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World-renowned chef, best-selling author and Emmy-winning television personality Anthony Bourdain returns for the second season of CNN's showcase for coverage of food and travel. "Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown" is shot entirely on location and premieres September 15 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Follow the show on Twitter and Facebook. Bourdain's first stop: Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. Israel exists as an intersection of three major religions, Christianity, Judaism and Islam, creating a complex blend of cuisines. In the Season 2 premiere of "Parts Unknown," Anthony Bourdain visits Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip for the very first time. "The most contentious piece of real estate in the world," he calls it, citing its 4,000 years of intense political and religious conflict. In Jerusalem, Bourdain meets up with Yotam Ottolenghi, the chef and owner of Ottolenghi and Nopi restaurants in London, and co-author of the runaway best-selling cookbook, "Jerusalem." Ottolenghi, who is Jewish, wrote the book with Sami Tamimi, a Palestinian chef who grew up on the opposite side of the divided city. It doesn't take long for Bourdain to discover that even the roots of certain foods are fiercely debated. "There is actually no answer to this. But, the question of food appropriation or who owns the food is massive here. You can go on arguing about it forever," says Ottolenghi. Yet, Ottolenghi remains hopeful that "this soup of a city" can work together - starting at the table. Falafel 1 1/4 cups dried chickpeas Place the chickpeas in a large bowl and cover with cold water at least twice their volume. Set aside to soak overnight. The next day, drain the chickpeas well and combine them with the onion, garlic, parsley and cilantro. For the best results, use a meat grinder for the next part. Put the chickpea mixture once through the machine, set to its finest setting, then pass it through the machine for a second time. If you don't have a meat grinder, use a food processor. Blitz the mix in batches, pulsing each for 30 to 40 seconds, until it is finely chopped, but not mushy or pasty, and holds itself together. Once processed, add the spices, baking powder, 3/4 teaspoon salt, flour and water. Mix well by hand until smooth and uniform. Cover the mixture and leave it in the fridge for at least 1 hour, or until ready to use. Fill a deep, heavy-bottomed medium saucepan with enough oil to come 2 3/4 inches up the sides of the pan. Heat the oil to 350°F. With wet hands, press 1 tablespoon of the mixture in the palm of your hand to form a patty or a ball the size of a small walnut, about a scant 1 oz (you can also use a wet ice-cream scoop for this). Sprinkle the balls evenly with sesame seeds and deep-fry them in batches for 4 minutes, until well browned and cooked through. It is important they really dry out the inside, so make sure they get enough time in the oil. Drain in a colander lined with paper towels and serve at once. Related: Previously on Parts Unknown: |
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Dear Mr. Bourdain,
I can't tell you how happy I am to watch this episode of unknown parts. At first I was scared to watch it. I didn't want to watch one more show that shows the israelies to be the victims But you didn't have to decide who is the victim you just showed that through food we are all humans.
To some extent I envy you, you have been to Khan Younis while I haven't been able to visit it for the last 8 years. Lucky you!
Thank you for the great show.
Rihaf
Despite all of the arguing going on in the previous comments, I just wanted to say that I made the chicken and rice dish in the video at the end of this article and I must say, it was awesome! It was hard to find a consistent recipe online, since the video claims it's a traditional Palestinian dish, but google searches showed that the dish, despite being spelled SLIGHTLY different at times, appears in more than just the Palestinian culture/cuisine. The most common spelling is Maqloobeh. I scoured through many different variations of the dish and decided to use bits and pieces of each recipe. The final product was extremely tasty and overall a very simple recipe to make. I plan on making it, and my own variations of it, at least once a month going forward! =) Alohaz Everyone.
hummous and falafel are clearly NOT Jewish. They are dishes of the Arabic-speaking Levant. However, since the establishment of Israel – for better or for worse – this food is also eaten by Israeli Jews. To that end, I would agree that these dishes are "Israeli" in the same way that Chicken Tikka Masala is British. The food was adopted by the Israelis and they consider them staple dishes. It is also partially true that Jews of Levant-Arabic origin ate these foods but lest we not forget that these Jews were culturally Arab.
Thank you for showing the true face of Palestine. People just trying to survive. Children just hoping to grow into adults. The beautiful, hospitable Palestinians in Gaza, struggling to feed their families despite crippling inhumane sanctions imposed by Israel. Fishermen and farmers trying to fish and farm while knowing they might be shot at any moment. And in the rest of Palestine, students trying to get to school, families trying to get to the hospital. Trying to harvest their olives and vegetables. Just trying to live. This is Palestine. Israel: Please let these people go. End the occupation.
Yeah, especially when they blow themselves up in a schoolbus. Oh wait, I think the Palestinians did that one to Israeli Kindergartners.
End the occupation of my b u t t
I got to spend about a year in Israel and I have to admit it was a joy. Great food, great people, beautiful land, especially along the Mediterranean.
From skimming the comments section, I'd have to say the CNN editors got the title of this piece correct.
the hookah bar looks so disgusting among all the awesome food.
WAIT! What? You don't cook the chickpeas????
The "best" felafel that I had in Israel in June 2013 was at Moshiko on Ben Yehuda Street in Jerusalem. Of course, it is all a matter of taste.
Omg, YES!!!!!!!!!!! Moshiko in Jlem is soooo awesome, they do not have the best Shawarma, but the Felafels are sooo goood. And they give u one to snack on while you wait, because it ALWAYS crowded. Ahhhh i miss Jlem :-/
From a strictly anthropological point of view, how could the Israeli chef lay claim to the historic origin of falafel (and other so-called Israeli dishes)? How could a country that has existed for less than 100 years and is comprised of immigrants from many countries–predominantly European countries–have influenced an entire region where falafel, hummous, "Israeli" cousous and such have been prepared for hundreds of years? These dishes have been prepared for a very long time even in neighboring countries such as Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, etc. Please explain how immigrants from Poland, the Ukraine, Somalia, etc could possibly lay claim to the origins of such well-known Middle Eastern dishes? If so-and-so's Lebanese grandmother who is 95 years old who has learned how to make hummus, falafel, etc from her grandmother who learned to make them from her grandmother, how in the world could these possibly be Israeli in origin? Please explain how wide-spread dishes in the MIddle East that existed before the creation of the state of Israel could possibly be Israeli in origin?
Are you honestly surprised?
When Jews in North Africa and the Middle East were firced out of their homes and countries after 1948, they brought their cuisine with them. Couscous is of North African origin. Israeli salads are similar to those of Greece. Other cuisines have influences throughout the Middle East. Still, I suppose there are still Jews who stick to tradition foods of Eastern Europe.
Friend, when were Jews forced out of North Africa after 1948? My friend's father is a Moroccan Jew. Anyhow, "Israeli" couscous is not the same as North African couscous. It resembles tiny dumpling-like pasta beads made from wheat flour slightly smaller than peas. Couscous in North Africa is generally made from steamed semolina and is different in both taste and texture.
Easy, open the bible, Ruth 2:14 has a direct reference of a Jewish guy (Boaz) inviting a Canaanite woman (Ruth, King David's grandmother) for Hummus.
It's a regional food that has been in the region for millenias, which Jews driven out of Arab countries (my father's family was kicked out of Tunisia in the 50s) brought with them to Israel. It's as Jewish as it is Arab and it's as Canaanite as it is Aramite.
You really don't want an explanation, because it won't fit in with your preconceived ideas. Roughly 50% of Israel's Jews are those thrown out of arab countries,when the arabs ethnically cleansed their lands post '48. Of course there are also those that lived there continuously and survived the babylonians,romans and muslims.
Even with your logic, these Jews were not preparing the dishes because the dishes were Jewish (or Israeli). They were making the Hummus that was made in a the same manner by the Syrian Muslim, the Syrian Christians, the Syrian Druze, and every Syrian that lived in that region. Hence, Hummus is Middle Eastern dish and a stable of the Levant (Great Syria), and surely you are stretching the truth if you call that Israeli ...
On a separate note, the land got stolen by the Zionist, so would I feel disappointed now there are attempts to steal the culture!!! There was an ancient Kingdom of David and Solmon, and it was destroyed and Jews went in diaspora.
After that fall, the land exchanged hands between Muslims and Christians with Jews absent from the picture controlling or ruling that region until the Balfour Declaration that called for the establishment of a Jewish State in Palestine (that's right the same Palestine Israelis today deny its existence. – Google the Balfour Declaration)
since Jews have been in the area known as Israel for more than 2000 years and Islam was not invented until about a thousand years ago tell me how anything drawn up in 1948 is being referenced especially when talking about the local food?
FOOD BLOG! FOOD BLOG! FOOD BLOG!
Bryan, Islam was not "invented" as in some sort of man-made construct. It was revealed my friend. In fact, Islam had existed since the beginning but was concluded and completed with the revelations of the Prophet Muhammad. But my friend, you are free to believe whatever you want. Peace Be Upon You.
By your thinking, the American Indians can not have developed corn, squash, tomatoes, potatoes, etc. because the nations they ruled no longer exist. However, the fact is their ancestors did those things despite the fact there's no Inca, Aztec, etc. nation anymore.
In the same way, the Jewish and proto-Jewish people have been in the region for a few thousand years. There was a nation called Israel that was wiped out by around 700 B.C. To it's south, people of the same religious beliefs ruled Judah, with it's capital at Jerusalem. In fact, with the exception of periods of less than 100 years when Jews were driven out, Jerusalem has been predominantly Jewish for over 3000 years. We know from archeology that proto-Jews of 3500 years ago were predominantly hill people who extended their herds and people into the plains during rainy periods and pulled back into the hills in drought periods.
Around 1200 B.C. the Egyptians and Libyans defeated a group of tribes called the "Sea Peoples" who are thought to possibly have been of Greek culture or origin. The Pharaoh Merneptah settled one of these tribes, who the Egyptians called the "Peloset," in the southern part of what we now call the "Holy Land" where they would be a buffer between the Egyptians and the growing Hittite Empire to the North.
The "Peloset" had pottery, etc. that had Greek influence, but as time went on they blended into the Middle Eastern culture. By the time the Romans recorded their existence, the land of the "Peloset" had become "Palaestinia" and we now called them Palestinians.
There was much mixing of cultures. In fact, the Bible states that David, who became a king (an archeological stela mentioning the "House of David" has been found to prove it's historically true) was initially a mercenary who fought for a Palestinian king at one point. We know now from official, modern, Israeli archeology that the great Jerusalem of David and Solomon was a bunch of small buildings and totalled just several hundred people.
So, as the last 3000 years has passed, it's clear the both the future Jews and the future Palestinians would have shared in the development of modern foods.
Its interesting that you care so much...but since you do, if you would look up the history of Jerusalem, the jews were there long before muslims.
undoubtedly, however the canaanites were there before the jews. Can you say that they did not adopt their food as their own? can you say that the people who lived in the area before islam did not create the dishes they are arguing about?
To argue on this point in ridiculous and fits perfectly with the problem in the middle east...neither side is willing to stop pulling a "i'm better then you because". It makes both sides childish and dangerous at the same time because these children have nuclear and chemical weapons, while barely having the self control not to use them.
The middle east as it is needs to grow up, both sides of the same religious coin.
You lack a serious knowledge of the region. Modern day Israel may only be about a 100 years in the making, but Jews have lived in that land and through out the region for over 3000 years. You need to remember that there were thousands of Jews living in Israel (Palestine) during the Ottoman and even Roman reigns as well as before. Add to that that even in 1948 when many Arab nations expelled their Jewish populations in response to the creation of Israel that they expelled over 800,000 Jews, all native to the region. Does that answer your question?
Also, if you want to play your game, what possible influence could the Palestinians have seeing that officially they only became a people in the 1960s and the earliest record of Palestinians is in the 1950s?
and so have non jews for the same thousands of years. Hey tell you what since the jews feel they can go back thousands of years for their claim to the land...lets give it to the Canaanites that the jews stole it from.
Point is that nobody has a real claim to the foods of the area unless they can say...Joe schmoe made created this new food, yesterday at 10 am...etc. If you do not know then you cannot claim it, but they are too busy trying to be "better" then the other side, like children fighting over who hit who first. Does it matter when both are hitting each other? which will be the first to grow up and realize that one side must stop hitting first and hold to that?
You claim that Palestinians became about in the 1950s and 1960s is laughable considering my Great Grandparents and Grandparents where settled and living in the West Bank long before then.
Your claim that Palestinians became about in the 1950s and 1960s is laughable considering my Great Grandparents and Grandparents where settled and living in the West Bank long before then.
How could a country that has existed for less than 100 years
========
Israel has been sitting next to Egypt for 5000 years!!!
No it has not, only about 3000 years have the jews controled it. Do some research the city of jeruselum as been there about 5000 years , but it was not jewish until about 1000bce..thats about 3000 years ago. They conquered and stole the land from the Canaanites.
Just shows how little u know about IL. Askenazim (European decent) are a minority in Israel. Majority of Israelis are decendants of North African and Middleastern Jews. These are called Mizrachim...they have been making and eating felafels and such for HUNDREDS....if not thousands of years. I and Israeli, and personally, I couldnt care less who invented what. It taste good, so I eat it. Simple.
There is no such thing as Israeli food Deborah. It is all international cuisine. Claiming that hummus & falafel are Israelis is another hideous way of legitimizing the country. A self denial brainwashing Zionist propaganda that uses Judaism as a tool to legitimize the theft of other people country. I just wish i was the one who met anthony in jerusalem
Don't Israelis claim they invented just about everything?
From the title, I thought "Part Unknown" was referring to the mystery meat from high school.
Forgive me but when Anthony had to eat the warthog a–hole in Africa a couple of years ago I thought he was Mr. Zimmern.
Stop fighting and eat. Sex, good food and wine, that is the secret to peace.....Dump the religion and obey that instead...
We taught yu waz a Tode?!
No blend.
Continuous beating together causes individuality of the single ingredient to become Lost in Taste.
Maybe Netanyahu can negotiate an end to this contention.
It would be better if Israel was nuked and the radiation made it unlivable for the followers of any of those 3 idiotic religions.
Do me a favor and jump off a cliff.
And your alternative to these "3 idiotic religions" is...nuclear annihilation?
Time to take a pause for the cause, Atheist Boy.
funny i did not see him deny any gods or goddesses and espouse atheism. Instead he called three major religions ( the three that have cased more war and death then the rest combined) idiots. He is correct, and his solution does have some good points, although many bad ones too. In the end they simply would not go there, but they would go to the edge of the radiation and still do the same thing and still fight over the same religious ideas. Nuking the area would not stop the idiocy, merely change where they fight.
That's an interesting way to start the article. Israel "Exists" AS the intersection of 3 faiths? Am I reading that right? Is the author trying to forget the fact that Israel is the umm, Jewish state? And exists as a state for ethnic Jews the way Portugal, Spain, Britain or China fosters the existence of ethnic Portuguese, Spanish, British and Chinese?
Of course, Israel just like any other democracy has the obligation to defend the rights of its minorities; but it doesn't "exist" for this purpose. It's existence was not brought into being by Muslims or Christians, or for the sake of Muslims and Christians. They of course can live there and receive the same basic rights of all other citizens, but the fact of Israel's Jewishness should not be forgotten.
Somehow, I think that opening line wasn't an oversight, but a daydream of the author; if only Israel didn't exist for the reasons that Zionists created it. Perhaps, one day, there will no longer be ethnic pride – because that, of course, is the problem, and not pride itself i.e. pride in height, muscular build, looks, intelligence -etc – all that will go away and people will no longer fight after we get rid of ethnic pride.
silence goyim, the God Chosen Jewish People have a right to their own nation, the God given land of Israel, which right now is being occupied by the arab goyim. Obviously AIPAC is failing at their job of telling you what to think.
It's sad that people like you exist.
I'm non-Jewish. I speak purely from the vantage point of ethnicity, so why are you bringing up archaic religious models that only make sense to fundamentalists and uneducated racists (such as yourself)? I guess, it's habit, right? You haven't yet matured enough to discuss this subject without imagining that Jews in Israel believe they have a God given "right" to that land. If only you cared enough to read books and educate yourself. The vast majority of early zionists were either atheists or moderately religious. They believed the land was theirs because of their ancient identification with the land.
And oh yes, the invidious, unjustified political history should warrant a "here's a slice of your land back" from the powers that be.
You'd rather defend a state that already exists and forget about people whose country it occupies to exist. Bravo!
Might I just allude to Chairman Mao's quote, regarding the Golden Rule in his little red book which simply explains the issue, " He who has the gold makes the rules."
End of story
FOOD BLOG!
Well said Mike, I think you have the right of it. Whatever our hopes for the future, this is present reality.
Are women allowed in a hokkah bar or is it only for men?
You must not be a student of history if you think Israel was brought into existence by Jews. Great Britain took Palestine by force, and since they are under the Church of England, Israel was brought into existence by Christians, to repay Jewish support and "relieve" Europe of Jews.
Essentially Great Britain allowed European Jews to form their own ghetto overseas, like they had formed ghettos in European cities.
Congratulations on your knowledge RH for a historically factual letter. The foundations for the modern state of Israel was Winston Churchill's payback to the Jews after World War 1 for their financial support of Great Britain. This was a major reason for antisemitism in Germany. When Churchill had sailed to Palestine during the Cairo conference of 1921 with T.E.Lawrence they saw thousands of Arabs on the river bank and Churchill thought they were waving greetings to him. Lawrence, who spoke fluent Arabic corrected him and informed him that the masses wanted to kill him! Churchill wired the British Parliament that this Palestinian situation might not go as smoothly as we suspected. 93 years later his words ring true!
We might thank Arab intransigence for that.
Some Palestinian Arabs were ok with allowing Jews to establish a small state in the area (a table napkin sized one, according to Weizmann, would have sufficed). But the Husseinis – the ruling family in the area – were not ok with it. Haj Amin is infamously known to have colluded with Hitler so as to bring about his "final solution" in Palestine; modern day Arab anti-semitism is also largely the product of Husseinis efforts during the war as head of the Arabic language propaganda division.
If we were to return to the historical context in which Israel was created, it seems highly unreasonable to me that Arabs which shared essentially identical cultural, religious and linguistic features could be so averse to allowing Jews to recover part of their ancient homeland. Its not like Palestinians are actually "different"; it's only been post '48, that they have grown into a people with a common historical narrative. Their language/religion/culture is more or less identical to the Arabs of the greater levant i.e. Syrians, Jordanians, Lebanese. It's been a major propaganda victory of the Palestinians to create the perception that Palestinian identity is a cultural-linguistical fact, rather than an emergent property of the '48 war.
Now that Palestinians do exist, they're a reality Israeli Jews have to live with. But it takes two to tango; fundamentalism isn't a problem for Israel, but it IS a problem for the Arabs who live around Israel. When they learn to adopt modern sensibilities about coexistence for the sake of mutual prosperity, and forget the nonsense that Islam has inculcated in their senses i.e the various myths taught by hadiths etc which foster a highly isolationist and xenophobic attitude towards non-muslims, particularly Jews, than the region will be fine.
It'll happen eventually. The internet has been paving the way.
Unfortunately, I appear to be the only person whose commented who actually has done his homework on Israel.
Yes, the British opened up the possibility for Jewish migration: thank you Britain. They then reneged on their agreement when they created the transjordan and restricted Jewish migration with their white paper.
In fact, Israel wouldn't exist today if it weren't for the Haganah and other Jewish paramilitary forces that fought AGAINST the British towards the end of the 30s and the 40s. So much for your history lesson. Jews fighting created Israel. Britains complete non-action, and possible complicity in preventing Jews from escaping Hitlers greater reich during world war 2 also prevented them from stopping the Jews from handedly defeating the Arabs in the '47-'48 wars..
Mike,
Your ignorance is astounding.. and in chess speak.. here is why.
1, You say, " the British created the transjordan and restricted Jewish migration"!
Fact..The British did not create the Trans Jordan. It's mentioned in the old Hebrew Bible.. the British created a force to protect it against both Arab and Jewish incursions. Check!
2, You say "The British restricted Jewish migration with their white paper"!
Fact: Churchill's White Paper was written for the purpose of preventing both Jewish and Arab migration into each others territories so that they could develop their countries in peace. Check again!
3, Finally you say that "Israel wouldn't exist today if it weren't for the Haganah and other Jewish paramilitary forces"
Fact: Your speaking of the murderous Jewish Ergun who in their day made Al Quaida look like school kids"!
Google body count. King David Hotel..
I support the inception and survival of Israel. But their heavy handed tactics and settlement policy is astoundingly ignorant. The main reason for this is there is a mind set amongst many Jews (especially the Hasidic) and supporters like you that they have a divine right to do what they do. Now take a trip to the Negev,, and pound sand!
Check and Mate!
The White Paper you speak disparagingly of was written By Churchill for the protection of both Arabs and Jews so they would have separate identities.
2,
Your response is really too stupid to respond to but briefly,, Trans Jordan was not a British creation. It is mentioned in the old Hebrew Bible..Churchill had the White Paper drafted in an attempt to have Arabs and Jews live separately so they could develop their own countries.. and if you seriously believe that The Haganeh, (Ergun -google them and King David Hotel) and other terrorist groups created Israel then you are as blind and obstinate as the Hasidic. In fact you probably are Hasidic?
Mike, thank you for correcting some of the lamer ignorance on this blog, your account of history is accurate even if those who want to remain ignorant don't' like the truth.
Godwin's law.....
Why can't this simply be how modern Israeli's prepare a certain dish?
rh-
you're somewhat remiss on your history, Prior to WW 1, Palestine ( including present day Israel) was ruled by the Ottoman Empire. Subsequent to the war, the European powers divided the spoils ( oil lands). Palestine was an afterthought of no significance to anyone other than a small religion ( You know, the people who always prayed looking east for thousands of years). For several thousand years, that small religion always had thousands of their religious brothers living there. So please, don't use that nonsense of Israel being a recent entity, that nonsense just won't fly in 2013.
rh-
Superfluous and specious analysis.
Allowed? Get a grip, Israel WON the Right to exist by defeating arab armies on multiple occasions and your ineptitude to understand History is appalling. Pasha Gul a British General, led the hashemites, as well as armed them, in '48 in the arabian quest to exterminate the Jews.
FOOD BLOG!
Mike, Beautifully and thoughtfully written. In fact, this is far too intelligent and well written for a CNN comment board. Here's hoping you have other venues of expression.
I believe the article's statement is correct. It does not say Israel exists "because of" or "for the purpose of" the existence of three faiths, as you somehow read from it and therefore imply. But it most definitely exists "AS" the intersection of the three largest Abrahamic religions, whether or not the three want it that way or not.
In addition, you are most definitely, unequivocally incorrect in your statement about the "state" of Israel not "existing" or brought into being because of Christians and Muslims. It is a fact, that the very Christian country of the Britain, which held the Palestinian Mandate, played a role in the beginnings of the Arab-Israeli conflict which occured in 1948 after the U.N.'s Partition Plan to create two separate sovereign nations was not accepted by the Arab side, and ultimately not by Britain either. The Partition plan was never fully implemented, as the civil war broke out the day that the British Mandate was terminated.
While indeed, the initial uprising of the World Zionist Organization led by David Ben-Guiron was a Jewish fight for independence in the region, the country would not exist today if not for the support of the very Christian west and predominantely the U.S., who seized the opportunity to utilize Israel as an ally in the region, where Eastern regimes, were beginning to grow and take shape in a way that did not coincide with the U.S. capitalist ideology. If not for the Christian paranoia of Communism and Islam, Israel would not have survived to this day. The U.S. was the first country to recognize the "state" of Israel in 1948, and since the 60's, has propped up Israel to be the nation it has become and essentially, for all intents and purposes, a U.S. territory.
If anyone disagrees with this, take note that the U.S. has given more aid to Israel than any other country in its history and continues to do so. Israel's infrastructure and military (with regards to training as well as weaponry) has predominantly come from the United States. All of this support because of regional strategic security reasons, and the expansion of capitalism in the Middleast. Besides China, Israel is the country with the most companies listed in the NASDAQ stock exchange, mostly networking/communications and electronics companies, most of which become acquired by American companies. Again, America's plight to increase Israel's economic structure (while increasing its own). And remember, all of this support from the U.S. goes this country with a population of only 8 million people. That's less than the population of NYC. And the size of the country is comparable to the size of New Jersey. It's the 153rd smallest nation in the world (out of 249 sovereign nations), smaller than El Salvador and just larger than Slovenia. Israel is ranked 49th in the world in GDP (out of 197) and ranks 16th (out of 187) nations on the UN's Human Development Index placing it in the category of "Very Highly Developed". Now, off the top of your head, can someone tell me the name of a large Israeli company? How about an Israeli Product? What exactly does Israel do to become such a developed nation while just over the border in Palestinian territories, the GDP per capita is about $1,000 to Israel's $23,000? A wise man once said, "a hungry mob is an angry mob".
I salute Israel's plight for independence, but the truth is that Israel only instigated the initial push for its independence, but it has never been able to maintain it. The U.S. isn't doing a good job of maintaining their's either, by the way. Its independence is maintained by China, therefore Israel also has China to thank.
What bothers me most about the Zionistic view of Israel, is that the state did not come into existence by Jewish religious terms dependent upon Messianic prophesy (usually as stated by Maimonides). It came into existence by secular circumstances. So yes, its "Jewishness", as you state, is not to be overlooked, but it's non-religious Zionism somewhat deflates that "Jewishness". Look at the Neturei Karta, and other groups, who are Orthodox Jews who do not believe in the state of Israel because the way it came into existence and it's treatment of Palestinians is heretical because it does not follow the teachings of the Torah. Why should Judaism, the religion be part of this discussion? Because the conflict is almost always referred to, or at least implied to be, a Jewish vs. Muslim conflict.
So apparently, it's not about religion at all. This is not a religious war. It's a race war; between ethnic Jews, and Palestinians, who are predominantly Arab.
I believe in Israel's independence, but definitely not at the expense of someone else's. The restrictions in Israel over the travel and movement of Palestinians, as well as where they can live or not, or where they can work or not, is pure racism. Sure, legally, anyone in Israel, regardless of their ethnicity or religion have the same freedoms of any other Israeli citizen, but those laws are most definitely not enforced. Quite the contrary. Israeli "apartheid" is becoming the norm. And the richest CHRISTIAN country in the world funds it all.
Peace.
FOOD BLOG!
Islam and Christianity jumped onto the back of the Jew's Torah to legitimize themselves...that is why
they have built on top of Jewish holy sites.
Silly religious prohibitions on what or when it can be eaten.
Show some respect. Not everyone has to follow your spiritual practices or lack thereof. Live and let live. You bothered typing just to show your ignorant intolerance and to demean someone's religion? What a waste of time.
Peace.
So, do you think you can please a "god" if you don't eat certain foods? How silly is that!
Well, at least it keeps large parts of the population happy because they have obtained a higher level of self-righteousness.
Yeah, you're losing this argument, bro. Remember the First Law of Holes.
Leaving aside the fact religion is rubbish and the only good it serves is to keep some of the animals in-line, forbidding the eating of foods, or the mixing of foods with others is about as ridiculous and impractical a "teaching" as is possible.
Anthonty Bourdain is the King of Anal Seepage.... referring to episode visiting the Southwestern USA – aka Wild West Texas and the New Mexico Bad Lands....
West Texas is aka El Paso and and the Bad Lands cover a region bordering Texas, New Mexico & Mexico (lots of History to be told in the mainstream media)
Leon Metz wrote plenty about this region....
"The Shooters: A Gallery of Notorious Gunmen from the American West"
"John Wesley Hardin; Dark Angle of Texas"
W T F is your problem?
I've been waiting for you .......I'll make you my problem .... sd
You left out a whole heap of info in your comment. How were you offended and what are you clarifying? If you're going to bother commenting, make it worth your time.
Peace.
Tony speaks his mind on his show and you don't like it? His old show was called "No Reservations", seems kind of obvious that the guy is a bit abrasive. Some of his statements don't sit well with me either, but I give Bourdain credit for being honest in his opinions and I love the show overall. Also, he is foremost a chef, and embraces the worldly food cultures. The only reason he rips on hipster veganism is because it's a fleeting trend for them, plus hipsters act like whatever trend they've hopped onto makes them better than and judgemental of those who don't embrace the same. He has respect for Buddhists because they don't have that attitude towards others who don't follow the same path.
What's this show doing on a purported news channel? Oh that's right, CNN really doesn't do much news anymore.
So you would rather have another talking heads show where the two typical left and right winger argue over whose talking points are better?
Let me explain it to you in crayon. Most news sites have several categories (because news media comes in many forms: Business, sports, entertainment....). You have somehow landed on the food blog 'Eatocracy', which, for the less intuitive web surfer, is a blog that revolves around food journalism. Most of us that are not confused about how the internet works would probably go to the CNN home page where there is no shortage of death and mayhem usually associated with news. Try it! I wonder if you post the same embarrassingly inappropriate comments in the sports and business sections of websites. Probably.....
Their food stinks. What's more: no pork or shellfish.
Thats right pork is delicious coz it eats its own sh!t and mud and that is delicious to you.
I had stopped eating pork for 3 and a half years honestly I can go with or without it, but it was just to inconvenient to please everyone especially on pizza night. I really like falafel and chicken shawarma but otherwise don't care to much for middle eastern food.
Solution? Don't eat it. Jeez, who tells you to breathe in and breathe out?
The Chinese had it first
BLAH BLAH BLAH. Billions of people eat meat and that will never change. Theres no reason to attack Anthony Bourdain over his choice to eat meat. If you don't like it then shove off and go find a vegan blog because you will get no sympathy here.
Right on Tim! Not everyone can even BE vegetarian or vegan. One diet most certainly does not fit all! Believe me, I was veg for many, many years and it caused me MAJOR, MAJOR health issues I've paid thousands of dollars to correct. I'm STILL working on recovery years later. Just be responsible and compassionate about where you get your food and be thankful that anything, animal OR plant, died so that we could live, the end. Have a great day! Isn't it so sad religion causes SO many fights? What a waste of energy and lives...
Eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, an olive for an olive
and a kiss for a kiss and a hug for a hug.
Two for one Happy Hour .... A shot for a shot and a beer right after to wash it down
I started to watch this show as I thought I would get to see larger culture and far off places. And yes, that happens. But the so called food- massacre on a table- makes me throw up. So, I'm done with it now. Thanks for the recipe for felafal though.
If you want a great falafel recipe go to youtube.com and look up Dedemed, or go to her website dedemed.com She has a great recipe.
Thank you!
Israel having it's roots in Judaism and Christianity is understandable, but the poison of Islam infiltrated 600 years past the turn of the new millenium that screwed up everything. The only reason why Muslims believe that have "roots" in that land is because they believe that Mohammed traveled on a winged horse there where it is also believed that he ascended to "heaven" there. Islam ruins the balance EVERYWHERE!
B.S.
Thank you for showing your hatred. The blog is about Food. But your little brain could not resist. Sad
I wonder when people will realize that all religion is fake?
Wahoo! Good one! ...and OH SO TRUE!!
You think religion is fake–just wait till you need a higher power to help you and you will understand what religion means.
Will you realize that because you think religion is fake doesn't mean it is?
You're oversimplifying. Religion isn't fake. Religion is politicized mythology. Mythology is fantastic. It offers us fables, morals, and examples of life situations in poetic, creative, artistic ways. Politics is good too. Its how we deal with the logistics of life. Adding politics to mythology makes it religion, and that is all too real. That's when the real problems start.
Peace.
Palestine was 20% Christian just over a hundred years ago and Israel is less than 2% Christian now. Christians were far better off with a Muslim majority.
This is not true. When Israel controlled places like Bethlehem, there was a significant Christian population. Many, if not the majority, have left now. Christian churches are being bombed in Egypt. Meanwhile, Christians in Israel worship in freedom.
Sadly though, Bob, Muslim's don't worship in freedom in Israel. Equal rights for Muslims in Israel exist legally, but not logistically. Those freedoms are not enforced. Muslims are treated as second-class citizens and there freedom of travel and movement within Israel is limited, as well as their choices of where to live. Israel, sadly, is becoming more and more of an "apartheid" state every day. Yes, there is contention between extremist Islamic groups and the state of Israel, and terrorism is one of their tactics. But there are also extremist Israelis, some Jewish, some Christian, or some secular, who are equally violent and spew much hatred for Muslims. The Israeli military has been a perpetrator of many an atrocity, equivalent, and for the most part, as documentation shows, worse, than what Muslim extremists are doing against the state of Israel. The facts are hard to corroborate from either side, but generally, it is estimated that the death toll from at least the last decade or so, is approximately 1 Israeli for every 7 Palestinians killed. That proportion makes sense but might be conservative, considering that Israel (armed by the West and predominantly the U.S., who essentially uses Israel as it's frontline, or red-line, against the war on Muslim extremism) has jets, helicopters, tanks, and the like; a much more technologically superior, larger, and sophisticated military in comparison to the Palestinians.
Hi jay shawn. With as much respect as I can muster, you're perspective on history, culture, and theology, is so far off the mark, I'll try to clear things up for you. Let's begin with your first sentence shall we?
1. Israel does not have roots in Judaism or Christianity. You've got it backwards. Judaism and Christianity have roots in Israel, which by the way wasn't called Israel until 1948. For thousands of years before that, this region was called Palestine.
2. There is a distinction between ethnicity and religion that apparently you're unaware of. The predominant and historical ethnicity of the region we're discussing, are of a people called Semites. This term was first used as a description of a language family within the Afroasiatic language family, which includes Arabic, Aramaic, Hebrew, Amharic, and others. In other words, within the context of your comment, Arabs and Jews are Semites, or Semitic Peoples. Judaism, is a religion of the ethnicity which generally identifies itself as Jewish People. Got that? Jewish is an ethnicity, Judaism is a religion within that ethnicity. In other words, not all Jews practice Judaism, and not all people who practice Judaism are Jewish, though conversion to Judaism for people who are not Jewish is usually not common and it's acceptance is contentious by some Jews who practice Judaism. Like the way a Navajo might take issue with someone who is not of the Navajo tribe converting to the indigenous Navajo religious/spiritual traditions.
Christianity and Islam, are both religions that are branches of Judaism. Judaism, is the mother religion of the Abrahamic religions of which in addition to Judaism, are the branches of Christianity, and Islam. All three of those religions (among a few others actually) believe in the God of Abraham, whose descendants are Isaac, Ishmael, and down to Moses, down to Jesus (as he was Jewish), and down to Muhammed, who is a descendant of Ishmael. Now here's an ethnic distinction observed by many: Abraham had a son with his wife Sarah, named Isaac. This lineage is considered the Jewish ethnic lineage. Abraham also had a son with Sarah's handmaiden Hagar, named Ishmael. This lineage is considered the Arab ethnic lineage.
Now here's a distinction you MUST understand and which makes your comment wrong. Christianity and Islam are religions people are encouraged to convert to. They are evangelical religions. Muslim's and Christians encourage everyone to convert to those religions, regardless of one's own ethnicity. As noted above, Jewish culture, does not generally seek adherents to its own culture's religion, Judaism. The general belief is that Judaism is for Jews.
The Old Testament is a Christian term for the Jewish writings called the Tanakh. There are three books of the Tanakh, and the Old Testament utilizes the first two of those books; The Torah, and Nevi'im, which are the books of Genesis through Malachi. The Q'uran only refers to the first book of the Tanakh, the Torah, which are considered the five books of Moses; Genesis through Deuteronomy. In Arabic, the Torah is called the Tawrat. But again, not all Muslims are Arabic, just as not all Christians, are Semitic.
Therefore, Abraham and Moses, along with other people in the Tanakh, or Old Testament, or Tawrat, are considered prophets or messengers of the SAME GOD. Christians of course believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the prophesied Jewish Messiah, where as Muslims view Jesus as a prophet. Practitioners of Judaism do not believe Jesus to be either. Muslims, in turn, believe Muhammed to be the prophet of God. Practicioners of Judaism or believers in Christianity do not.
I have extremely abbreviated and generalized this explanation for the sake of space and time. But as you can clearly see, and as you can clarify for yourself with a little bit of research, Islam most definitely shares roots with the land now known as "Israel", as it is one of the Abrahamic religions, and Muhammed, though born in Saudi Arabia, is part of the larger Semitic Diaspora. Remember, there are the Beta Israel, ethnic Jews of Ethiopia (who in the Old Testament are referred to as the "Falashans", which means "immigrants, wanderers,or exiled" in Amharic), and Ethiopia is geographically farther from "Israel" than Saudi Arabia. As far as your sarcastic winged-horse (Buraq) comment, there are plenty of superstitious and mythological or "unbelievable" characters and occurrences within the Abrahamic religions, so to make fun of one is to make fun of all of them. Your choice. Your putting "heaven" in quotes also is a sarcasm to imply that the Muslim "heaven" is not that of your own belief, but if you believe in one of the Abrahamic religions, then SURPRISE! It is. If you don't then I don't know what your fuss is about.
Learn some history, learn some tolerance, and show a little respect.
Peace.
Jay shawn, people like you make other people look good, coz your brain is half dead by the pot you smoke or the shit you eat or your mom not raising you right. Which is the case for most americans anyway. Since you're illiterate in history, allow me to illuminate you with some. Christians fighting for Jewish rights is like KKK fighting for slave rights. It is the Christians in all nations that have persecuted jews left and right. In Russia, europe and even in usa, early on Jews were driven out in droves. For centuries Jews lived in Harmony under Muslim rulings, until Israel occupied Palestine, then it all changed. Got it?
I tried to eat it; but it made me FALAFEL! (boo)
"FOOD FIGHT!" – J. Belushi
Of course the Jews adopt other peoples culture and claim it as their own. Just look at how they co-opted African American music and entertainment style from early Vaudeville and claim it as their invention.
And so does america. It claims many foods, cultural practices, hairstyles, music, art forms clothing and customs as its own creation. There isnt a culture on the face of the earth that america has not exploited in some way or claimed as its invention.
America is made up of many ethnic groups and not all of them are trying to lay claim to what originated with others.
I'm definitely not a fan of cultural appropriation. I don't want to see Gwen Stefani in Native American clothing or ow Shakira wearing a bindi, all for fashion's sake, ignorant of the cultural significances of these things. I've got a problem with the West Coast gangster rappers not giving props to Chicano culture as they dress like cholos and drive around in their lowriders, too. But to claim somehow that Jewish people are stealing Arab culture is ridiculous. Both of these ethnicities are Semitic. They're from the same lands and they share forefathers. Why wouldn't their food be similar?
Peace.
That's a joke right? You do realize that America belonged to the native American's before European's immigrated and took the land right?
Half of Israel's entire population is made up of Jews who immigrated to Israel from Arab lands. Some refer to them as "Mizrachim" other refer to them as Arab-Jews. In any event, these Jews lived in what are Muslim/Arab lands long before there was such a thing as Islam, which only became a religion around 620 AD. So it would be pretty hard to imply that Jews coming from Arab lands stole Arab culture.
It's lucky for you the moderators don't speak Spanish when they come to your Email name.
And so does america. It claims many foods, cultural practices, hairstyles, music, art forms clothing and customs as its own creation. There isnt a culture on the face of the earth that america has not exploited in some way or claimed as its invention.
So there's only "Jews", a group of 14,000,000 people in the world? "They did", "They think", "They claim".
oh well...
I guess it's the same with African Americans. I only attribute one personality to all. They're all the same to me....
Or the way the create new knowledge in Physics, Mathematics, Molecular Biology, Medicine, Economics, Chemistry, Immunology,Psychology,Electrical Engineering, Nanotechnology, Architecture,etc., etc, the thieves.
Bourdain respects the Buddhists vegan ism when he is on his travels, but refers to it as hipster ism when Americans choose not to kill living feeling animals for food.
Meat has a basic civil right to exist. This means animals must die so that meat may live. Meat rights now!
Please the Arabs invented falafel, theres your answer.
I would love a serving of "Anthony Bourdain heart, marinated in his own blood". I got the idea when I had the misfortune of seeing part of his show where he applied the above "recipe" to a poor rabbit. If not the above, then maybe a serving of his fatty diseased liver obtained by force feeding him. He seems to think that sticking pipes into ducks' stomachs and pumping them full of grain to produce foie gras is perfectly wonderful. I would like to see how he tolerates such treatment. I imagine that it wouldn't take him very long to conclude that such treatment is cruel. Empathy and compassion for living feeling animals isn't in his cookbook: unfortunately.
Actually, if he were a duck, he may not mind it. They don't have a gag reflex, so as humans, we would hate it.
Boy, I'll bet you're fun to cook with.
Oh get off the soap box. I'm not a fan of Foie Gras, but you need to grow up and realize not everyone agrees with you. There are ramifications to consider here, mostly the fact that (a) a lot of people that kind of food and (b) people like me eat meat and such and quite frankly don't feel all that bad about it. If no one would buy the stuff, people wouldn't produce it or sell it.
Stop being one of these "Vegans / Vegetarians / *Insert equally odd or hipster diet here* are the only good people because everyone else harms the cute animals" people.
But don't you agree that PW has just as much a right to express his opinion as do eaters of foie gras or of meat? Or do you want to censor the remarks of those with whom you disagree?
Some opinions are contradictory and therefore invalid, like being a vegan who's advocating cannibalism. Plus it comes close to a threat, which is not within the realm of protected speech.
Thanks for your convictions to the environment and animals!! It is disgusting the way many in the developed world view the environment and animals. I am disgusted by this show. The developed world and people like this host, who have power through his acces to have a voice in media, need to take a stance in supporting the enviornment. Thanks for your views PW and I hope you continue to speak up for those who have no voice, unlike this show which is more about the host than food and culture!
In some countries, food, cooking, and eating is based on customs date back for centuries. Are they to stop doing that just for other people who have a different viewpoint? For the French, cooking is an art form, to be enjoyed slowly with friends and family. Some of these people have family members who lived through wars where food was scarce, and they could not be so selective as we are today. Just because someone choses to become a vegetarian or a vegan does not mean that it is okay to insult, demean, those who are not. It's like converts to a new religion. Get down from the cross cause someone already beat you to it.