Leah Koenig: The Jews of Rome – Their History and Cuisine

Sunday March 22, 2026

• 4:30pm: Talk by renouned writer and cookbook author Leah Koenig: “Feasting in Rome’s Jewish Kitchen”

Join cookbook author (and Har Zion alum!) Leah Koenig for a program celebrating Rome’s historic Jewish community. Existing for more than 2,000 years, Rome’s Jewish community has been shaped by hardship and determination to become a resilient, deeply-knit entity with a uniquely beguiling and delicious cuisine. (Think fried artichokes, rich braised stews, and chewy almond cakes and cookies.)

Leah will share bits of this delicious history and some of her favorite recipes from her award-winning cookbook Portico: Cooking and Feasting in Rome’s Jewish Kitchen.

• 5:30pm: A Taste of Roman Jewish Cuisine

After the talk, a sampling of tastes from Portico will be shared and the cookbook will be available for purchase and signing.

Leah Koenig Bio

Leah Koenig is an IACP Award-winning author of seven cookbooks, including the acclaimed The Jewish Cookbook and Modern Jewish Cooking. Her newest cookbook, Portico: Cooking and Feasting in Rome’s Jewish Kitchen was the IACP 2024 International Cookbook winner, and a finalist in the National Jewish Book Awards.

Leah’s writing and recipes can be found in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and Food & Wine, among other publications. She also writes a weekly newsletter, The Jewish Table. In addition to writing, Leah leads cooking demonstrations around the world.

She grew up in Oak Park (class of ’00 at OPRF!) and now lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and two children.

Required Registration to come.