LEAH KOENIG & CHEF DAVID NAYFELD – FEASTING IN ROME’S JEWISH KITCHEN

Naming the book Portico is my way of saying, “Welcome. I’m glad you are here.” – Leah Koenig 

Join author Leah Koenig in celebrating her latest cookbook, Portico: Cooking and Feasting in Rome’s Jewish Kitchen. Leah will be joined by Chef David Nayfeld of San Francisco’s Che Fico for a conversation about the Eternal City’s historic Jewish community and its uniquely delicious cuisine. The lively talk will cover Roman Jews’ 2000-year old history, introduce you to Rome’s iconic (fried artichokes!) and lesser-known Jewish delicacies, and highlight the chefs, makers, and home cooks keeping these foods alive today. Sample a variety of treats, grab a glass of wine to toast la dolce vita, and get your copy of Portico signed in person.  

In Portico, Leah Koenig celebrates la cucina Ebraica Romana, one of Europe’s oldest Jewish communities, with more than 100 simple, deeply flavorful, vegetable-forward recipes. Existing for more than 2,000 uninterrupted years, Rome’s Jewish community has been shaped by hardship and determination to become a resilient, deeply knit entity, with a uniquely beguiling cuisine. 

Published by WW Norton & Company, Portico showcases the Roman Jewish kitchen’s elegantly understated vegetables, saucy braised meats and stews, rustic pastas, resplendent olive oil–fried foods, and never-too-sweet desserts. Home cooks can explore classics of the Roman Jewish repertoire with Stracotto di Manzo (a wine-braised beef stew), Pizza Ebraica (fruit-and-nut-studded bar cookies), and, of course, Carciofi alla Giudia, the quintessential Jewish-style fried artichokes. A cookbook for anyone who wants to dive more deeply into Jewish foodways, or gain new insight into Rome, Portico features the makers and creators who are keeping Roman Jewish food alive today, transporting us to the bustling streets of the Eternal City while also making us feel—as we cook and eat—very much at home. 

Leah Koenig is the author of seven cookbooks, including The Jewish Cookbook and Modern Jewish Cooking. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Food & Wine, Epicurious, Food52, and more. She also writes the popular weekly newsletter, The Jewish Table on Substack. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and two children. 

Our partner for this event is Omnivore Books and Che Fico. 

All seating is first come, first served.

Questions? Email support@jccsf.org