Joan Nathan on the Passover Seder's symbolic food, plus The Gefilteria, and Rein’s NY-Style Deli

By Robyn Doyon-Aitken ,

Chef Plum, Marysol Castro, Catie Talarski

Published April 7, 2022 at 10:50 AM EDT

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Co-owner Russell DeBella slices lox (smoked salmon) at Rein’s Deli in Vernon on March 25, 2022.

Dave Wurtzel/Connecticut Public / Connecticut Public

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Joan Nathan is the author of King Solomon’s Table: A Culinary Exploration of Jewish Cooking from Around the World.

Gabriela Herman

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Liz Alpern is the co-owner of The Gefilteria in Brooklyn, NY, and the co-author of 'The Gefilte Manifesto'

Zachary Schulman

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Kitchen Manager Ken Muraski, right, hands off a fresh batch of cooked brisket to be sliced to Kitchen Lead Joe Santana, left, in the kitchen of Rein’s Deli in Vernon, Connecticut on March 25, 2022.

Dave Wurtzel/Connecticut Public / Connecticut Public

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A finished pastrami sandwich is plated at Rein’s Deli in Vernon, Connecticut on April 4, 2022.

Dave Wurtzel/Connecticut Public

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Russell DeBella, co-owner of Rein’s Deli, poses for a portrait in front of the restaurant on March 25, 2022.

Dave Wurtzel/Connecticut Public / Connecticut Public

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Russell DeBella, co-owner of Rein’s Deli speaks with Seasoned co-host Chef Plum (middle) and Seasoned producer Robyn Doyon-Aitken (right) at Rein’s Deli on March 25, 2022.

Dave Wurtzel/Connecticut Public / Connecticut Public

Joan Nathan, the authority on Jewish cooking, explains some of the history behind the symbolic food on your Seder plate. Plus, Liz Alpern and Jeffrey Yoskowitz are revitalizing gefilte fish for a new generation of eaters. Liz describes exactly what gefilte fish is and why it’s central to Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine. Finally, Chef Plum sits down with Russell DeBella, general manager and partner at Rein’s New York-Style Deli to talk about the deli’s uniqueness and why the Rein family felt compelled to bring Jewish classics like matzo ball soup, kugels, brisket, knishes, over-stuffed pastrami Ruebens and more to Vernon, Connecticut 50 years ago.

GUESTS:

Joan Nathan: James Beard Award-winning author and food writer. Her latest book is King Solomon’s Table: A Culinary Exploration of Jewish Cooking from Around the World.
Liz Alpern: Co-owner of The Gefilteria in Brooklyn, NY, and the co-author of The Gefilte Manifesto
Russell DeBella: General manager and partner at Rein’s New York-Style Deli in Vernon, Conn.

FEATURED RECIPE:
Joan Nathan’s Flourless Chocolate Cake

This show was produced by Robyn Doyon-Aitken, Catie Talarski, and Emily Charash. Our interns are Sara Gasparotto and Michayla Savitt. Visuals Journalist David Wurtzel contributed to this show.

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