Pomegranate, a leading gourmet kosher supermarket in Brooklyn, is hosting Levana Kirschenbaum today as part of its “Meet The Celebrity Chefs” series, which features in-store demonstrations by upscale kosher chefs, cookbook authors and caterers. Levana Kirschenbaum, co-owner of Levana Restaurant, teaches weekly kosher cooking at Lincoln Square Synagogue on the Upper West Side of New York, and has published three kosher cookbooks, including “Levana Cooks Dairy Free” and “Levana’s Table: Kosher Cooking for Everyone.” She has also launched a new line of spelt, all-natural desserts available at select retail grocers. You can find out more about her classes, cookbooks and products at www.levanacooks.com.Abraham Banda, owner of Pomegranate, said the launch of the series “was consistent with the store’s presentation of kosher as an upscale, natural, fresh experience.” He added, “What distinguishes our kosher supermarket from any other is the presentation of foods that use all-natural ingredients, are prepared daily, and make creative use of foods to satisfy today’s sophisticated palate.”
The 20,000-square-foot store first opened its doors 10 months ago, touting the widest assortment of kosher gourmet and homemade kosher foods. The wide beautiful aisles, unique fare, top quality and hard-to-find kosher items attract customers from all over the tri-state area and beyond. The Gourmet Retailer will be profiling the store in an upcoming Web exclusive.
Here are some of Kirschenbaum’s recipes, courtesy of Pomegranate. For more information, visit www.levanacooks.com:
Chilled Avocado Cucumber Soup
4 cups unflavored soy milk
¼ cup fresh lemon or lime juice
4 ripe avocados, peeled and halved
4 ribs celery, peeled
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded if you don’t like it too hot
1 large seedless cucumber, peeled
1 large bunch dill
1 medium purple onion, quartered
Salt and pepper to taste
Mix the soy milk with the lemon juice in a bowl and set aside for just a minute or two. The mixture will curdle.
In a blender or food processor, mix all ingredients, in batches if necessary. Chill. Try your best to serve on the same day. If you intend to serve it the next day, store it with the avocado pits.
Quick Chalvah
1½ cups tehina
1½ cups toasted wheat germ and honey (Kretchmer brand: Supermarket. Cereal section)
1½ cups grated coconut, packed
1 cup toasted sesame seeds (10 minutes in a preheated 300 degree oven)
1 cup sugar or sucanat (unprocessed unrefined sugar)
Good pinch salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Mix all ingredients by hand. Press into a small loaf pan and refrigerate until firm. Or shape into small balls or logs, and refrigerate just a few minutes till firm.
{GourmetRetailer/Noam Amdurski-Matzav.com Newscenter}
