For generations, Jewish tradition has played a leading role in Montreal’s cultural identity. Whether it’s the tender sesame bagels or smoked meat on rye, some of the city’s most iconic foods have strong and enduring Jewish roots. Since the Museum of Jewish Montreal began just over a decade ago, we’ve striven to increase public appreciation of Montreal’s Jewish life and culture, through such programs as our popular food workshops and tours. It is safe to say that we are a proud proponent of our city’s culinary conversation. In March 2006 – ten years before the Museum opened our first physical location – Gourmet Magazine published an issue devoted to Montreal. Its pages showcased the city’s most beloved Jewish eateries in the Plateau and Mile End neighbourhoods: St-Viateur Bagels, Schwartz’s Deli, and Wilensky’s Light Lunch, just to name a few. For the first time on such a scale, culinary landmarks that were familiar to Montrealers were introduced to readers across the world in an issue that flew off newsstands everywhere. In what seemed like an instant, Montreal became a culinary capital, with Jewish delicacies at its core. To celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of this momentous issue, we will be joined with two prominent figures behind the publication: Gourmet’s former Editor-In-Chief, Ruth Reichl, as well as the issue’s guest editor and current Mile End resident, Adam Gollner. Moderated by Lara Rabinovitch, whose PhD research covered Montreal’s Jewish culinary history, this panel will discuss what makes Montreal so special, and how Jewish culture – and especially its food – makes it so unusual and so beloved. All proceeds from this benefit will go towards the next year of cultural, artistic, and heritage programming at the Museum of Jewish Montreal. We are getting ready to launch an exciting new chapter of our Museum’s story, filled with connection and creativity, and led by young adults who are excited to create the future of Jewish life in Montreal. The future is happening here, and we look forward to you joining us in this endeavour. See you on July 13th! For all ticketing details, please visit the listing on Simplyk.