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KosherSoul
Chef Michael W. Twitty
presents
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- The Plate is Your Flag -​​
​As he embraces the full mosaic of his identity,
a Black Jewish chef sparks moments of
unity through the meals he creates.
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James Beard Award-winning author and culinary historian, Michael W. Twitty emphasizes that cooking is not just about the recipe, but the people who create it. He highlights the importance of representation in the culinary world, particularly among chefs of color, and how their unique backgrounds contribute to the richness of the food they prepare. This documentation encapsulates the essence of culinary identity, heritage, and community.
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Twitty discusses the significance of a kosher meal prepared by Black Jewish chefs, marking a historic moment for the African Jewish diaspora. He emphasizes that this event is about community and bridging gaps through shared meals, showcasing how food can foster dialogue and understanding among diverse groups.
Watch Official Trailer
KosherSoul Pre-Release Teaser
• Miami Jewish Film Festival, Miami, FL + Virtual • Denver Jewish Film Festival, Denver, CO • Sacramento International Film Festival, Sacramento, CA • The Lake County Film Festival, Grayslake, IL • Indie Short Film Festival, Charlottesville, VA • Ceres Food Film Festival, NYC + Virtual • Burien Food Film Festival, Burien, WA
Director Statement:
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Bringing his literature to the dining table, connecting people - bringing people together on a deeper level, is something James Beard Award winning author Michael W. Twitty is quite familiar with.
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For KosherSoul [the pop-up], he assembled a diverse team of predominantly Black-Jewish Chefs, who worked hard in tandem to create the shabbat/cookout experience Chef Twitty envisioned, using recipes from Twitty's self-explorational book of the same title, and drawing a diverse audience into a historically Black Los Angeles neighborhood.
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With KosherSoul [the film], I wanted to capture the hard work; the passion; the love and the soul that went into creating this first of its kind cultural, culinary fusion dining event, that brought so many people together.
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Chef Twitty's deep historic knowledge of the African-Jewish diaspora was the seed that grew from the pages of his book into a vibrant evening, filled with friendly strangers who gathered, and who shared tables and food, and stories, at a time where division and separation touches every community.
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This documentary doesn't do the hard work these chefs put into making this event happen justice, but it offers a glimpse into the two days of strategizing and juggling prep work, cooking multiple courses, and serving two seatings in one evening.
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- Ilja Sarro
The Book
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Chef Twitty created Shabbat and Cookout menus from a selection of recipes featured in his National Jewish Book Award winning book "KOSHERSOUL".
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