Taste Buds With Deb

Jewish Journal
  • 5.0 (6)
  • FOOD
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Taste Buds With Deb

Hosted by Debra Eckerling, Taste Buds with Deb features bite-sized conversations about food, cooking, and community. Guests range from chefs and foodies to leaders, innovators, and authors. Jam-packed with anecdotes, recipes, and tips, Taste Buds with Deb is pure comfort food. Distributed by the Jewish Journal Network.

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    Mad Scientist Cooking, Family Food Cultures & Latkes with Joshua Silverstein

    On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with Joshua Silverstein, an award-winning actor, comic, writer, allergy-culture advocate and food lover.    Silverstein’s creativity clearly lends itself well to the kitchen, especially since he needs to work around his many allergies.    “My relationship with food has been challenging, it's been exciting, it's led to a lot of interesting stories,” he explains. The executive director of Cazadero performing arts camp, he is also a staple writer-performer at The Braid Jewish Theater Company. Silverstein’s The Braid’s shows include “True Colors,” “What A Surprise” and the upcoming “Hold Me, Heal Me,” as well as a solo show.    “Because I'm a father with a multicultural family that leaves room for a lot of experimentation [especially since] my children also have allergies,” he says.   Silverstein explains how he gets to be a “mad scientist” in the kitchen. Combine the mindset of exploration with being inclusive.    “The kitchen should be a place of play and fun, and that's a privilege,” he believes. “Keep trying new things [and] keep being curious about what's on the other side of people's palates.”   Joshua Silverstein talks about his upbringing, creativity in the kitchen, and how everything his family eats is a community project. He also shares about his grandmother’s latke recipe, which you can get at JewishJournal.com/podcasts. There are also shout outs to Natasha Feldman, NoshwithTash.com,  author of “The Dinner Party Project.”   Learn more at JoshuaSilverstein.com and CazFamilyCamp.org. For more from Taste Buds, subscribe on iTunes and YouTube, and follow @TheDEBMethod on social media.

    26 min

  2. FEB 12

    French-Kosher Cuisine, Comfort Food & Heart-Shaped Ravioli with Chef Olivia Ostrow

    On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with chef Olivia Ostrow of Miami's Ostrow Brasserie. Her restaurant is the only kosher-French restaurant in the United States.    As a French person and a chef, Ostrow’s love language is food. “This is how we express ourselves,” she says.   Ostrow - who was born in Paris, moved to the States with her family in the 1990s, and spent time in Israel - grew up surrounded by a love and knowledge of food.    While she has helmed both kosher and non-kosher restaurants throughout her career, a few years ago, Ostrow decided it was time to go back to kosher. It turned out that the owner of the building happened to be Jewish and religious, so they decided to become partners.   “It was faith and fate,” she explains. Ostrow Brasserie opened in August 2023.    Most people do not associate kosher with French food, and there’s a reason: It's difficult. Not only is French cuisine butter based, everything needs to be made from scratch in order to actually execute a dish. There are so many kosher laws, besides not mixing milk and meat.   Also, French is usually associated with fancy. However, Ostrow calls her cuisine “fine comfort food.”   “The reason people outside of France don't associate it with [comfort food] is because they're not French,” she says. For Ostrow, beef bourguignon - a stew of short rib and braised with wine - was made from leftovers of the meat of the week. She would eat in front of the TV with mashed potatoes or pasta.   Olivia Ostrow talks about her restaurant and love-of-food background, along with kosher-French cooking and comfort food. And, since Ostrow’s restaurant’s Valentine's Day menu is inspired by the most romantic cities in the world - Paris, Venice, Rome and Kyoto - she also shares her recipe for Heart-Shaped Raviolo (ravioli), which you can get at JewishJournal.com/podcasts.    When you celebrate love, it “should be said in every language and in as many ways as possible,” Ostrow says.   Learn more at OstrowBrasserie.com and follow @OstrowBrasserie on Instagram.   For more from Taste Buds, subscribe on iTunes and YouTube, and follow @TheDEBMethod on social media.

    23 min

  3. FEB 5

    Food Forward, Sharing Abundance & Stuffed Cabbage with Rick Nahmias

    On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with Rick Nahmias, founder and CEO of Food Forward. The nonprofit recovers surplus produce that would go to waste and distributes it to agencies who feed the hungry.   “We're the Robin Hoods of produce,” Nahmias explains. “We recover it, we refrigerate it, and then we redistribute it.”    While Food Forward is based in Los Angeles, their work reaches the entire Southwest. It launched in 2009. Nahmias, who walked his dog around his neighborhood in San Fernando Valley, says that as his dog got older, the walks got slower, and he started to notice all this fruit on trees that was going to waste.   “Maybe a few went to someone's office or the family that had the tree, but for the most part, it was going to squirrels, rats and under car wheels,” he says. Nahmias organized volunteers to harvest the fruit and donated the first few harvests to SOVA.   “They took the produce and said, ‘Great, when's the next delivery?’” Nahmias recalls.    By the end of that first year they rescued and distributed 100,000 pounds of hand picked produce. By the second year, they rescued 250,000 pounds. Today, they move more than 250,000 pounds on a slow day.   What started by rescuing food from local fruit trees has turned into a bounty of abundance. Agencies get produce to give to those who are food insecure; volunteers get to participate in meaningful community service; farmers have less waste, which helps the environment. It’s the ultimate win-win-win situation.    Rick Nahmias talks about Food Forward and its evolution, the joy of sharing abundance, and his grandmother’s stuffed cabbage recipe, which you can get at JewishJournal.com/podcasts.     “I don't talk about a glass half-full or a glass half-empty,” Nahmias said. “When I talk about Food Forward, I come at it from a glass overflowing.”   Learn more at FoodForward.org. For more from Taste Buds, subscribe on iTunes and YouTube, and follow @TheDEBMethod on social media.

    28 min

  4. JAN 29

    Grocery Shopping, Eating Whole Foods & Quinoa Salad with Chef Elizabeth Mehditach

    On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with Chef Elizabeth Mehditach, whose mission is to unite people through food. With a specialty in the fusion of California, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern cuisine, Mehditach is all for eating healthy, as long as you remember that it’s okay to make exceptions.   “If you have a cheat day, just get back on [the wagon],” Mehditach says. “And the next meal you have, make it a healthy one.”    Studies show that most people ditch their New Year’s resolutions by the end of January. Regardless of the time of year, there are certain things you can do to incorporate healthier foods into your routine. One of the best ways to do that is alter your grocery shopping habits. Stay on the outer rims of the supermarket, buy whole foods - items in their natural state with nothing added to it - and try to avoid processed foods.    “A tomato off the vine with a little salt and olive oil [is] a great snack,” she expalins. “We've convinced our palates that just raw tomato doesn't taste as good as a potato chip.”   Mehditach talks about her background and what the Mediterranean lifestyle means. She also shares tips for shopping and eating healthy, along with her recipe for quinoa salad, which you can find at JewishJournal.com/podcasts.    “It's all about those textures and hitting those different notes of salty, savory and sweet, crunchy and smooth, cool and hot,” she says. “That keeps your tongue, your mouth, and your brain entertained; you think you're eating something exciting that's actually really good for you too.”    Learn more at LizaMichelleLifestyle.com and follow @Chef.Leza on Instagram. For more from Taste Buds, subscribe on iTunes and YouTube, and follow @TheDEBMethod on social media.

    19 min

  5. JAN 22

    Rebuilding, Community & World Central Kitchen with Daniel Shemtob

    On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with chef and restaurateur Daniel Shemtob, whose home burned down in the Palisades fire. He is also one of many local chefs teaming with José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen (WCK) to feed those displaced by the fires and first responders.   'It’s been crazy, dealing with the consequences of losing your home, losing all your stuff, dealing with insurance, finding a new place to live and [having] a pregnant wife who is stressed out,” Shemtob says. “[I’m also] a business owner, [wanting] to give back to the community; I think that that's the necessary step in rebuilding.”   Shemtob is the all-star winner of Food Network’s “The Great Food Truck Race” with The Lime Truck, as well as the chef behind Downtown LA’s Hatch Yakitori, co-founder of Snibbs footwear company and author of “Food Truck Mogul.”    Four days after evacuating from the Palisades fire, Shemtob returned to his food truck, where he was greeted by Tyler Florence, host of “The Great Food Truck Race.”   “Tyler's kind of the people's chef,” says Shemtob, who worked with Florences on the line, serving 500 people in 90 minutes that first day. “We were serving delicious food … and I just felt that good energy of taking care of others; that felt really nice.”     Because of WCK and the chef corp, setting up around Los Angeles, people are getting nourishment, but also engaging, talking and commiserating.    “We're laughing and we're crying; it's all the things that you go through when you go through a shared tragedy with others,” he says.    Daniel Shemtob shares his experience with the fires and how he was able to bounce back. He also talks about the role of food in healing, the good work World Central Kitchen and the chef’s core is doing, and how people can help those impacted.    “If you have the capital, donate; if you have the time, volunteer, and if you don't have either of those, just send a nice message to someone affected by the fires,” Shemtob says. “I have [received] so many messages… it's so nice to know that so many people are thinking about me or I'm in their thoughts and prayers; it feels like a warm hug, even from afar.”   For those who want to learn more - whether you need help, want to help or both - follow @wckitchen and @damiel.shemtob on Instagram. You can also email daniel@danielshemtob.com. Read more about Shemtob and WCK at JewishJournal.com/podcasts.   For more from Taste Buds, subscribe on iTunes and YouTube, and follow @TheDEBMethod on social media.

    20 min

  6. JAN 15

    Hippy Pilgrim Helpline, Cooking in Crisis & Brisket with Suzy Sapir

    On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with Suzy Sapir, founder of the Hippy Pilgrim Helpline. Every night, between 4 pm and 6pm PT, Sapir, who also owns the Hippy Pilgrim gourmet seasoning company, takes calls on her private cell: 781-291-0264. People around the world ask her cooking questions or just call to chat.    Los Angeles, where Deb and the Jewish Journal are based, is currently dealing with the wildfires, evacuations, and the resulting trauma. Organizations, restaurants, and individuals in the LA community have been great about offering meals to those displaced by the fires. However, sometimes people want that normal feeling of cooking, whether they are at a hotel, an AirBNB or sharing a space with others.   “Nothing tastes so good as that first meal that you make in that crisis or in that moment,” Sapir says. “It fosters true appreciation for the family meal … breaking bread together.”    Crisis cooking requires some creativity. However, the kitchen basics - you want a can opener, strainer, and compact, countertop electronic devices, like a crock pot, air fryer, rice cooker, and teapot - are relatively easy.   The next step is to be strategic about what food to buy.   You want small quantities that are portable, along with shelf stable foods. This includes freeze dried powdered milk, canned protein (meats, tuna) and vegetables, dried fruit and little pouches of rice, noodles and instant mashed potatoes. If you want fresh produce, get whole foods, such as potatoes, carrots, apples, bananas and/or oranges. Anything with a peel or coating will stay fresh for an extended period of time.   “You're going to curate a time-efficient, space-efficient pantry in whatever space that you're in,” she advises.    To compose a meal, start with the starch and decide what protein to put with it. Then decide what sauce would bring the ingredients into a meal. Be sure to add vegetables and fruit to finish things off.    In moments of trauma, it comes down to self care. And the best way to take care of yourself is to eat.   Suzy Sapir gives recommendations for tools and small appliances, along with tips for shopping and cooking, in crisis. She also shares her recipe for brisket, which you can easily make in a crock pot wherever you are. Get the recipe at JewishJournal.com.   Learn more about Suzy Sapir at HippyPilgrim.com and follow @HippyPilgrim on Facebook and @hippypilgrimgarlicsalt on Instagram. For personalized answers to any kitchen or food related questions, the Hippy Pilgrim Helpline is open daily from 4 to 6 pm PT: 781-291-0264. For more from Taste Buds, subscribe on iTunes and YouTube, and follow @TheDEBMethod on social media.

    34 min

  7. JAN 8

    Modern Metal, An Entertaining-Friendly Home & Kugel with Annie Kantor

    On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with Annie Kantor, owner of Modern Metal, about decorating with entertaining in mind. The key is to create a beautiful space that exudes warmth and encourages conversation..    “I don't really have doors on the whole main floor of our house because … I wanted to encourage socialization,” Kantor explains. “And we designed [the kitchen] in a way so that people could really gather, because everybody ends up in there anyway.”   She adds, “One of the first things I bought when we started our remodel was a [10-foot long] antique table … it embodies everything I want when I think of entertaining [with] a design element.”   You also want to add touches that reflect your personality; it’s what makes your house feel like a home.   For instance, on the wall of photos in Kantor’s foyer, she does not display the best, frame-worthy pictures; she selects the ones that highlight memories.   “One of the pictures is a photo of my [two] daughters’ feet, wearing these Roman sandals,” she says. “Our whole family knows, when we see it, it captured a moment on a family trip to Rome [where] my girls had a massive, three-day fight over Roman sandals.”    Annie Kantor talks about the origin of her love of entertaining and how redesigning her home led to her business: Modern Metal. She also shares ways to add personal touches to your home and gatherings, along with her friend Anne Schmitz’s kugel recipe, which you can find at JewishJournal.com/podcasts.   Learn more about Annie Kantor at ModMetalDesigns.com. For more from Taste Buds, subscribe on iTunes and YouTube, and follow @TheDEBMethod on social media.

    18 min

  8. JAN 1

    The Chocolate Project, Bean-to-Bar & Dark Chocolate Truffles with Ruth Kennison

    On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with chocolatier and chocolate educator Ruth Kennison of The Chocolate Project.   Honey represents a sweet Jewish New Year! Why not kick off the calendar year by indulging in chocolate. Just make sure it’s the good kind.   “When you're using really good chocolate, it just elevates everything,” explains Kennison, who turned a life-long love of chocolate into her fourth career.    “I thought I'd never had any artistic bone in my body; I was an organizer and a production assistant and all sorts of things,” she says. “And I realized, this form of art combines food, chocolate, and art.”   After her pastry certification and the decision to focus on chocolate, Kennison took a trip to Paris, which led to an origin trip to Mexico. There, Kennison met farmers, saw cacao trees and learned how chocolate was processed from bean to bar.    “Chocolate comes from a fruit [that] grows only 10 to 20 degrees above and below the equator … so it grows in West Africa, Asia, Central America, South America and Mexico,” she explains. “When you open it, [the] white stuff is fruit and it tastes like lychee, and then inside of it are the little cocoa beans that need to be fermented to be made into chocolate.”   The craft chocolate and bean-to-bar movement have made good chocolate more accessible than ever.    “Bean-to-bar makers [are] roasting the beans very low and slow, so you're getting the pure natural flavors of the bean, similar to wine,” she says. “And when that batch of cacao goes away, you'll never have that exact bar again.”   Once you have quality chocolate, there are plenty of things you can make. Kennison likes to use all parts of the cacao, which includes the cocoa nibs. For instance, Kennison loves vanilla soft serve ice cream with homemade caramel sauce, cocoa nibs, and sea salt. She also makes double chocolate chip cookies, and dark chocolate truffles, which you can adapt by adding different flavors.    “It can be a coffee chocolate truffle by steeping coffee in your cream,” she explains. “I just made a London fog truffle with Earl gray and vanilla.”   Ruth Kennison talks about her chocolate-centric career journey, the Jewish-chocolate connection, and the basics of the bean-to-bar movement. She also shares tips on how to identify quality chocolate, as well as some of her favorite chocolate recipes, including dark chocolate truffles, which you can find at JewishJournal.com/podcasts.   Go to Chocolate-project.com to learn more about Ruth Kennison and her in-person and virtual chocolate classes and events, including ones at The Gourmandise School in Santa Monica. Follow @ChocProject on Instagram and Facebook.    For more from Taste Buds, subscribe on iTunes and YouTube, and follow @TheDEBMethod on social media.

    25 min
See All (96)

Trailer

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Hosted by Debra Eckerling, Taste Buds with Deb features bite-sized conversations about food, cooking, and community. Guests range from chefs and foodies to leaders, innovators, and authors. Jam-packed with anecdotes, recipes, and tips, Taste Buds with Deb is pure comfort food. Distributed by the Jewish Journal Network.

Information

  • Creator
    Jewish Journal
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    96
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jewish Journal
  • Show Website
    Taste Buds With Deb

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada