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5-time James Beard Award-winning chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author Michael Solomonov is famous for his groundbreaking & wildly popular Israeli cuisine for American palates, all of which he dishes on with Jonah in this week’s episode. A child of both Israel and America, Solomonov has made it his mission to bring Israeli culture to the fore by showcasing its diverse and delicious food, a quest that’s grown more complex since October 7th and the anti-Israel sentiments that have followed - even from his own staff. In this raw and heartfelt conversation, Solomonov also opens up about the death of his younger brother while serving in the IDF, overcoming addiction, the unifying power of food, and expert culinary tips you’ll only find here, on this week’s episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt. 

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Connect with Michael Solomonov

• https://www.instagram.com/mikesolomonov/ 
• https://www.instagram.com/zahavfoods
• https://www.instagram.com/jaffabar_philly/ 
• Aviv Restaurant at 1 Hotel Southbeach https://www.instagram.com/1hotel.southbeach 

Host & Production Team

Host: Jonah Platt; Produced by Rainbow Creative (Executive Producer: Matthew Jones; Story Producer: Sean Leviashvili; Editor: Patrick Edwards); Social Media Manager: Yuval Yosha; Graphic Designer Noah Bell; Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, and Consulting Producers: Shield Communications (Ariella Noveck & Bethany Mandel).

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Mentioned in Episode

• The ADHD Effect on Marriage by Melissa Orlov
• Dr. Ned Hallowell / https://www.tiktok.com/@drhallowell
• David Solomonov Obituary
• Russ Cowan’s Deli: Radin’s Delicatessen
• Pho 75 Restaurant 
• Vetri Restaurant Philadelphia 
• Zahav Restaurant
• Federal Donuts 
• Laser Wolf 
• Dizengoff
• Kfar 
• Goldie Philadelphia 
• Protests Outside of Goldie Restaurant 
• United Hatzalah
• Avi-Cue Shwarma 
• Saffy’s Los Angeles 
• Jaffa Bar Philadelphia
• Aviv Restaurant Miami
• Seed & Mill Halva
• Spice C Philadelphia 
• Hawaij Mixed Spice Blend 
• Chef Aliza Sokolow
• Zahav Home Cookbook 
• Gefilteria
• Courage Bagels
• Del Rossi’s Cheesesteak

09:11 Interview with Chef Michael Solomonov
34:26 Struggles and Support: Overcoming Addiction
35:21 Exploring the Culinary Ventures
37:32 Introducing Jaffa: A New Culinary Concept
40:27 Navigating Political Challenges
44:16 Reflecting on October 7th
52:24 Comfort Food and Culinary Tips
57:42 Final Thoughts and Gratitude