One of my fondest memories of a trip to Italy in the fall of 2014 does not, shockingly, include Italian food or wine.
Rather, it involves eating hamantaschen, triangular-shaped pastry with a fruit filling, in the historic Jewish ghetto in Venice, established in 1516.
I was on a trip with friends, including one who rightly thought we would be interested in seeing the enclosed area were Jews had been mandated to live until Napoleon decreed the end of the segregation in 1797.
Shortly after entering the district — home to five synagogues — we stopped at an eatery. The friend who took us bought us hamantaschen as an introduction to the fascinating place that remains a hub for the small Jewish community in Venice.
The yummy little three-cornered pastries — part pie, part cookie — are not just any sweet treat. They’re meant to resemble the three-cornered hat worn by the dreaded Persian dictator Haman from the Book of Esther. And they’re traditional treats of Purim, the most festive Jewish holiday, which celebrates Esther’s bravery in thwarting Haman’s plot to annihilate Jews.
Locally, the Women’s Chavurah group at Anshe Sfard (Revere Road Synagogue) in Bath Township has helped to celebrate Purim — which this year begins the evening of March 23 — by making thousands of hamantaschen.
The pastries will be sold by the dozen, in prune, apricot, raspberry, poppy seed or chocolate, or an assortment.
Prepaid orders must be placed by March 11, and can be picked up at Anshe Sfard, 646 N. Revere Road, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 13 (a Sunday). An order form is available at www.akronshul.com. Address orders and payment to Women’s Chavurah at Anshe Sfard.
A limited supply will be available March 13 for walk-ins.
For the roughly 20 years, the group has used the recipe developed by Wendy Macher of Bath, a member of the congregation. She used parts of two recipes, creating a kosher version. (Soy milk is substituted for regular milk.)
Macher, who is no longer involved with making the hamantaschen, praises education director Kaila Sasonkin, wife of Rabbi Mendy Sasonkin, for continuing to lead the project.
Kaila Sasonkin and other women “are making massive quantities” of the pastry, which despite the volume, “are equivalent to tasting homemade,” Macher said.
That’s not an easy task, she said, as hamantaschen can be tricky. You don’t want the pastry to be too crumbly or too sticky.
Kaila Sasonkin explained that the making of hamantaschen “helps with the spirit of Purim and excitement of Purim.”
She noted that giving hamantaschen is a popular way to help fulfill a mitzvah — commandment — of Purim that involves fostering friendship by giving food items to people.
Easter at Temo’s
The Easter Bunny — in the form of Larry Temo — is hard at work, making and delivering his rich Easter chocolates, sold at the Temo’s store at 495 W. Exchange St. in Akron and at Acme Fresh Markets.
Yes, Larry Temo, 83, hasn’t had much of a breather after Valentine’s Day, but is still hand-dipping chocolates for days — and any ol’ day.
He’s not surprised to hear folks express wonderment that he is still at it.
If he quit, he said, “what would I do in the winter?” (The small shop halts production for the summer.)
Acme stores and the shop will have lots of chocolate Easter baskets and egg-shaped chocolate dishes filled with hand-dipped candies. Larry’s brother Jim and Jim’s wife, Elaine, do the molding.
Temo said he is including four or five pieces of dark chocolate in the baskets and eggs these days, a nod to its popularity.
We’ll have more morsels on this sweet shop in an upcoming column.
Strickland’s to open
Akron’s original Strickland’s ice cream will open for its 80th season Friday.
The place — at 1809 Triplett Blvd., in view of the imposing Akron Airdock — will feature black raspberry and banana flavors on opening day. Chocolate and vanilla are always available.
Go to http://mystricklands.com to subscribe to the Flavor of the Day mailing list. The calendar hadn’t been updated at press time.
Just realized — for what it’s worth — that Strickland’s opening day is exactly one month before the Cleveland Indians open the season.
Authors plan visit
Jane and Michael Stern, the authors of the classic Roadfood book series, are planning an “Eat Your Way Across the USA” tour, with a stop Sept. 22 in Cleveland.
And you’re invited to partake in the grub, at an as-yet-undisclosed place.
Cleveland is among 15 cities the Sterns will visit this year, sharing conversation and eats with those who buy a $75 ticket. A cocktail hour will precede the multi-course dinner, which includes beer, wine and a “specialty cocktail.”
The Sterns, famous for their travels to find the best diners, hot dog stands, ethnic restaurants, ice cream shops and other road food, have written dozens of books, including the 1977 Roadfood.
For tickets to the 7 p.m. Sept. 22 event, go to http://roadfood.com and click on “Join Us for a Roadfood Dinner.” Attendees must be at least 21 years old.
Local food at Big Love
Share the love at Akron’s Big Love festival, an eclectic celebration of local art, music and community involvement, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. March 12 at Summit Artspace, 140 E Market St., in downtown Akron.
Local food also is on the bill. An after-party will be held at Musica, 51 E. Market St. For more information, go to https://bigloveakron.wordpress.com or the event’s Facebook page.
Reminders
• Cellar 59 Wine Bar & Wine Shop in Stow and Hudson’s Nosh Eatery will host a Buoncristiani wine dinner at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Cellar 59, 3984 Kent Road (state Route 59) in Stow. Nate Buoncristiani of California’s Napa region will be on hand. Tickets are $75, plus tax and tip. Call 330-688-2684.
• University of Akron students studying hospitality management will host their annual spring brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at the student-operated Crystal Room Bistro, 360 Grant St. (Gallucci Hall). They’ll serve up breakfast items and a lot more. Cost is $18.95; $14.95 for ages 60 or older; and free for children 3 or younger. Phone 330-972-6615 for reservations.
• Gervasi Vineyard in Canton will host a release event from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday for the latest wine from its vineyard.
Tickets to the event celebrating the release of Unita cost $50 for GV Club members and $60 for nonmembers. (The club is free; you join by signing up for the e-newsletter.) Tickets are at www.gervasivineyard.com/events. The vineyard is at 1700 55th St. NE, Canton, 330-497-1000.
• The Maple Sugar Festival returns to Hale Farm & Village in Bath Township March 12, 13, 19 and 20.
Folks at the 19th century village/museum in Bath Township will offer a pancake breakfast each day. Visitors can participate in tree-tapping and learn about the process of making syrup. Crafts and trades, such as glassblowing and blacksmithing, will be demonstrated throughout the day.
The Marketplace at Hale Farm & Village will be open for shopping with Ohio-made maple syrup and other locally produced items.
The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission for breakfast and activities is $15 for adults, $10 for children ages 3 to 12, $5 for members of Hale Farm. Pancake breakfast only is $5. Reservations are not necessary. For more information, call 330-666-3711 or visit www.halefarm.org.
• The annual Spring Bake Sale at Annunciation Greek Orthodox church in Akron will be March 23-24, the Wednesday and Thursday before Western Easter, which is March 27 this year.
The sale is a major fundraiser for the church’s women’s board, the Ladies Philoptochos Society. The society raises money for local, national and international charities.
Send local food news to Katie Byard at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com. You can follow her @KatieByardABJ on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com.