing & Cruising," airing on ChaiFlicks.com . The half-hour show explores innovative kosher food experiences across the U.S. and features a different theme week from BBQ and pizza to donuts and Chinese food. Silverberg, who grew up kosher in a non-kosher neighborhood, talks about his backstory, al...

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with baker, chef, and recipe developer Sivan Kobi, founder of Sivan's Kitchen. Kobi's mission is to bring the simplicity and joy of cooking into people's homes. Kobi's parents owned bakeries and a deli in Los Angeles (her mom's side is Iraqi, her father's is Ashkenazi), and her husband's family had a kosher Israeli restaurant, so...

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with dietitian and nutritionist Ilana Muhlstein ( IlanaMuhlstein.com ). "Don't underestimate the power of a new recipe," says the author of "You Can Drop It," as well as the new cookbook, "Love The Food That Loves You Back."  Muhlstein, whose weight loss program is called the 2B Mindset, talks about her battle with childhood obesi...

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with Israeli-American celebrity chef and restaurant owner Alon Shaya. A two-time James Beard Foundation Award winner, Shaya is chef-partner at Pomegranate Hospitality  and author of Shaya: An Odyssey of Food, My Journey Back to Israel . Shaya discusses his cooking origin story, the power of food to connect, and his work rescuing/r...

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with chef Susan Feniger and filmmaker Liz Lachman. Feniger is a chef, restaurateur, and the subject of the documentary "Susan Feniger: Forked," produced and directed by her life partner, Lachman.  Feniger talks about her culinary background, the evolution of food in media and her role as a trailblazer - along with Mary Sue Millike...

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with actor, writer and humorist Annie Korzen, author of The Book of Annie: Humor, Heart, and Chutzpah from an Accidental Influencer .   Korzen, who turns 85 in November, talks about how she found an unexpected audience on TikTok, her advice for living life, and so much more. She also shares some of her favorite foods, as well as h...

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with Mitch Albom, author of "Tuesdays with Morrie." His latest novel, "The Little Liar," comes out in November.   A journalist, broadcaster, and author of numerous fiction and non-fiction books, Albom spends most of his time on philanthropic endeavors. He operates the Have Faith Haiti orphanage in Port au Prince and also runs SAY...

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with Dana Shrager of  DanasTable.com . Shrager, who specializes in Jewish holiday recipes and healthy-ish dinners, shares why she started developing recipes - and how she modernizes them. She also talks about her Jewish Cooking Facebook Group, her love of Jewish Italian food and her modern Tzimmes recipe. Get the recipe at JewishJ...

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with Mandylicious founder Mandy Silverman, a challah therapist and coach. Silverman talks about her challah journey, the secret to making good challah and how to stuff it with sweet and savory options. She also shares her recipe for Cookies & Cream Challah. Get the recipe at JewishJournal.com/podcasts. For more from Taste Buds, fo...

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with food writer and cookbook author June Hersh, "Iconic New York Jewish Food." Hersh discusses her foodie origins, the connection between recipes and history and her favorite iconic Jewish food: the kosher hot dog. She also shares recipes for onion rings and refrigerator pickles. Get the recipes at JewishJournal.com/podcasts. For...

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe Bernhard, Executive Director of the Jewish Initiative For Animals (JIFA). JIFA's mission is to help align people's food choices with their stated Jewish values. Bernhard shares his food journey, tips for eating and cooking a plant-based diet, and his thoughts on the essential role of food. He also shares...

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with Sephardic Spice Girls Sharon Gomperts & Rachel Emquies Sheff. The duo, who write a weekly column for the Jewish Journal, have been cooking and teaching together for years. Gromperts and Sheff talk about their backgrounds - Gromperts is Iraqi and Sheff is from Moracco - and what it means to be a Sephardic Spice Girl. They also...

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with travel writer Lisa Niver, author of "Brave-ish: One Breakup, Six Continents, and Feeling Fearless After Fifty." Niver talks about her food adventures, offers travel tips and more. She also shares her favorite foods to take on the road … and on the plane, including her recipe for  Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins . Get the recipe...

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with Doug Weinstein, owner aka steward of Diamond Bakery in Los Angeles. Weinstein shares the history of the Jewish-style bakery, the connection between families and baking (he calls it "L'Dor v'Dough"), and his own culinary journey. He also offers tips - and recipes - for baking challah and making rugelach. Get the recipes at Jew...