Laurel Herman, at The Blogs

Sep 10, 2024, 5:16 AM

Anti Semitic Fatigue, is Real. A Recipe and a Prayer for Coping

Anti Semitic Fatigue is real. I am beginning to believe this is a real mental health crisis. Last week was awful, many of us cried and continue to grieve with the families of the hostages and all of Israel....

Jul 30, 2024, 6:09 AM

An Open Letter to the Presidential Candidates. I Am Voting as a Proud Zionist

My mothers ( Of blessed memory ) Star of David. Photo by Laurel Herman

Dear Presidential Candidate, This time I am voting as a proud Zionist. I think you need to read this, but probably won’t. Like many other Jewish Americans, October 7 th changed everything. In a conversation with one of my cousins,...

May 31, 2024, 12:01 AM

A Special Thank You to Our Online Heroes Fighting Antisemitism

I have heard and seen some heart wrenching posts from Jewish online creators who are exhausted from the antisemitic hate they get. One could say it comes with the territory. I think they already took that into consideration when...

May 16, 2024, 4:28 PM

Featured Post

When the going gets antisemitic, the tough make soup

The antisemites who were hiding in plain sight are no longer hiding. And I am left wondering how anyone who loves food could be so hateful

May 1, 2024, 7:21 AM

Notes from the Alternate Universe

I feel like I'm living in an alternate universe. I'm sure many of us do. It is over six months now from October 7th. This is just my account of what this feels like. I can only speak for...

Jan 6, 2024, 11:08 PM

In Praise of Jewish Mothers, A Tribute to Jewish Mothers Everywhere

We have been called many things, overbearing, overprotective, even nosy. We are often the subject of jokes, but always lovingly told, because if you know, you know. If someone plays My Yiddisha Mamala, I will be bawling my eyes...

Jan 2, 2024, 10:57 PM

The Best Ever Chicken Curry, A Delicious Distraction

The Best Ever Chicken Curry Photo by Laurel Hermn

I would say when the going gets tough, find some of your favorite people to cook and eat with. More on that at the bottom of this post. This was a collaboration between friends, an organized chaos of well...

Nov 22, 2023, 7:02 PM

Black and White Cookies, a Culinary Metaphor for Antisemitism

Gluten free Black and White cookies photo credit Laurel Herman

"The very first thing I saw this morning was a quote from Elie Weisel. "We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." Food as Metaphor I have always seen...

Nov 15, 2023, 7:10 PM

Your Prayers Are Not Small, Demons Don’t Go Quietly, A Conversation

I had posted my first" who would hide us?' Two people answered. I was surprised at who it was. I am an observed person, I make a lot of observations, but really I am mostly observed. You never know...

Oct 27, 2023, 5:41 AM

Tips for Dealing with Non Jewish Friends American Edition

What ever to do? .. I have some strategies that might help. Read on. Firstly thank you to anyone who has read my last post, especially those who commented. I am most grateful for your feedback. I am a keen...

About Me

Laurel Herman is a retired Chef Instructor, Culinary Storyteller, and Culinary Medicine practitioner, residing in Richmond, Virginia. A classically trained chef in the European style( Thames Valley University, London, U.K. and The Institute for Integrative Nutrition). Laurel's passion is bringing people together through food goes back to growing up in a home which welcomed everyone. She has taught at various venues throughout the Richmond area. Now retired, but never from the love of food, active on Instagram Laurel also loves doing her podcast Chai talk with Laurel on Spotify. Her books, The Blissed Out Chef was published in 2015 and the Inner Kitchen, Balboa press in 2011.

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