If Maimonides Was a Dessert, What Would He Be?

Came across this awesome article about a Swiss choclatier named Blaise Poyet who has created a new chocolate inspired by John Calvin to honor Calvin’s 500th birthday:

He acknowledges the difficulty of representing theological ideas in taste, “But the key thing for Calvin is the glory of God, his excellence, his perfection. So we chose a chocolate that we chocolatiers find  rare and flawless…”  The Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches actually approached Poyet:  one must hope they are satisfied:

“The first layer is based on a classic smooth and runny praline mix but we have “reformed” it by using crunchy caramelised hazelnuts, and  salt from the Swiss Alps to make the praline slightly savoury.
The second layer uses a “chocolate Grand Cru from Bolivia”, made from 68 percent cocoa paste, to represent Calvin’s theology of the glory and perfection of God….”

Calvin’s hellfire beliefs are not, alas, represented by burnt bits, but “we have used a caramel made from Swiss cream that that slightly softens the chocolate to represent in a discreet way this love for one’s neighbour” Finally, a taste of lemon verbena, a perennial, represents Calvin’s ability to sow, to plant and to make things grow.

How completely awesome. It got us thinking at the MJL offices about how we’d represent various Jewish leaders in dessert format. Here’s what we’ve got so far:lemon_meringue.jpgTheodore HerzlLemon Meringue Pie
Because meringue seems to defy logic and gravity to become a sweet and wonderful thing. Also, you have to labor long and hard over it.

Madeleine AlbrightCrème Brulee
Because she’s got a tough and fiery crust covering up a sweet and soft inside.  Also, old world European charm.

Moshe KatsavBlack Bottom Cupcakes
Because he probably called some girl in his office ‘Black Bottom Cupcake’

Dr. Ruth WestheimerRugelach
Because it’s kind of phallic, sweet, and old school.  Also, can be gooey.


Amshinover Rebbe
Chocolate Cake From the Slow Cooker
Because it takes him eight hours to do Shacharit, so dessert should take at least as long.

Neshama Carlebachpareve brownies
Because when listening to her you really notice the use of substitutions.

Anybody want to take a stab at Moshe Feinstein, Rambam, or Debbie Friedman?

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