Puerto Rican Jewish Heritage & Mofongo and Matzo Ball Soup with Trisha Pérez Kennealy

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with Trisha Pérez Kennealy, owner and culinary educator of the Inn at Hastings Park in Lexington, MA.

A proud Puerto Rican Jewish woman, Kennealy lived in Puerto Rico until she was 12, at which time her family moved to Massachusetts. She says she is like “Juanita Epstein” from the “Welcome Back Kotter” TV show.

“What I love about both my Jewish religion and my Puerto Rican heritage is that they both are inspired by a diversity of experience,” she says. “[As Jews], what we eat and how we celebrate is so tied to [our] family’s [origin]; everything is so symbolic.

“Likewise, in Puerto Rico, we spend a lot of time around that [multigenerational] table … food is really an important part of the way we spend time together, the way we take care of one another.”

Soup is a definite common ground between the cultures. “I am a big believer that everyone should know how to make chicken soup, because it's the base; chicken stock can be used to do so many different things,” she says. “It really is good for you.”

Kennealy talks about her background, heritage, and love for being a culinary educator - especially around the globe, along with tips for entertaining and hospitality. She also shares her recipe for mofongo and matzo ball soup, which you can find at JewishJournal.com/podcasts.

For more cooking inspiration, follow @trishaperezkennealy on Instagram.

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