Purim’s gift baskets (mishloach manot) were made for social distancing. This year, fill yours with treats from local spots and then drop them off on friends’ doorsteps to sweeten their holiday.
A Local Guide to Mishloach Manot
About the Author
Judith Rontal hails from wintry Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she grew up in a family that always managed to eat dinner together. She’s continued that connection between food, family and culture in her blog, Aluminum Foiled Kitchen, and in her daily life in DC. When not in the kitchen working on a new recipe, you can find Judith sweating it out at yoga or on the Rock Creek Park trails. Follow her food adventures on Twitter and Instagram.
Rosh Hashanah in the Bag: DMV Takeout
Ringing in the Jewish new year at a smaller scale? During these stressful times, there’s one thing you can take off your plate: cooking. Support a local restaurant by ordering takeout or delivery.
Vegetarian Posole
A traditional soup from Mexico, posole is typically made with pork, hominy and chiles. This vegetarian version swaps in hearty beans for meat but isn’t lacking in any flavor. Pile your bowl high with toppings like shredded cabbage, cilantro, lime, avocado and crispy tortilla chips.
Tabletop Traveling: A Mexican Fiesta
The “travels” continue, and this week… ¡Hola, Mexico! Summer produce—tomatoes, corn, peppers—shine in this Mexican-inspired spread that’s all about DIY so your guests (or family members) can make it their own.
Lights, Camera… Bon Appetit!
Jewish food may not have a star in Hollywood, but it certainly deserves more than just 15 minutes of fame. Get comfy on the couch with these shows/movies and the right menu.
Tabletop Traveling: Jet-Lag-Free Japan
Times are stressful, and travel is off the table, but with this edition of Tabletop Traveling, everyone can enjoy the serenity and unique flavors of Japanese culture and cuisine—sans the jet lag.
Matcha Mochi Cake
Have your tea for dessert with this Matcha Mochi Cake. Made with glutinous sweet rice flour, this naturally gluten-free cake is full of surprises. It’s chewy, crunchy, gooey, and most importantly, oishii (delicious in Japanese)!
Tabletop Traveling: It’s Canada Day!
Canada Day, which celebrates the joining of Canada’s original three provinces, falls on July 1st. So for our first tabletop “journey,” just a few days before our independence day, we’re heading north.
Private Cooking Classes in Your Own Kitchen
When a food tour company went on a pandemic-induced pause, its founder, a MD native now living in Israel, launched a platform to bring chefs, sommeliers and culinary experts into people’s homes.
Say “I ‘Loaf’ You” With These Recipes
We may not be dining together, but we can still share food. Arm yourself with a few disposable loaf pans—they’re perfect for packing up and dropping off outside loved ones’ doors.
