A taste of Israel in Warren

Chef Eran Geffen brought a taste of Israel to the Hope & Main food incubator, in Warren, on Nov. 13 in a program designed to showcase Israeli cuisine and wine for Rhode Islanders.

About 40 people sampled the popular cuisine, along with Israeli wines, at “Israeli Fusion East to West.”

Geffen, an Israeli whose career as a chef has taken him to Spain and around Israel, now lives in the Boston area, where his young family is adjusting to life in the U.S., he said. He is working with Hope & Main to help culinary startups. He also has a catering business.

Those in attendance seemed to enjoy the modern takes on such classics as Israeli salad and goulash like grandma might make, only lighter. A sea fish stew was also popular, as was chicken in a freshly baked pita.

The evening was sponsored by the Rhode Island-Israel Collaborative, a group that promotes business and academic exchanges between Israel and Rhode Island, and Hope & Main. Avi Nevel, the driving force behind this partnership as president and CEO of RIIC, brought the partners together for the evening.

In welcoming the group to Hope & Main, Lisa Raiola, founder and president, said, “Everybody eats and you can’t eat online. We are proud to support this partnership.”

Nevel says more RIIC events are planned in the spring.

For more information on the collaborative, check out its website, theriic.org.

FRAN OSTENDORF (fostendorf@jewishallianceri.org) is the editor of The Jewish Voice.