Gil Hovav spills the beans on food CO-PRESENTED WITH CFHU

Sunday November 25 at 8pm  $18

It’s not everyday that one can savour the secrets of a diverse cuisine while getting the inside scoop on how, where and why it was created from the master chef/journalist and author himself. Here is your chance to nosh on the very delicacies created according to the recipes of the eclectic and charming Gil Hovav, a Hebrew University alumnus, and one of Israel’s leading culinary journalists and television presenters.

The Jewish Chronicle Online says “Gil Hovav is Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver and JK Rowling all rolled into one,” and in fact, Hovav is a foodie superstar in Israel, where he has played a major role in changing Israeli cuisine from one of basic traditional foods to one of enviable gourmet dining. Hovav began his career as a restaurant critic, moved on to become a newspaper editor, and was involved in creating, producing and presenting some of Israel’s most viewed and loved television food shows. These include the classic ‘Pepper, Garlic and Olive Oil’, ‘Captain Cook’ (which reviewed the world’s best restaurants), and ‘Going to the Market’. These series later turned into best-selling cookbooks.

As an author, Hovav has published three best-selling novels (in Hebrew) all related to his family’s colorful history, exposing with humour and emotion the Jerusalem of his childhood that no longer exists. His newest book, Confessions of a Kitchen Rebbetzin, has just been published in English. Hovav has lectured around the world and has led cooking demonstrations and seminars focusing on Israeli cuisine, combined with his unique personal stories, some referencing life as a gay man in Israel. For the past 21 years he has lived with his partner whom he met during their army service, and together they are raising their six-year-old daughter, Naomi.

www.jewishbookfestival.ca or 604-257-5111