A Wandering Feast

An original and uplifting view of a world lost, reborn, and rediscovered This is a delightful book that welcomes the reader to a wonderful journey through the Jewish culture of Eastern Europe: the still-vibrant villages and homes, the Yiddish folkways, the toe-tapping Klezmer music, and heart-warming traditional food. Yale Strom documented his journey--organized around fourteen specific visits to authentic villages in Eastern Europe--with a fascinating travelogue that includes inspiring stories, photographs, music that has never been printed, and recipes. He reveals that a culture long feared to be gone forever is still very much alive.

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction xiii

Glossary xxiii

Chapter One

Yugoslavia 1

RECIPES

Burek Sasirom Spinat (Yugoslavian Spinach and Cheese Pies) 12

Leek,Garlic, and Red Pepper Soup 23

Prebanac (Baked Beans) 35

Yugoslavian Chopped Salad 36

Hurmasice (Pound Cake in Syrup) 37

MUSIC

“Maestral Hora and Bulgar” 3

“Waltz from Senta” 9

“Khosn’s March” (Groom’s March) 32

Chapter Two

Hungary 39

RECIPES

Galuska (Hungarian Dumplings) 47

Letcho (Vegetable Stew) 48

Potato Paprikash 49

Lecso (Peppers and Eggs) 50

Flodni 56

Hungarian Mushroom Soup 72

Hungarian Cucumber Salad 73

MUSIC

“Katarina Maladitse” (Young Katrina) 58

“Yismakh Moyshe” (Moses Rejoiced) 70

“Tibi’s Hora” 76

Chapter Three

Czechoslovakia 84

RECIPES

Sweet Noodle Kugel with Raisins and Almonds 99

Bramborove Knedliky (Potato Dumplings) 100

Kuba (Barley Dish) 102

Latkes (Potato Pancakes) 122

MUSIC

“Malke Zhote” 95

“Oberek Palota” 103

“Bulbes/Beblekh” (Potatoes/Beans) 118

Chapter Four

Poland 125

RECIPES

Kasha with Mushrooms and Onions 130

Kapusta z Jablkamy (Polish Cabbage with Apples) 131

Polish Poppy Seed Cookies 132

Pierogi 134

Zuppa Ogorkowa (Polish Sour Cucumber Soup) 156

Kutia (Poppy Seed and Walnut Spread) 160

Krupnik (Mushroom and Barley Soup) 165

MUSIC

“Ropshitser Nign” 145

“Doyne/Freylekhs” 154

“Drohobitsh” 162

Chapter Five

Soviet Union: Ukraine 176

RECIPES

Galushke (Stuffed Cabbage) 188

Russian-Style Baked Mushrooms in Sour Cream 195

Ukrainian Honey Cake 196

Pokhlyobka (Vegetable Soup) 199

MUSIC

“On the Road to Salang” 192

Chapter Six

Romania 201

RECIPES

Mamaliga 207

Sweet Noodle Kugel with Apples and Walnuts 208

Palave (Pilaf ) 219

Mincare de Vinete cu Usturoi (Eggplant with Garlic) 224

Potato-Cheese Kreplach 225

Gogl-Mogl 227

RomanianVegetable Latkes 233

Passover Macaroons 237

MUSIC

“Baveynen Di Kale” (The Lamenting of the Bride) 221

“Bosnian Waltz” 226

Resources 239

The Authors 241

Yale Strom is the internationally acclaimed author of The Book of Klezmer: The History, The Music, The Folklore from the Fourteenth Century to the Twenty-first, filmmaker, composer, photographer, violinist, and playwright who has won numerous awards and prizes for his films, which include The Last Klezmer.

Elizabeth Schwartz is an independent film producer and writer. She is also an acclaimed Yiddish vocalist, singing with the internationally renowned klezmer bands Hot Pstromi, Klazzj, and Mama Labushnik.

A Wandering Feast is a delightful book that welcomes the reader to a wonderful journey through the Jewish culture of Eastern Europe. Page after page, you will visit the still-vibrant Jewish world and discover Yiddish folkways, toe-tapping klezmer music, and heart-warming traditional food. Yale Strom and Elizabeth Schwartz have documented an amazing journey–organized around visits to authentic cities and villages in Eastern Europe–with a fascinating travelogue that includes inspiring stories, photographs, music, and recipes. A Wandering Feast reveals that a culture long feared to be gone forever is still very much alive.

"A Wandering Feast is rambunctious, festive, enlightening and . . . yes, tasty."
–Ilan Stavans, author, On Borrowed Words: A Memoir of Language

"Captures, preserves, contectualizes, and celebrates life."
–Annette Insdorf, author, Indelible Shadows: Film and the Holocaust

"A vehicle for an evocation and examination of his personal odyssey, and ultimately of Jewish history and identity."
–Eva Fogelman, author, Conscience and Courage: Rescuers of Jews During the Holocaust

"Strom proves himself a master storyteller and archivist of the lost Jewish worlds of post-Holocaust Europe."
–Thane Rosenbaum, the author of The Golems of Gotham, Second Hand Smoke, and Elijah Visible

"A Wandering Feast is rambunctious, festive, enlightening and . . . yes, tasty."
--Ilan Stavans, author, On Borrowed Words: A Memoir of Language

"Captures, preserves, contectualizes, and celebrates life."
--Annette Insdorf, author, Indelible Shadows: Film and the Holocaust

"A vehicle for an evocation and examination of his personal odyssey, and ultimately of Jewish history and identity."
--Eva Fogelman, author, Conscience and Courage: Rescuers of Jews During the Holocaust

"Strom proves himself a master storyteller and archivist of the lost Jewish worlds of post-Holocaust Europe."
--Thane Rosenbaum, the author of The Golems of Gotham, Second Hand Smoke, and Elijah Visible