A Culinary Reflection: Summer at Haus

By Zev Gurock

September 8, 2024

When Jewish food is said, what do you think of? Possibly you think of the many cuisines in Israel, or bagels and babka. However, at Lehrhaus Tavern, they are creating a unique narrative of Jewish cuisine.

If you haven’t heard of Lehrhaus, it is a modern Jewish restaurant in Somerville, Massachusetts, and I had the privilege of interning with them this summer. 

One of the biggest attractions about Lehrhaus is the menu, designed to resemble a page from the Talmud. The dishes are truly special and have a lot of meaning behind each of them. For example, they have a pickle plate that symbolizes three diasporic Jewish communities in one. An Ashkenazi half-sour, a Mizrahi pickled turnip, and an Indian mixed pickle. Another dish is the Mac and Cheese Kugel that is a tribute to the African American Jewish communities. They also serve vegetarian Jewish deli classics such as a Reuben, in which they use smoked beets as a substitute for pastrami. 

I had the experience of doing prep work for many of these dishes. One of my biggest hobbies is cooking food for others and myself. I have taken numerous cooking classes, fueling my affinity for cooking. With my internship, I had opportunities to hone cooking skills such as chopping and sauteing. I sliced vegetables for the pickles, created the mac and cheese from scratch, and brined the beets before the smoking process. 

Prep work was often rigorous. The first day, I got my assigned preparation list. As I flipped through the multiple recipes, I was already seeing the difference between being a home cook versus a restaurant cook. The recipes were massive, serving thirty to forty people. While preparing for the shifts, the chefs would often be experimenting with new recipes. I was lucky to be a taste tester for many new additions to their most recent menu. 

All the chefs were masters of their craft and a pleasure to work with. Their mentorship shaped me into a better cook. When my internship came to an end, I could not help but recognize my improvements as a home cook. I cultivated an ability to work cleaner and more efficiently.

I occasionally got to work on the line where I would plate a variety of dishes on their menu and send them out to the customers. As a side effect, I became alert to the moment I heard a ticket being printed. In the downtime, I got to see the restaurant in its full glory. Jews of all backgrounds were sitting comfortably, enjoying food made by the team and me. I was so thankful to be a member of the staff team at Lehrhaus. Each person is talented and amazing. They truly help contribute to the experience when you eat there. As someone who has dined there many times, it is a warm and inviting place. The shelves are filled with Jewish books connected to their house of learning where you can take creative classes. If you haven’t already, check out Lehrhaus or add it to your bucket list of places to visit when in Boston.

Image Source: https://www.lehr.haus/reservation