Join POLIN Museum online this Chanukah, and taste the 8 flavors of Chanukah. Included in this special holiday series will be videos from Warsaw and New York, blogs, and delicious recipe inspirations.
What makes the holiday season so special for people around the world? For many it is the special foods that are eaten at this time of the year, and the people that you get to be with. So for this Chanukah, we’re focusing on 8 recipes that have Polish roots and are enjoyed around the world. Which means one ‘foodie’ inspired post for each day of Chanukah! Take a look at the schedule below, and plan on joining us each day.
29 November (Monday): Onion-Braised Beef Brisket >>
Brisket is one of most traditional savvy dishes enjoyed during holiday times, and really whenever it sounds good to have. For the first day of the 8 Flavors of Chanukah series, we’re starting off the week with a sought after recipe for brisket from Washington, D.C. based chef and cookbook author, Jenn Segal.
Jenn Segal is a classically trained chef, stay at home mom, cookbook author, and creator of "Once upon a Chef" blog. She shares a myriad of recipes that are enjoyed by people all over the world via the internet.
30 November (Tuesday): Kugel >>
Kugel is one of the most popular dishes to serve during Shabbat or Jewish holidays, Chanukah included, and there are so many varieties to choose from. We’ll focus on a recipe that is savory, and could be a favorite of your family. Food blogger, Vered Guttman of ‘Vered's Israeli Cooking’ shares a delightful recipe for a Galician potato and yeast dough kugel, and talks about its Polish roots.
Vered Guttman is an Israeli chef and food writer living in Washington, D.C. Her columns on Israeli and Jewish food appeared in Haaretz for since 2011. Vered’s writing was also published in the Washington Post, Slate, Moment Magazine and others.
1 December (Wednesday): Pączki/Sufganiyot/Doughnuts >>
Join Mary Seidler as she heads over to the Warsaw JCC for “A Very Warsaw Chanukah” to talk about: Pączki/Sufganiyot/Doughnuts. We’ll learn the history behind this legendary Chanukah staple, as well as learn how Chanukah is celebrated in Warsaw. This video will be released (in English) on Friends of POLIN and YouTube at 3:00 PM CET.
Mary Seidler, is the social media manager for POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews. She also coordinates the international version of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Campaign put on by POLIN Museum on April the 19th. She’s a traveller, foodie, musician and singer who has lived in Warsaw for couple of years.
2 December (Thursday): Braised Short Ribs >>
We share a fantastic short ribs recipe by Jewish food blogger and cookbook writer, Amy Kritzer of, “‘What Jew Wanna Eat.’ Take a step onto the untraditional side of life, and try Amy’s recipe that is sure to be a crowd pleaser. This recipe is sure to become a new family staple during the holidays.
Amy Kritzer is the creator of the blog, “What Jew Wanna Eat!” It is a source for home cooked and kosher meals. She is also a cookbook writer, and owner
3 December (Friday): Latke >>
When you think of Chanukah and food, what is the main thing that comes to mind? LATKE. Join Mary and Marysia in the POLIN kitchen for a quick cooking session on how to make the best and tastiest latke. This video will be released (in English) on Friends of POLIN and YouTube at 3:00 PM CET.
Mary Seidler, a traveler and a foodie living in Warsaw, working together with her friend Marysia, are sharing sharing their favorite Polish Jewish recipes.
4 December (Saturday): Roasted Chicken >>
Helen Nash of ‘Kitchenwise’ has a spectacular and easy to make roasted chicken recipe that we would like to share with you.
Helen Nash is the author of three beloved, classic kosher cookbooks – Kosher Cuisine, Helen Nash’s Kosher Kitchen, and most recently the 2012 Helen Nash’s New Kosher Cuisine: Healthy, Simple, and Stylish. Born in Krakow, Poland, Helen has lived for over 65 years in New York City where she has perfected her kosher culinary art.
5 December (Sunday): Rugelach >>
You haven’t had rugelach, until you’ve tried rugelach with orange and cranberry flavors. Beth Lee of ‘OMG! Yummy’ shares a new twist on an old favorite, and the backstory of why she created this recipe.
Beth Lee from San Jose, California, originally worked in Silicon Valley. However, in 2010, she realized she’d rather talk about pita chips than memory chips. Eventually her online blog, “OMG Yummy!” came into being.
6 December (Monday): Matzo Ball Soup >>
Join Liz Alpern, cookbook writer and co-owner of the Gefilteria in New York City as she takes us into her kitchen to share how to make the best matzo balls and matzo ball soup. This video will be released (in English) on Friends of POLIN and YouTube at 3:00 PM CET.
Liz Alpern is the co-owner of The Gefilteria, a culinary venture that reimagines Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine, and co-author of The Gefilte Manifesto: New Recipes for Old World Jewish Foods (Flatiron 2016). Her career in food is driven by her passion for bringing people together. She now works in Brooklyn and around the globe as a writer, cook and educator.
