My entree to Italian food started in the Mile End district of Montreal in the 1960s, when I took my first bite of pizza. From there, I have never looked back.
I love the courage shown here in stepping away from religious and cultural expectations and embracing freedom. I also love that this was done through pizza! I agree with your summary on separation and segregation. We will never find a common ground if we hold tightly to outdated laws and practices. I hope you get your wish and taste authentic Italian pizza soon,
My mom’s side of the family was orthodox and observant. My great grandmother was one of the sweetest people who ever lived. She came to North America at the age of 15 from Ukraine in 1905 after the pogroms of the October Manifestos, so poor she only had rags on her feet. They first went to Quebec then into the PNW. Widowed young, with 3 children, she was an amazing cook and did a lot of work for the restaurants in Portland, Oregon. Because she kept Kosher, she did the restaurant cooking in her downstairs kitchen, separate from her family kosher kitchen upstairs. She lived a hardworking life, a simple life, a loving life.I still remember her beautiful cast iron wood burning stove which was always warm. She was quite superstitious and would bury any utensils that crossed the milk/meat barrier. In the backyard of her house, a metal detector would probably still go off in the 21st century. The generations go by, her love for us something I treasure as a projection into the future as much as a foundation for my own self sense of worth. But it’s a relief not to follow the dietary codes or the more codified beliefs. I love making pizza.
Yes, thank you for your comment. I agree and find meaning and purpose via the natural world and doing good. There are still observant Jews who bury utensils in their yards; it is supposed to be for a year. But I expect most forget about it.
Nice that your parents stood up to religious authoritarianism, and I guess that also signalled a greater sense of freedom for yourself growing up. Weaving in to the 'food story' thoughts about separation, and its significant impacts, was tasty combination. "Divide-and-Rule" can be found even in the kitchen cupboard. Thanks again for posting. Cheers, Josh.
Yes, that is a good way of putting it: "Divide-and-Rule." That and a large helping of fear goes into the recipe. Sorry, I couldn't resist adding to the kitchen metaphor.
I grew up in San Antonio in the 60s and 70s, and until about 1972 there was no real pizza to be found. Oh, there was Domino's, but I always thought the sausage looked like mice droppings.
Then a New York Italian opened up Dante's Pizza at the corner of West Avenue and Blanco Road, just a mile or so from my high school. The drinking age was 18 then, so pizza and beer became possible. And not just them. The place had a Pong table, the first video game for the outrageously high price of a quarter.
I've loved pizza ever since, and now live in Pizza Paradise, aka northeastern Ohio. Chicago and New York ain't got nothing on this place when it comes to pizza.
You are right. There is good pizza to be found everywhere across America, Canada, Italy and probably most of Europe. Pizza has become international since the 1960s.
I follow a Keto diet so I use my incisors to eat meat. I don’t have a problem with that because once I was very low on B-12 once and meat regenerated that resource. The diet was God sent for my brother who suffered greatly from epilepsy. I felt so much better when my deficiency improved. I love pizza, it’s my fav food and eat it about once a month. crust is an enemy to a keto dieter Lol!
It is the fat in the diet which works. You use fat as your energy source instead of carbohydrates. My uncle who is a colonel in the army found out about this diet in the 50s. And my mother who is a nurse put my brother on it and it really helped him over the years. It wasn’t called the keto diet until very recently.
Bonjour.I have D’amores pizza in L.A. , thin crust, not doughy with grilled veggies and mushrooms. No meat but do add crushed red pepper flakes and parmigiana cheese. 1964 I stayed at st Laurentian Hotel took tour of the city. Love to return again.
I like your point Perry about how "Food is an entrance-way to understanding." Good on your mother for helping you and your family open and walk through that door. I hope to try Lafayette's sometime on my next visit to Montreal. I looked up their menu on their website and the Quatre Fromages sounds excellent!
The connection to food and culture as a way of understanding people fascinates me. On the surface level, the food seems like, well-just food. But just below the surface, reveals so much more.
One person that really opened my own understanding to this concept was Anthony Bourdain. His trips around the world and video essays/documentaries are still some of my favourite discussions on this topic. RIP Anthony wherever you are.
Yes, Anthony Bourdain was an important person in my life who brought understanding of various food cultures into the mainstream. I too was saddened by his death.
I love the courage shown here in stepping away from religious and cultural expectations and embracing freedom. I also love that this was done through pizza! I agree with your summary on separation and segregation. We will never find a common ground if we hold tightly to outdated laws and practices. I hope you get your wish and taste authentic Italian pizza soon,
Thank you; I hope to visit Italy in the next few years.
My mom’s side of the family was orthodox and observant. My great grandmother was one of the sweetest people who ever lived. She came to North America at the age of 15 from Ukraine in 1905 after the pogroms of the October Manifestos, so poor she only had rags on her feet. They first went to Quebec then into the PNW. Widowed young, with 3 children, she was an amazing cook and did a lot of work for the restaurants in Portland, Oregon. Because she kept Kosher, she did the restaurant cooking in her downstairs kitchen, separate from her family kosher kitchen upstairs. She lived a hardworking life, a simple life, a loving life.I still remember her beautiful cast iron wood burning stove which was always warm. She was quite superstitious and would bury any utensils that crossed the milk/meat barrier. In the backyard of her house, a metal detector would probably still go off in the 21st century. The generations go by, her love for us something I treasure as a projection into the future as much as a foundation for my own self sense of worth. But it’s a relief not to follow the dietary codes or the more codified beliefs. I love making pizza.
Yes, thank you for your comment. I agree and find meaning and purpose via the natural world and doing good. There are still observant Jews who bury utensils in their yards; it is supposed to be for a year. But I expect most forget about it.
Thanks for the restack @Heidi Zawelevsky.
Nice that your parents stood up to religious authoritarianism, and I guess that also signalled a greater sense of freedom for yourself growing up. Weaving in to the 'food story' thoughts about separation, and its significant impacts, was tasty combination. "Divide-and-Rule" can be found even in the kitchen cupboard. Thanks again for posting. Cheers, Josh.
Yes, that is a good way of putting it: "Divide-and-Rule." That and a large helping of fear goes into the recipe. Sorry, I couldn't resist adding to the kitchen metaphor.
I grew up in San Antonio in the 60s and 70s, and until about 1972 there was no real pizza to be found. Oh, there was Domino's, but I always thought the sausage looked like mice droppings.
Then a New York Italian opened up Dante's Pizza at the corner of West Avenue and Blanco Road, just a mile or so from my high school. The drinking age was 18 then, so pizza and beer became possible. And not just them. The place had a Pong table, the first video game for the outrageously high price of a quarter.
I've loved pizza ever since, and now live in Pizza Paradise, aka northeastern Ohio. Chicago and New York ain't got nothing on this place when it comes to pizza.
You are right. There is good pizza to be found everywhere across America, Canada, Italy and probably most of Europe. Pizza has become international since the 1960s.
Thanks for restacking, @Joyce.
Thanks for restacking, @The Rewind.
I follow a Keto diet so I use my incisors to eat meat. I don’t have a problem with that because once I was very low on B-12 once and meat regenerated that resource. The diet was God sent for my brother who suffered greatly from epilepsy. I felt so much better when my deficiency improved. I love pizza, it’s my fav food and eat it about once a month. crust is an enemy to a keto dieter Lol!
My wife, who is a nurse, says many people diagnosed with epilepsy had improved health with a keto diet. We also eat homemade pizza once a month.
It is the fat in the diet which works. You use fat as your energy source instead of carbohydrates. My uncle who is a colonel in the army found out about this diet in the 50s. And my mother who is a nurse put my brother on it and it really helped him over the years. It wasn’t called the keto diet until very recently.
Bonjour.I have D’amores pizza in L.A. , thin crust, not doughy with grilled veggies and mushrooms. No meat but do add crushed red pepper flakes and parmigiana cheese. 1964 I stayed at st Laurentian Hotel took tour of the city. Love to return again.
Bonjour Richard,
D'amores pizza sounds wonderful. Yes, do return for a visit. The city has grown but still retains its charm
I like your point Perry about how "Food is an entrance-way to understanding." Good on your mother for helping you and your family open and walk through that door. I hope to try Lafayette's sometime on my next visit to Montreal. I looked up their menu on their website and the Quatre Fromages sounds excellent!
The connection to food and culture as a way of understanding people fascinates me. On the surface level, the food seems like, well-just food. But just below the surface, reveals so much more.
One person that really opened my own understanding to this concept was Anthony Bourdain. His trips around the world and video essays/documentaries are still some of my favourite discussions on this topic. RIP Anthony wherever you are.
Yes, Anthony Bourdain was an important person in my life who brought understanding of various food cultures into the mainstream. I too was saddened by his death.
Yum!