About the Kosher Cowboy

Kosher Cowboy Recipes from Morocco to the Midwest

About Kosher Cowboy

I love food! I enjoy everything about preparing a meal. There's a certain sense of satisfaction in creating, presenting and sharing food with family and friends. It's a primal instinct.

"Kosher Cowboy" was a nickname given to me years ago. The fact that I've kept kosher all my life, spent most of my adult life in Kansas City (known for its barbecue), and live on a horse ranch, probably had something to do with it.

Moroccan born, I have lived in Central America, the Far East, Kansas City and in South Florida. My career has been just as varied. I started my career as a mortgage banker, then a cable TV exec, then founded several technology companies. Now, most of my time is spent as a dad, husband, business coach, rancher and foodie.

I love food! I enjoy everything about preparing a meal. There's a certain satisfaction in creating dishes, making beautiful presentations and sitting with family and friends to share the fruits of my labor. My competitive nature always drives me to challenging myself, to go to the next level in both taste and presentation.

My Inspiration

In carrying on decades of traditions, I was inspired to start this blog to share a treasure trove of kosher gourmet recipes that have been painstakingly documented by my parents and shared by family and friends over the years. Food helps bring us together, stay connected, share cultures, carry on traditions and live fuller lives. That's my goal.

Growing up, our home was always the gathering place for our friends, especially on Friday afternoons, in preparation of Shabbat. My Moroccan mom and grandmother were our Michelin star chefs. The aromatic smells of fresh-baked bread and pastries, flame-roasted peppers, sautéed garlic, grilled lamb kefta made our mouths water in anticipation of family dinners around the table.

image: My grandmother Perla's handwritten Challah recipe

I grew up eating exotic dishes made with fresh ingredients inspired by the countries I grew up in. I only realized when I moved to the States, that not everyone thought of "Jewish" food the same way I knew it, tasty and delicious.

"Has anybody ever said to you, 'We went to this Jewish restaurant last night. the gefilte .... AMAZING!'"

- Comedian Sebastian Maniscalco

One of my favorite comedians, Sebastian Maniscalco jokes about sitting down at a Passover Seder with his Jewish girlfriend and being introduced to his first taste of Jewish cuisine. He wasn't impressed!

Though hilarious, I have a hard time relating to it because I grew up with a Moroccan mom who raised us on gourmet kosher cuisine.

In reaching out to my family and friends, I realized there is a need to change the negative perception of "Jewish" food and wanted to create a place to share and inspire those around me.

About the Kosher Cowboy - A Gourmet Revolution

The words “gourmet” and “Kosher” are not ones that many would naturally place together. However, that is changing.

For instance, Israel is quickly becoming a world-class foodie scene. The "start-up nation" is quickly becoming the "cook-up nation". Over the past 60 years, immigrants have brought their cuisines from around the world and as a result, the Holy Land's gourmet revolution has been booming. (read article)

“It’s the perfect recipe for innovation,” says Janna Gur, chief editor of Israel’s leading food and wine magazine, Al Hashulhan, and author of The Book of New Israeli Food. “The combination is unique. You’ll find many dishes that coexist here. Couscous brought by North African immigrants feels at home, as do burekas brought by Bulgarian and Turkish Jews."

Kosher is cool. Kosher Gourmet is revolutionary.