Rhapsody in Schmaltz

Bagels, deli sandwiches and gefilte fish are only a few of the Jewish foods to have crossed into American culture and onto American plates.Rhapsody in Schmaltztraces the history and social impact of the cuisine that Yiddish-speaking Jews from Central and Eastern Europe brought to the U.S. and that their American descendants developed and refined. The book looks at how and where these dishes came to be, how they varied from region to region, the role they played in Jewish...
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Bagels, deli sandwiches and gefilte fish are only a few of the Jewish foods to have crossed into American culture and onto American plates.Rhapsody in Schmaltztraces the history and social impact of the cuisine that Yiddish-speaking Jews from Central and Eastern Europe brought to the U.S. and that their American descendants developed and refined. The book looks at how and where these dishes came to be, how they varied from region to region, the role they played in Jewish culture in Europe, and the role that they play in Jewish and more general American culture and foodways today.

Rhapsody in Schmaltztraces the pathways of Jewish food from the Bible and Talmud, to Eastern Europe, to its popular landing pads in North America today. With an eye for detail and a healthy dose of humor, Michael Wex also examines how these impact modern culture, from temple to television. He looks at Diane Keaton's pastrami sandwich inAnnie Hall, Andy Kaufman's stint as Latke onTaxi and Larry David's Passover seder onCurb Your Enthusiasm, shedding light on how Jewish food permeates our modern imaginations.

Rhapsody in Schmaltzis a journey into the sociology, humor, history, and traditions of food and Judaism.