A Venezuelan-American chef shows the rich tradition of Latino Jews

Through side projects, she also found ways to honor her family history. Last year she teamed up wi th t he Jewish National Fund to create a kosher Latin food truck at the annual SXSW media festival. Serving dishes such as traditional arepas and fried plantains, as well as an Israel- inspired arepa with cilantro hummus, the food truck was a hit and even sold out at lunch some days. Last year, Benaim relocated to Dallas with her husband to focus on her cookbook. She also does catering and cooks a variety of cuisines. But she says whether or not she makes a dish that is inspired by her heritage, the Latin flavor comes through. “I may not specifically make any Latin or Jewish recipes for an event,” she said, “but when you sit down and talk about inspiration it obviously comes out. I think it’s just embedded, ingrained, whether I want to or not— and I do want to.” More…