Thursday, Nov. 20, 7:30 pm Sandler Family
Who doesn’t love a good story and a good nosh? United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Lee & Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival will serve up both when Rachel Simons takes the stage at the Simon Family JCC for Secrets of Sesame. She will be interviewed by Jody Wagner of Jody’s Popcorn.
Simons is the Aussie-turned-New Yorker behind Seed + Mill, the first U.S. shop devoted entirely to sesame. Based in NYC’s Chelsea Market, Simons’ pastel packages of halva and jars of tahini have professional chefs and home cooks alike swooning. At this event, she will share the journey of the sesame seed, a tiny ingredient with a 5,000-year history that spans continents and cultures. And yes, there will be tastings. Guests can sample Seed + Mill’s signature halva while hearing how this humble seed became a global star.
Simons’ new book, Sesame: Global Recipes & Stories of an Ancient Seed, is more than a cookbook. It is a passport to kitchens around the world, with more than 80 recipes that range from classic hummus to sesame ramen. Jewish favorites include challah and honey cake, and inventive twists like carrot-tahini dip inspired by Rosh Hashanah traditions. Contributions from culinary icons Yotam Ottolenghi and Molly Yeh make it even richer.
The Washington Post calls the book “an exploration of sesame’s use around the globe, in both modern and traditional ways, driving home the incredible versatility of the nutritious seed.”
Simons will also share her own story, a multicultural journey from Australia to New York, shaped by family history and a love of food that connects people. It is a tale of migration and resilience, told through recipes and memories.
The Jewish Book Festival runs through December 11, bringing authors and ideas that spark conversation and community. Register at JewishVA.org/BookFestival for an evening that proves big stories can come from the smallest seeds.
The Lee & Bernard Jaffe Family Jewish Book Festival is funded in part by the citizens of Virginia Beach through a grant from the City of Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission and is held in coordination with the Jewish Book Council, the longest-running organization devoted exclusively to the support and celebration of Jewish literature.