According to the calendar, Friday January 25, 2013 is frozen deep in the midst of the winter season; however, in actuality it was a very spring-like day when a group of people of various ages from Karmiel and Misgav got together at the 'Sustainability' Garden in Misgav, folks who share a love for cooking.
"The process", the chef Nir Margalith says, "is what makes this project such a success".
The ingredients are simple and readily available, cut vegetables, soaked wheat, chicken and lots of wine ("As much as you support your family," Chef Margalith will say to the camera documenting the process). However the order of activities and the time dedicated to each of the ingredients (when and how much to mix) they, they are the secret that makes the main course a supreme success.
"Partnership2Gether" Karmiel - Misgav - Pittsburgh of the Jewish Agency for Israel initiated a series of cooking workshops aimed at the public interested in acquiring additional food preparation tools. The first workshop was tremendously successful thanks to the amazing ability of Chef Nir Margalith to explain, cook and exhibit, while at the same time standing before the camera to film the clip that would be sent to the workshop of our partners in Pittsburgh. Thanks to those who came to learn to cook, and in contrast to the passive watching of the popular TV competition "Master Chef", the classes were conducted while cooking 'step by step'. The participants all received their cook's aprons, rolled up their sleeves and 'got cooking' on the various tasks (the recipes) distributed by the chef prior to the opening of the workshop.
Thanks to all those from the partnership who took an active role in the workshop: Ilan Meyer (Misgav P2G co-chair) was charged with stirring the stew in the cast iron pot. Yuval Kisus (Karmiel Adult "Kesher" Committee co-chair) and Yiphat Ragoler (the Misgav committee co-chair) became specialists in the preparation of the Focaccias'. Marcie Lang (the Pittsburgh community representative in Israel) together with Sue Linzer (the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh) added a creative level and challenged the palate with a series of non-conventional additions to the aforementioned Focaccias. Liat Ben David, dealt with the most intimidating part of it all, transferring the Focaccias from the cutting board into the outdoor oven and after the second and third time developed the skillful movements of a professional. Anat Sharvit (the JAFI regional partnership director) amazed us all with her cutting of an Asian salad and created perfect (thin like matchsticks) slices of beet and carrots.
The process as we in P2G know is meaningful, at least as meaningful as the by-product and therefore thanks to the perfect weather, the magical location and wonderful participants, the event was a tremendous success, and this is even before mentioning how delicious everything we cooked and baked on site was that Friday.

These cooking workshops have come to fruition with the goal of establishing strong interpersonal bonds, this time between food lovers (those who love to eat and those who love to cook) from both sides of the partnership. Chef Margalith will soon depart for Pittsburgh to conduct there a cooking workshop, all of the workshops are filmed and documented and will soon be available for anyone who is interested in learning from the joint culinary events.
Through the film clip it is possible to learn how to prepare portions such as Focaccia, even in a home kitchen. Chef Margalith believes in "passing forward" those 'tips and secrets' often only known to a few of the top chefs. In a pleasant and smiling manner he gives a simple explanation of how to prepare, what you need to pay attention to, what is important and critical to the portion's preparation ("the dough needs to be liquid and happy", "don't touch it too much so it won't heat up, use just your fingertips") and what may be reinterpreted and added (rosemary, onion seed and chocolate, Focaccia can also be a desert in a children's meal smothered with chocolate").
Food lovers and enthusiasts interested in participating in any of the upcoming workshops are invited to check our Karmiel- Misgav P2G Facebook page (if you have not yet joined, this is the perfect time to click on "Like" and receive our updates).

Written by Shoshi Nelson Norman (Shoshi can be reached at: artwdialogue@gmail.com)

More Pictures at Facebook

Short  film at You-Tube