"Passover" news and stories

Indefatigable food scout and award-winning food writer Robb Walsh recently sussed out a dish that's enthralling Seder celebrants across the Houston metro area -- jalapeño gefilte fish.

Gefilte fish, which traditionally graces Passover tables, is a dish equally adored and derided for its staunchly mellow flavor. The mix of ground carp – or other cheap, white-fleshed fish -- onions and matzo meal got its start as a stuffing, but long ago morphed into a patty preparation. While the fish is typically boiled with carrots and celery, even gefilte fish lovers admit the taste is subtle, which is why many eaters pound all the horseradish they can into their servings.

But Rustika Café owner Leo Reznick goes one better, spiking his gefilte fish with hot peppers. "The green pepper strips adorning this gefilte fish were actually jalapeños rajas, and they were hot as hell in August," Walsh reported in the Houston Press. "Why had I never heard of Mexican gefilte fish before? The spicy/fishy flavor slowly percolated through my flavor memory, shattering my Passover preconceptions."

• For Jews, tonight will be different from all other nights -- but many of the foods will be the same. Here, a taste test of the usual Passover suspects.
• And now, a taste test of kosher wines!
• Um... Did Denver just call Oklahoma City fat?
• The James Beard nominations included several Denver and Boulder foodies.
• ... And one of those nominees is Denver Post blogger Eugenia Bone.

Each Thursday, we round up a selection of scrumptious links from our friends over at YumSugar. Here's what they've got cooking this week:

• Ditch the pedestrian version of matzo brei (who needs french toast?), for these variations.
• Matzo is a springboard for your Seder menu.
• Babies are best eaten during spring.
• Pork isn't kosher, but it can be heavenly -- especially in a sandwich topped with lemon slaw.
• This must be a trick question -- artichokes vs. asparagus?
• Celebrate more than Passover -- it's National Noodle Month -- try cooking something out of Easy Asian Noodles.
• Next year in a new restaurant?

A seder meal during the Passover holiday is a great excuse to sip kosher wines. Over the last few years, their quality has dramatically increased from subpar table wines to spectacular wines that are suitable for year-round drinking.

After the jump, find are our eight favorites – and a suggested food pairing for each.

• Top chefs in New York agree: Creekstone Farms beef rocks. Here's why.
• Check out the new Times feature Power Ingredients, a "benign culinary imperialism" designed to shake things up.
• Wondering what makes uptown Chinese food uptown? One visit to (midtown) Chin Chin and you'll know.
• Iranian Jews are preparing for Passover in Beverly Hills -- with some fabulous recipes. Persian charoset, anyone?
• Speaking of Passover, something to consider making this year: olive oil matzo.